Memset an int (16 bit) array to short's max value

Question

Can't seem to find the answer to this anywhere, How do I memset an array to the maximum value of the array's type? I would have thought memset(ZBUFFER,0xFFFF,size) would work where ZBUFFER is a 16bit integer array. Instead I get -1s throughout.

Also, the idea is to have this work as fast as possible (it's a zbuffer that needs to initialize every frame) so if there is a better way (and still as fast or faster), let me know.

edit: as clarification, I do need a signed int array.

Answer 1

In C++, you would use std::fill, and std::numeric_limits.

#include <algorithm>
#include <iterator>
#include <limits>

template <typename IT>
void FillWithMax( IT first, IT last )
{
    typedef typename std::iterator_traits<IT>::value_type T;
    T const maxval = std::numeric_limits<T>::max();
    std::fill( first, last, maxval );
}

size_t const size=32;
short ZBUFFER[size];
FillWithMax( ZBUFFER, &ZBUFFER[0]+size );

This will work with any type.

In C, you'd better keep off memset that sets the value of bytes. To initialize an array of other types than char (ev. unsigned), you have to resort to a manual for loop.