C struct string error -

here chunks of code give view of problem

    typedef struct {     int count;     char *item;     int price;     char *buyer;     date *date;     }transaction;  transaction *open(file *src, char* path) { char buffer[100], *token; int count = 0; transaction *tlist = (transaction*)malloc(sizeof(transaction)); tlist = alloc(tlist, count); src = fopen(path, "r"); if (src != null) {     printf("\nsoubor nacten.\n"); } else {     printf("\nchyba cteni souboru.\n");     return null; } while (fgets(buffer, sizeof(buffer), src)) {     tlist = alloc(tlist, count+1);     token = strtok(buffer, "\t"); //zahodit jméno obchodníka     tlist[count].count = strtok(null, "x");     tlist[count].item = strtok(null, "\t");     tlist[count].item++;     tlist[count].item[strlen(tlist[count].item)] = '\0';     tlist[count].price = atoi(strtok(null, "\t "));     token = strtok(null, "\t"); //zahodit md     tlist[count].buyer = strtok(null, "\t");     tlist[count].date = date_autopsy(strtok(null, "\t"));     count++; } fclose(src); return tlist; }  transaction *alloc(transaction *tlist, int count) { if (count == 0) {     tlist[0].item = (char*)malloc(20 * sizeof(char));     tlist[0].buyer = (char*)malloc(20 * sizeof(char)); } else {     tlist = (transaction*)realloc(tlist, count * sizeof(transaction));     tlist[count - 1].item = (char*)malloc(20 * sizeof(char));     tlist[count - 1].buyer = (char*)malloc(20 * sizeof(char)); } return tlist; } 

first in main(), create list

transaction *list = (transaction*)malloc(sizeof(transaction)); 

then right command, call opening function loads file, tokens line file pieces puts structure. works fine.. when want print(for testing) tlist[count].item inside opening function, prints right thing. when try outside(in main()), prints garbage. somehow works date , price parts of sturcture.. assume "buyer" string broken well. in advance

1. since overwriting allocated memory local buffer item , bueyr fields not reflected in caller function. modify code below

   tlist[count].count = strtok(null, "x") -> strcpy(tlist[count].count, strtok(null, "x"))

   tlist[count].buyer = strtok(null, "\t") -> strcpy(tlist[count].buyer , strtok(null, "\t"))

   and check tlist[count].date , should allocate memory date , use memcpy copy contents.

2. since strtok returns null termintated string use of following lines ?

   tlist[count].item++;

   tlist[count].item[strlen(tlist[count].item)] = '\0';