# mitem_new 3x

    mitem_new(3x)                                                    mitem_new(3x)

## NAME

           new_item, free_item - create and destroy menu items

## SYNOPSIS

           #include <menu.h>
           ITEM *new_item(const char *name, const char *description);
           int free_item(ITEM *item);

## DESCRIPTION

           The  function new_item allocates a new item and initializes it from the
           name and description pointers.  Please notice that the item stores only
           the pointers to the name and description.  Those pointers must be valid
           during the lifetime of the item.  So you should be  very  careful  with
           names or descriptions allocated on the stack of some routines.
           The  function free_item de-allocates an item.  Please notice that it is
           the responsibility of the application to release  the  memory  for  the
           name or the description of the item.

## RETURN VALUE

           The  function  new_item returns NULL on error.  It sets errno according
           to the function's failure:

           E_BAD_ARGUMENT
                Routine detected an incorrect or out-of-range argument.

           E_SYSTEM_ERROR
                System error occurred, e.g., malloc failure.

           The function free_item returns one of the following:

           E_OK The routine succeeded.

           E_BAD_ARGUMENT
                Routine detected an incorrect or out-of-range argument.

           E_CONNECTED
                Item is connected to a menu.

           E_SYSTEM_ERROR
                System error occurred (see errno).

## SEE ALSO

           curses(3x), menu(3x).

## NOTES

           The  header  file  <menu.h>  automatically  includes  the  header  file
           <curses.h>.

## PORTABILITY

           These  routines  emulate the System V menu library.  They were not sup-
           ported on Version 7 or BSD versions.

## AUTHORS

           Juergen Pfeifer.  Manual pages and adaptation for new curses by Eric S.
           Raymond.

                                                                     mitem_new(3x)