file select

hi
ive written a program which so far reads in data from a file.

Code:

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

// the number of ints for the fishers structure
#define MAX 4

struct fisher
{
   char name[80];
   char address[90];
   char postcode[14];
   /*
    * the int will hold, firstly a competetitor number, then a number for each
    * competition weight in ounces
    */
   int compNumber [MAX];
};

FILE *fisher_get(FILE *file, struct fisher *fisher)
{
   char line[80], *newline;
   int  i, stones, pounds, ounces;
   /*
    * Get the name.
    */
   if ( !fgets(fisher->name, sizeof fisher->name, file) )
   {
      return NULL;
   }
   newline = strchr(fisher->name, '\n');
   if ( newline )
   {
      *newline = '\0';
   }
   printf("fisher->name = \"%s\"\n", fisher->name);
   /*
    * Get the address and post code.
    */
   if ( fscanf(file, "%89[^.]. %13[^\n]%*c", fisher->address, fisher->postcode) != 2 )
   {
      return NULL;
   }
      printf("fisher->address = \"%s\"\n", fisher->address);
      printf("fisher->postcode = \"%s\"\n", fisher->postcode);
   /*
    * Read and discard next line (or do whatever with it).
    */
   fgets(line, sizeof line, file);
   /*
    * Read the stones, pounds, and ounces for each entry.
    */
   for (i = 0; i < 3; ++i)
   {
      printf("i = %d:\n", i);
      if ( fscanf(file, "%d %d %d%*c", &stones, &pounds, &ounces) != 3 )
      {
         return NULL;
      }
      printf(" stones = %d\n", stones);
      printf(" pounds = %d\n", pounds);
      printf(" ounces = %d\n", ounces);
   }
   return file;
}

int main()
{
   FILE *file = fopen("autumn.txt", "r");
   if ( file != NULL )
   {
      int i;
      char line[80];
      struct fisher fisher;
      /*
       * Read and display first two lines.
       */
      for ( i = 0; i < 2; ++i )
      {
         fgets(line, sizeof line, file);
         fputs(line, stdout);
      }
      while ( fisher_get(file, &fisher) )
      {
      }
      fclose(file);
   }
   return 0;

im just stuck on the best way to select which file the user wants to read, as i have more than one, one called autumn.txt and one called spring.txt.

any help very much welcomed

Originally Posted by EllieProgrammer

hi
ive written a program which so far reads in data from a file.

<snip familiar code>

im just stuck on the best way to select which file the user wants to read, as i have more than one, one called autumn.txt and one called spring.txt.

any help very much welcomed

FAQ > How do I... (Level 1) > Get a line of text from the user/keyboard (C)

yeh i know that, but im asking how do i get the:

FILE *file = fopen("spring.txt", "r");

so it can select the result of the inputed file name , instead of a hardcoded file

You can pass filename as a command line argument to the program or select a filename based on some descision criteria. Use that filename (string) in fopen() . For e.g

Code:

constant char *file1 = "abc.txt"
constant char *file2 = "efg.txt"
char *file;
FILE *fp;

if (condition 1 is true)
{
    file = file1;
} else {
    file = file2;
}

fp=fopen(file,"r");

Or you do what Dave is implying.

See around here there are a bunch of us who actually like to see if you can think at all for yourself. Thus, we give you a point in the right direction, and see where you end up. Most of you end up back here whining about getting lost, or that we're not helpful enough.

However, there are those that can think for themselves, and they usually appreciate what we do, because rather than just handing out a candy coated answer, they get to figure it out for themselves. These are the people who you will lose out in your job interviews too.

Anyway, back on topic...

Dave was suggesting, by way of a FAQ *, that you prompt the user for the file name, and pass that to fopen. See? I didn't need him to do anything more than provide one line of text to figure out what he had in mind. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

But for those who are lost, you've now been shown a big flashing beacon telling you what to do.

Quzah.

idiot

And closed.