C/C++ function using float or double or int -

i have seperate functions reading text file (depending on whether int, float or double). one function additional argument (without using subsequent if statement). have ideas?

below form of current functions.

float * read_column_f (char * file, int size_of_col){ ... col = (float*) malloc (height_row * sizeof(float)); ...  return(col);}   double *    read_column_d (char * file, int size_of_col){ ... col = (double*) malloc (height_row * sizeof(double)); ...  return(col);}   int *   read_column_i (char * file, int size_of_col){ ... col = (int*) malloc (height_row * sizeof(int)); ...  return(col);} 

edit: want implement in c++, c-style syntax used due memory preference.

you can't overload on return types. either return value reference function parameter:

void read_column (char * file, int size_of_col, float&); void read_column (char * file, int size_of_col, int&); 

...

or create template:

template<class t> t read_column (char * file, int size_of_col);