Thread: File Handling in c programming........

Hi,
I just came across this program on the net and modified it a bit, but am not getting the same output.Could you'll please help me.

P.S: This may be a silly one, but please bear with me as im a new programmer.Thank you.


program to create a sequential file and to store data in a tabular form:


[COLOR="Blue"]

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#define FILENAME "seqtxtfi.txt"
int main(void)
{
  int n,i;
  char fld1[25];
  char fld2[20];
  char fld3[15];
  char fld4[15];
  FILE *fp;

  printf("Enter Ctrl-D to end input.\n");
  if ((fp = fopen(FILENAME, "w")) == NULL)
    printf("File could not be opened\n");
   
  else
  printf("Enter the no. of flds\n");
  scanf("%d",&n);
  for(i=0;i<n;i++)
  { start:
     printf("enter no.");
     scanf("%d",&n);
     printf("Enter Field 1   : ");
     fgets(fld1, sizeof(fld1), stdin);
     if (feof(stdin)) return 0;   
     fld1[strlen(fld1)-1] ='\t';

     printf("Enter Field 2   : ");
     fgets(fld2, sizeof(fld2), stdin);
     if (feof(stdin)) return 0;          
     fld2[strlen(fld2)-1] ='\t';

     printf("Enter Field 3   : ");
     fgets(fld3, sizeof(fld3), stdin);
     if (feof(stdin)) return 0;           
     fld3[strlen(fld3)-1] ='\t';

     printf("Enter Field 4   : ");
     fgets(fld4, sizeof(fld4), stdin);
     if (feof(stdin)) return 0;           
     fld4[strlen(fld4)-1] ='\0';
        
    {
       fprintf(fp, "%s%s%s%s\n", fld1, fld2, fld3, fld4);
       goto start;
       break;

     }
     fclose(fp);
  }
  return 0;
}

I expect the output to be like:
fld1 fld2 fld3 fld4
1 2 3 4
3 4 5 6


Unfortunately, i get Enter fld1 : Enter fld2:
i.e the first fld1 does not get accepted. Later on its ok. Plz help me.Thanks in advance.

I think its beacuase after the scanf() (where you get 'n') theres still a '\n' character in the input buffer. This then gets passed to the first fgets(). If you put a getchar in between them it should sort it out.

For more info on flushing the input buffer:
http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/...&id=1043284392

Originally Posted by mike_g

I think its beacuase after the scanf() (where you get 'n') theres still a '\n' character in the input buffer. This then gets passed to the first fgets(). If you put a getchar in between them it should sort it out.

For more info on flushing the input buffer:
http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/...&id=1043284392

COULD U PLEASE EXPLAIN IT A BIT FURTHER?????WHERE EXACTLY IS IT WRONG??????

When you are entering data at this line:

Code:

scanf("%d",&n);

you enter a number, but it is also followed by a newline character from when you hit the return key.

The newline character sits in an area of memory called the input buffer. Then when you call fgets here:

Code:

fgets(fld1, sizeof(fld1), stdin);

It sees that there is already a newline in the input buffer, so it takes it as if you just entered nothing but hit return.

getchar() takes 1 character input from the input buffer, so if you call this between the scanf() and fgets() statements then it will remove the newline that was causing problems from the input buffer.

there should be some kind of punishment for using all caps and talking like a 10 year old.

Hi,
Its me again....Thanks mike_g. It partially solved my problem. But when i say n=2, it displays
Enter fld1:74678
Enter fld2:78745
Enter fld3:38487
Again,
ENTER fld1:48934
/*then after enter, we have to press enter again*/
Enter fld2:498482
Enter fld3:897984
and exits....
but is there a way to prevent pressing enter twice??? Thanks again.


__________________________________________________
A "string" to simpleid:: making the same mistake twice never killed anybody and i guess YOU have to blame the makers of my Keyboard for a CAPSLOCK key. Well,i guess if you like to edit your posts,you should think of deleting them,too.THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE.