C Moron requires Mucho helpo!

Hi,

Have just started trying to learn how to program using C. Am trying to write a program that reads a text file containing a list of 10 prisoners eg..

doe, john, 00222555
doe, jane, 01254896

I need to be able to use c to go thru these one at a time and then sort them in the order in which they were sent to prison. This is denoted by the first two numbers on their reg number. e.g.

John Doe's year is 2000
Jane Doe's year is 2001

If anyone has any pointers I would be eternally greatful! as at present I am having problems just being able to read a text file!

Sorry to ask what I guess is a very straight forward question but these are sometimes the hardest for me!!!!!!!!!!


Thanks

TOM0987654321

(Insert explitive here). We will not do your home work for you. Post your code. Post your problems and error messages. Then, and only then will you get help from me.

Quzah.

First off.... 2 digit years?? argh, its Y2K all over again

Now down to business.

Code:

    FILE *fp;
    char buffer[80];

    fp = fopen( "file", "r" );
    if( fp != NULL )
    {
      while( fgets( buffer, 80, fp ) != NULL )
          fputs( buffer, stdout );
      fclose( fp );
    }

This code simply opens the file, and writes it contents to the screen (stdout). It's a start for you.

You can try here for a reasonably good reference site (in my opinion).

Once you have the data loaded (if you're going to sort it, you'll need to store it in some form of array/list), you can then sort it.

Another good place is the FAQ and my C Refrence Card

My Code is now loking like this!.......... I am quite amazed with myself really..... not up to much but on the way to working! Can't work out sorting for the life of me!!!!!!!!!!!

Any help as always greatfully appreciated!

Code:

#include <stdio.h> 
#include <string.h> 
#include <stdlib.h> 
#include <conio.h> 


/* {char surname [20]; 
char first [20]; 
long reg [9] 
char dob [9]; }RECORD; 

int comp(const void *a,const void *b);*/ 

void main () 

{ 
char prisoner[10][60]; 
int count2=0; 
int count1=0; 

FILE*pfile; 

int choice; 
puts(" PRISONERS RECORD VIEWER\n\n"); 
puts("Fname Sname Reg DOB\n"); 

pfile=fopen("prisoner.txt","r"); 

if (pfile==NULL) 
{printf("Cannot find prisoner file\n");} 

for(;count1<10;count1++) 
{fgets(prisoner[count1],60, pfile);} 
printf("\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"); 


menu: 

printf("\n\n\n\n\nChoose from the option list below"); 
printf("or quit\n\n"); 
printf("OPTIONS :- First(1) Last(2) Previous(3) Next(4) Sort(5) "); 
printf("Quit(6)\n\n\n\n"); 

scanf("%d",&choice); 

switch (choice) 
{ case 1: 
count2=0; 
printf("\t\t\tPrisoner Record Viewer\n\n"); 
printf("Fname Sname Reg DOB\n\n"); 
printf("%s",prisoner[count2]); 
printf("\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"); 

goto menu; 

case 2: 
count2=9; 
printf("\t\t\tPrisoner Record Viewer\n\n"); 
printf("Fname Sname Reg DOB\n\n"); 
printf("%s",prisoner[count2]); 
printf("\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"); 

goto menu; 

case 3: 
count2=count2-1; 
if (count2<0) 
count2=0; 
printf("\t\t\tPrisoner Record Viewer\n\n"); 
printf("Fname Sname Reg DOB\n\n"); 
printf("%s",prisoner[count2]); 
printf("\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"); 

goto menu; 

case 4: 
count2=count2+1; 
if (count2>9) 
count2=9; 
printf("\t\t\tPrisoner Record Viewer\n\n"); 
printf("Fname Sname Reg DOB\n\n"); 
printf("%s",prisoner[count2]); 
printf("\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"); 

goto menu; 

/* case 5 : SORTING!!!!!!!!! */ 

case 6: 
exit(0); 

default: 
printf("\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n !NOT RECOGNISED!"); 
printf("please re-enter using keys 1-6 only"); 
goto menu; 
}

prisoner.txt ==========

Nudd, Bob, 00266989, 30-07-80,
Ward, Laura, 88998563, 25-09-64,
Best, George, 01005645, 10-10-54,
Moffat, Bobby 00254657, 25-06-48,
Braun, Ross, 02025984, 12-05-49,
O'Sullivan, Ron, 89215658, 12-03-62,
Brown, Wesley, 86456856, 10-12-58,
Chan, Jackie, 76856854, 01-10-50,
Garbo, Greta, 64856213, 19-06-66,
Charlton, Bobby, 66845123, 18-03-48,

Anyone know of anywhere on the web that gives the do's and donts of indentation? Thanks as ever Tom!

> void main ()
Try int main

No, wait, you must use int main

> Can't work out sorting for the life of me
Your code isn't ready for that - you need to incorporate the RECORD structure first

> goto menu;
And read a book about the use of the break; keyword within switch statements

> Anyone know of anywhere on the web that gives the do's and donts of indentation
Being consistent is the most important step - after that, it's just style
To preserve what you have, read this before posting more code

http://www.cprogramming.com/cboard/m...bbcode#buttons