c - why don't my pointers work? -

i trying write old painter game, paint around squares , when perimeter done square changes colour, using ncurses. have written simple level editor lets me draw squares using asterisk. have block structure , array of them , can create blocks brute-force scanning screen asterisks , setting blocks locations. realised each block joined 2 - 4 other blocks, have pointers next up/dn/lt/rt blocks , follow pointers. save time because wouldn't have check boundary conditions or player stayed on line, check if ptr null , if not let player move in direction. can save block array , load painter game , displays correctly. have ptr current block cur_blk have set point array element 5, , works. if gdb, can print out value of *cur_blk , shows everthing right, pointers don't work. think problem in level editor, stuck.

here code. block struct:

struct block{ int id; int row, col; int alive;  struct block *next_up, *next_dn, *next_lt, *next_rt; struct square *my_squares;   

};

here block array setup:

struct block *bp; int cnt = 0;  for(bp = &the_blocks[0]; bp < &the_blocks[1024]; bp++){     bp->id = cnt;        bp->row = 0;     bp->col = 0;     bp->alive = false;      bp->next_up = null;     bp->next_dn = null;     bp->next_lt = null;     bp->next_rt = null;      bp->my_squares = (struct square *)malloc(sizeof(struct square)*4);     cnt++; } 

here code give blocks correct co-ords, , link them - linky code in for(d=0;d<blk_cnt;d++) loop. rescans array comparing co-ords, such if row 1 less , col same set the_blocks[c].next_up. pretty sure error don't know is.

char cc, dn_ch, rt_ch; // cur/next chars     int row, col;      //create blocks      for(row=0;row<24;row++){         for(col=0;col<61;col++){             cc = mvinch(row,col);              if(cc == '*'){                 the_blocks[blk_cnt].row = row;                 the_blocks[blk_cnt].col = col;                 the_blocks[blk_cnt].alive = true;                 blk_cnt++;             }              if(row<24) ;                 dn_ch = mvinch(row+1, col);              if(col<60) ;                 rt_ch = mvinch(row,col+1);              if(cc == '*' && dn_ch == '*' && rt_ch == '*')                 make_square(row,col);         }     }      //make squares , link blocks      int c,d,e, scnt;      for(c=0;c<blk_cnt;c++){         int row = the_blocks[c].row;         int col = the_blocks[c].col;          for(e=0;e<sq_cnt;e++){             // each square, check top/base left side , rigth side.             // use tlx, tly etc             scnt = 0;              int tlx = the_squares[e].tlx;             int tly = the_squares[e].tly;             int blx = the_squares[e].blx;             int bly = the_squares[e].bly;             int trx = the_squares[e].trx;             int try = the_squares[e].try;             int brx = the_squares[e].brx;             int bry = the_squares[e].bry;              if(row == tly && col >=tlx && col <= trx){                 the_blocks[c].my_squares[scnt] = the_squares[e];                 scnt++;             }             if(row == bly && col >=blx && col <= brx){                 the_blocks[c].my_squares[scnt] = the_squares[e];                 scnt++;             }             if(col == tlx && row >=tly && row <= bly){                 the_blocks[c].my_squares[scnt] = the_squares[e];                 scnt++;             }             if(col == trx && row >=try && row <= bry){                 the_blocks[c].my_squares[scnt] = the_squares[e];                 scnt++;             }         }          for(d=0;d<blk_cnt;d++){             if((the_blocks[d].row == row-1) && (the_blocks[d].col == col)){                 //the_blocks[c].next_up = (struct block *)malloc(sizeof(struct block));                 the_blocks[c].next_up = &the_blocks[d];             }             if((the_blocks[d].row == row+1) && (the_blocks[d].col == col)){                 //the_blocks[c].next_dn = (struct block *)malloc(sizeof(struct block));                 the_blocks[c].next_dn = &the_blocks[d];             }             if(( the_blocks[d].col == col-1) && (the_blocks[d].row == row)){                 //the_blocks[c].next_lt = (struct block   )malloc(sizeof(struct block));                 the_blocks[c].next_lt = &the_blocks[d];             }             if((the_blocks[d].col == col+1) && (the_blocks[d].row == row)){                 //the_blocks[c].next_rt = (struct block *)malloc(sizeof(struct block));                 the_blocks[c].next_rt = &the_blocks[d];             }         }     } 

here code painter game sets cur_blk pointer

cur_blk = &the_blocks[5]; move(cur_blk->row, cur_blk->col); addch('@'); refresh();   

and move code, thought follow pointers:

switch(dir){     case    : if(cur_blk->next_up != null){                     cur_blk = cur_blk->next_up;                     moved = true;                     break;     }     case down  : if(cur_blk->next_dn != null){                     cur_blk = cur_blk->next_dn;                     moved = true;                     break;     }     case left  : if(cur_blk->next_lt != null){                     cur_blk = cur_blk->next_lt;                     moved = true;                     break;     }     case right : if(cur_blk->next_rt != null){                     cur_blk = cur_blk->next_rt;                     moved = true;                     break;     } } 

i stuck unreal. in advance help. can post more code if needed. level editor works apart linky bit!