Pick data from file store in array

swgh · 07-10-2009, 09:29 AM

Hey guys.

I am wondering say I have a text file like this:

Code:

Name: xxx
Address: ==
Tel: 000

Name: x
Address: =
Tel 0

etc etc

And in main() I declare an array to store some data:

Code:

char names[ SIZE ][ LENGTH ]

Is it possible to use either fscanf or fgets to store only the names in
this array?

So basically my unsuccessful attempt was:

Code:

#include "telebase.h"
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

/*function to initilize data members to a default state*/
void initilizeDataMembers ( struct TeleBase *tb ) {
	FILE *inFile;

	inFile = fopen( "telephonelog.txt", "r" );

	if ( inFile != NULL ) {
		while ( fgets( tb->name, sizeof( tb->name ), inFile ) != NULL ) {
			printf("%s\n", tb->name );
		}

		fclose( inFile );
	}

	else {
		printf("Cannot open file!\n");
	}
}

Which stores the entire file into the array which I do not want, I just want
the first line of each one, ( ie the name of each telephone contact ) in
this one array.

So far I have only learnt fprintf and fscanf basics when dealing with files, is
there another C file function that can do this, or am I on the right tracks?

btw tb is a data struct.

Any help greatly appriciated

tabstop · 07-10-2009, 09:57 AM

You need to read in all the lines, because you can't get from line 1 to line 4 without going through lines 2 and 3. But: the "f" in scanf stands for format. The format you wish to match is the literal "Name: " followed by everything to the new line. So do that:

Code:

if (sscanf(buffer, "Name: %[^\n]", array[i]) == 1) {
    //read in, so move i and do whatever else you need to do
}

07-10-2009, 09:29 AM	#1
swgh Its hard... But im here Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: England Posts: 1,466	Pick data from file store in array Hey guys. I am wondering say I have a text file like this: Code: Name: xxx Address: == Tel: 000 Name: x Address: = Tel 0 etc etc And in main() I declare an array to store some data: Code: char names[ SIZE ][ LENGTH ] Is it possible to use either fscanf or fgets to store only the names in this array? So basically my unsuccessful attempt was: Code: #include "telebase.h" #include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h> /function to initilize data members to a default state/ void initilizeDataMembers ( struct TeleBase tb ) { FILE inFile; inFile = fopen( "telephonelog.txt", "r" ); if ( inFile != NULL ) { while ( fgets( tb->name, sizeof( tb->name ), inFile ) != NULL ) { printf("%s\n", tb->name ); } fclose( inFile ); } else { printf("Cannot open file!\n"); } } Which stores the entire file into the array which I do not want, I just want the first line of each one, ( ie the name of each telephone contact ) in this one array. So far I have only learnt fprintf and fscanf basics when dealing with files, is there another C file function that can do this, or am I on the right tracks? btw tb is a data struct. Any help greatly appriciated __________________ I'm just trying to be a better person - My Name Is Earl
swgh is offline

07-10-2009, 09:57 AM	#2
tabstop and the Hat of Guessing Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,740	You need to read in all the lines, because you can't get from line 1 to line 4 without going through lines 2 and 3. But: the "f" in scanf stands for format. The format you wish to match is the literal "Name: " followed by everything to the new line. So do that: Code: if (sscanf(buffer, "Name: %[^\n]", array[i]) == 1) { //read in, so move i and do whatever else you need to do }
tabstop is offline

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