Order of fields when using a bit field in C

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C standard allows compiler to put bit-fields in any order. There is no reliable and portable way to determine the order.

If you need to know the exact bit positions, it is better use plain unsigned variable and bit masking.

Here’s one possible alternative to using bit-fields:

#include <stdio.h>

#define MASK_A    0x00FF
#define MASK_B    0x3F00
#define MASK_C    0xC000
#define SHIFT_A   0
#define SHIFT_B   8
#define SHIFT_C   14

unsigned GetField(unsigned all, unsigned mask, unsigned shift)
{
    return (all & mask) >> shift;
}

unsigned SetField(unsigned all, unsigned mask, unsigned shift, unsigned value)
{
    return (all & ~mask) | ((value << shift) & mask);
}

unsigned GetA(unsigned all)
{
    return GetField(all, MASK_A, SHIFT_A);
}

unsigned SetA(unsigned all, unsigned value)
{
    return SetField(all, MASK_A, SHIFT_A, value);
}

/* Similar functions for B and C here */

int main(void)
{
    unsigned myABC = 0;
    myABC = SetA(myABC, 3);
    printf("%u", GetA(myABC)); // Prints 3
}

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