Can't do bitwise shift on typdef structure

Using Arduino Programming Questions
#1

I’m trying to use bitwise shift to convert two bytes into an integer. This works fine on a normal integer, but it doesn’t work if my integer is part of a typdef structure. I get erratic readings and my arduino reboots.

typedef struct  {
  byte slaveID;
  byte cmdID;
  uint16_t mV;
  uint16_t temp;
  float myFloat;  // some float number
  uint32_t mS;   // milliseconds
} RemoteSensorData_t;

void loop() {
  RemoteSensorData_t sensor1; 
  if( getData( &sensor1 ))
  { Serial.println(sensor1.temp);  }
}

This works fine:

bool getData(RemoteSensorData_t* sensorInfo)
{
    uint16_t temperature;
    byte i2CData[PACKET_SIZE];
    // removed some i2CData code for brevity
    temperature  = i2CData[4] << 8;
    temperature |= i2CData[5];
    sensorInfo->temp = temperature;
}

This doesn’t work

bool getData(RemoteSensorData_t* sensorInfo)
{
    byte i2CData[PACKET_SIZE];
    // removed some i2CData code for brevity
    sensorInfo->temp  = i2CData[4] << 8;
    sensorInfo->temp |= i2CData[5];
}

Is typdef structure just not compatible with bitwise operations, or am I messing something up with pointers?

#2

This doesn't work

What does it do? Let the magic smoke out? "This doesn't work" is pretty lame. The code does something, but you did not say what it does.

#3

I mentioned that I was getting erratic readings and the Arduino reboots. When I do a Serial.println(sensor1.temp);, it's not the value I tried to store in it and the value changes on it's own. The Arduino will sometimes reboot and sometimes lock up.

#4

The code you have written, "should" work. The likelihood is, you have some other problem than this.

I will try to replicate your problem later.

#5 
    byte i2CData[PACKET_SIZE];

Better show all your code. I wouldn’t surprise me if you were overrunning this array.

#6

I figured it out. I was overrunning an array. I wasn't resetting the counter to zero when I called the function. The bit shifting works fine with typedef structure. Apparently is was just a coincidence that my sketch worked when I shifted bits into a regular variable instead of my struct.

#7