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From: afc@mace.cc.purdue.edu (Greg Flint)
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Need help with Turbo C "farmalloc"
Keywords: Turbo C farmalloc
Message-ID: <4100@mace.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 9 Feb 90 06:15:40 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Organization: Purdue University
Lines: 27

I've been trying to use the "farmalloc" routine with Turbo C 2.0.  I am
trying to allocate numerous small units (e.g., 6 - 20 bytes with each
call).  I don't know the number or size of the units in advance -- it is
data dependent -- so I can't use "farcalloc".

The problem that I'm having is that when I request 1-8 bytes, I'm given
16.  When I request 9-16, I'm given 32 bytes...and so on.  This causes
me to run out of memory long before I should.  (This is determined by
calling "farcoreleft" after each "farmalloc" call.)

The manual says that I should get "n" bytes when I request "n" bytes, but
I seem to be getting memory in paragraphs -- and 2x what I think I'd need
even if it had to give them to me in 16 byte units.  I called Bourland
support -- what a waste of $'s that was -- and was told that "probably"
memory was given out in paragraphs and that "probably" it was supposed to
work that way -- regardless of what the manual says.  In short, I got no
info from Bourland.

Does anyone have a patch or a code around for this problem?  I know that I
could do one big "farmalloc" and write my own "little malloc", but speed
is important and I'd prefer not have to execute "C" code if assembler code
(or a patch) is available.  Besides, writing "little malloc" seems a lot
like re-inventing the wheel.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Flint 	  Math G-169   (317) 494-1787   UUCP:  purdue!klaatu.cc!afc
  Purdue Univ.	  Purdue University	    INTERNET:  afc@klaatu.cc.purdue.edu
  Computing Ctr.  West Lafayette, IN 47907    BITNET:  flint@purccvm.bitnet