code:

for (i = 0; i < n_files; i++) {
    buffer = (char *)malloc(1);
    fread(buffer, 1, 1, file);
    farray[i].slen = buffer[0];
    buffer = (char *)realloc(farray[i].slen);
    fread(buffer, 1, farray[i].slen, file);
    strcpy(farray[i].fname, buffer); farray[i].fname[1+farray[i].slen+1] = '\0';
    buffer = (char *)realloc(4);
    fread(buffer, sizeof(unsigned int), 1, file);
    buffer[SHIFT] = '\0';
    n = atoi(buffer);
    farray[i].fsize = n;
    free(buffer);
}