help with file i/o

I have a file called accounts.txt that I am trying to read information from. An example of the contents are:

C A 25.00
D B 5.00
C B 6.00
C A 3.00

The real size of the file is not known, other than there are 3 columns, two char and one double. I need to put all of the data into 3 different arrays. When I read from the file, will the data be read from top to bottom like I want it? Also, how can I tell when I am at the bottom of the column and how do I switch to the other column? Thanx.

This file is in text format, I assume? Does it have to be? Text I/O sucks.

Best bet would probably be to read the file one line at a time and parse what you get into the three separate columns. Just check for EOF when reading to know when you've reach the End... Of File.

use streams (in fstream), use vectors (in the STL).

have a stream read data into a buffer, and if the data is legit, create a new entry in the vector to hold the data.

The file will be read from left to right, not top to bottom. Here is an example using c++ streams.

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>

using namespace std;

int main(void)
{
  char a[300];
  char b[300];
  double c[300];
  int n, i;

  ifstream in("values.txt");
  if (!in)
  {
      cout << "File not found." << endl;
      return 0;
  }

  n = 0;
  while (in >> a[n] >> b[n] >> c[n])
      n++;

  for (i=0; i<n; i++)
      cout << a[i] << " " << b[i] << " " << c[i] << endl;
  in.close();
  return 0;
}

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