How to Get a Pointer to the Stack

Last reviewed: July 22, 1997
Article ID: Q11941
3.00 3.10 WINDOWS kbprg

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.0 and 3.1

C pushes its parameters in reverse order (right to left) for the _cdecl calling convention (default) and in order (left to right) for the Pascal calling convention.

The first (or last, for the Pascal convention) parameter is always the last one pushed, and always has the same address relative to the start of the frame.

In the C compiler documentation, see vsprintf and the va_start macro in STDARG.H for an example of accessing variable arguments on the stack.

To get a pointer to the stack, use the following code:

   far MyFunction()
   {
   int x;
   int far *y = &x;
   }

NOTE: This pointer will not be valid when the function is exited, since the stack contents will change.


Additional reference words: 3.00 3.10
KBCategory: kbprg
KBSubcategory: KrMm
Keywords : kb16bitonly


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: July 22, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.