Thread: file mode

  1. #1
    International Freak
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    file mode

    if I open a file that does not exist with mode r will the file pointer return as false? Example:

    Code:
    FILE *filePtr = fopen(".//file_does_not_exist.dat", "r");
    
    if(!filePtr) {
         printf("File not found.");
    } else {
         printf("File opened.");
         //other actions here
    }
    Will that return "File not found." or "File opened."?
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  2. #2
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    If a file does not exist fopen will return NULL if using mode "r"

    !NULL == true (on most compilers)
    NULL == false (again on most compilers)

    So it should get you "File not found."

  3. #3
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    thanx
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  4. #4
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    I agree with you Thantos except for the "on most compilers" part. NULL is a null pointer constant, something defined by C to be a constant expression with the value 0, or such an expression cast to void *. As we know, 0 is always false, therefore !0 is always true. So "on most compilers" should be changed to "on all compilers that claim to implement C".
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  5. #5
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    Thanks for the clarification. I thought I read that NULL wasn't required to equate to 0.

  6. #6
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    >I thought I read that NULL wasn't required to equate to 0.
    It isn't required to be all bits zero, but the value is always equivalent to 0.
    My best code is written with the delete key.

  7. #7
    Registered User linuxdude's Avatar
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    So it could equate to negative zero is what you are saying ex
    Code:
    0000 0000 == NULL
    1000 0000 == NULL
    That is the only way I can see not all bits being zero and it stil equate to zero

  8. #8
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    10000000 != -0

  9. #9
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
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    >10000000 != -0
    He's talking about binary representations of signed chars, but still, 1000 000 is actually -128.
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  10. #10
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    I was trying to put up the actual value but I couldn't connect to the server

  11. #11
    Registered User linuxdude's Avatar
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    Is that what Prelude means though?

  12. #12
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    >Is that what Prelude means though?
    Something like that. I'll admit I wasn't being very clear. A null pointer can be any absolute invalid address, so it need not be all bits zero, ie. address 0x000000. The macro NULL on the other hand must evaluate to the value 0.
    My best code is written with the delete key.

  13. #13
    Registered User pinko_liberal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by linuxdude
    Is that what Prelude means though?
    Comparing a pointer to NULL and comparing a pointer to zero are equivalent,
    so, if fp is a FILE * , then
    if(fp==0) and if(fp==NULL) are testing the same thing

    if(fp) (which is equivalent to if(fp!=0)) is the same as if(fp != NULL)

    From the Bible
    An integer constant expression with the value 0, or such an expression cast to type void *, is called a null pointer constant.55) If a null pointer constant is converted to a pointer type, the resulting pointer, called a null pointer
    So, 0 is a null pointer constant as are 0L, (void *) 0 etc. etc.

    Also look up the documentation on the equality operator (==) 6.9.5.5
    If one operand is a pointer and the other is a null pointer constant, the null pointer constant is converted to the type of the pointer....
    The one who says it cannot be done should never interrupt the one who is doing it.

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