Senior Secondary Course

Learner’s Guide: Computer Science (330)

21
FILES

 The following statement opens the file

 FILES: A file is a collection of logically STU.DAT in output mode, i.e., for writing
related records. A program usually data on the file.
requires two types of data
communication:- ofstream outfile (“STU.DAT”);
o writing data on data file
o reading data from data file Where ofstream is a class and outfile is user
defined object.
 HOW TO USE FILES? :
In C++, files are mainly dealt by using three
classes fstream, ifstream, ofstream available  outfile < < “TOTAL MARKS” << “\n”;
in fstream header file. outfile < < total << “\n”;
The statements are used for writing data on
the file. The newline character is used for
ofstream: Stream class to write on files moving the pointer to the next line.
ifstream: Stream class to read from files
fstream: Stream class to both read and write
from/to files.  ifstream infile (“STU.DAT”);

opens the file “STU.DAT” in input mode,

 WRITING DATA ON THE FILE: The i.e., for reading purpose .
data flows from keyboard to memory and
from memory to storage device.  The statements infile >> string; infile >>
Keyboard → memory → hard disk/ storage number; read the data from the data file.
device
PROGRAM:
 READING DATA FROM THE FILE: /* File Handling with C++ using ifstream
The data flows from storage device to & ofstream class object*/
memory and from memory to output
device, particularly monitor. #include <iostream>
Data file → memory → output device /* fstream header file for ifstream, ofstream,
(screen) or external storage device (hard fstream classes */
disk/storage device) #include <fstream>
 OPENING A FILE: A file can be using namespace std;
opened in two ways:
// Driver Code
o Using constructor function of a class.
int main()
o Using the member function open ( ) of {
the class // Creation of ofstream class object
ofstream fout;

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 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide: Computer Science (330)

string line;
fout.open("sample.txt");  OPENING A FILE USING OPEN() :
o First a stream object is assigned to and
// Execute a loop If file successfully then it is used to open the file in turn.
opened SYNTAX:
while (fout) { filestream_class stream_object;
stream_object . open (“filename”);
// Read a Line from standard input
getline(cin, line); For example :
ofstream outfile;
// Press -1 to exit outfile . open (“ABC”);
if (line == "-1") outfile . close ( );
break; outfile . open (“XYZ”);
outfile.close ( )
// Write line in file
fout << line << endl; o The open () function has two parameters :
} SYNTAX:
stream_object . open (“filename”, access
// Close the File mode);
fout.close();
 ios : : in for ifstream functions
// Creation of ifstream class object to read  ios : : out for ofstream functions
the file
ifstream fin;
 WRITE() & READ() FUNCTION :
fin.open("sample.txt"); The functions write ( ) and read ( ) have two
parameters: address of the variable, size of the
// Execute a loop until EOF (End of File) variable.
while (fin) { SYNTAX:
infile . read ( (char*) & v, sizeof v);
// Read a Line from File outfile . write ( (char*) & v, sizeof v); where v
getline(fin, line); is the variable.

// Print line in Console  FILE POINTERS:

cout << line << endl; File has two associated pointers called input
} pointer (or get pointer) and output pointer (or
put pointer).
// Close the file o seekg ( ) It moves get pointer to a
fin.close(); specified location.
o seekp ( ) It moves the put pointer to a
return 0; specified location.
} o ios:: beg – Beginning of the file
o ios:: cur – Current position of the
pointer
o ios:: end – End of the file
o

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 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide: Computer Science (330)

file . write ((char*) & st, sizeof st);

 tellg() & tellp() FUNCTION: } / / Display a data file
tellg ( ) - Gives the position of get pointer file . seekg ( 0, ios::beg);
in terms of number of bytes. while (file . read ((char*) & st, sizeof st))
tellp ( ) - Gives the position of put {
pointer in terms of bytes. st. putdata ( );
}
 CLOSE () FUNCTION: file . clear ( ); / / To make the end of file
mark false
stream_object.close ( ) // To append record
st . getdata ( );
 PROGRAM: file . write ((char*) & st, sizeof st);
The following program to // To modify a record
Create a data file file.clear ( );
Display a data file cout << “Enter record number”;
Adding a new record cin >> n;
Modify the existing record file . seekp ((n - 1)* sizeof st, ios::beg);
st. getdata ( );
# include file.write ((char*) & st, sizeof st);
class student // To close a file
{ file . close ( );
char name [30]; }
int rn;
public: void getdata ( );
void putdata ( ); CHECK YOURSELF
};
void student : : getdata ( )
{ cout <> name; cout << “Enter roll 1. Which header file is required to use
number”; cin >> rn; file I/O operations?
} A) <ifstream>
B) <ostream>
void student :: putdata ( ) C) <fstream>
{ D) <iostream>
cout << “Student name” << name << “\n”;
cout << “Student roll number” << rn << 2. Which of the following is not used
“\n”; as a file opening mode?
} A) ios::trunc
void main ( ) B) ios::binary
{ C) ios::in
fstream file; D) ios::ate
file . open ( “ABC”, ios::in | ios::out | 3. By default, all the files in C++ are
ios::binary); opened in _________ mode.
student st; A) Text
int i, n; B) Binary
cout << “How many records to enter”; C) ISCII
cin >> n; D) VTC
for (i = 1; i < = n, i ++ )
{
st. getdata ( );

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 Senior Secondary Course
Learner’s Guide: Computer Science (330)

ANSWERS
4. What is the return type open()
method?
A) int Answers to Check Yourself:
B) char
C) bool 1. C
D) floatis a pointer to a string 2. B
5. Which operator is used to insert the 3. A
data into file? 4. C
5. B
A) >>
B)<<
C) <
D) None of the above

STRETCH YOURSELF

1. Write a program to write and read from file?

2. Write a program using open() to read and

write a file.

3. Write a program to enter student details in

the file and display the output.