Getting user input for filename loop

jpchand · 09-16-2003, 03:09 AM

I have a program that prompts the user for an existing text file that they want my program to modify. Currently, when the user puts in a file that can't be found, the program displays an error message then quits. I would prefer to put the prompt in a while loop and while the file can't be found, prompt the user to try to input the file name again. I set up my loop but it doesn't work. THis is how I tried it:

Code:

cin>>input_file;

	fin.open(input_file);

	while (fin.fail())
	{
		fin.close();
		cout<<"Error opening input file. Did you input the wrong name or path?\n";
		cout<<"\nEnter the name of the text file: \n\n";
		cin>>input_file;

	fin.open(input_file);
	}

At first I didn't have the fin.close() at the top of the loop but added it when the loop was getting stuck in an infinite loop. I'm thinking that I might have to rename the file variable name each time, i.e.: input_file, input_file2, input_file3...

Is there a better way?

twm · 09-16-2003, 06:37 AM

>Is there a better way?

Code:

while (!cin.getline(filename) || !fin.open(filename)
  cerr<<File open failure, try again...\n";

09-16-2003, 03:09 AM	#1
jpchand Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 12	Getting user input for filename loop I have a program that prompts the user for an existing text file that they want my program to modify. Currently, when the user puts in a file that can't be found, the program displays an error message then quits. I would prefer to put the prompt in a while loop and while the file can't be found, prompt the user to try to input the file name again. I set up my loop but it doesn't work. THis is how I tried it: Code: cin>>input_file; fin.open(input_file); while (fin.fail()) { fin.close(); cout<<"Error opening input file. Did you input the wrong name or path?\n"; cout<<"\nEnter the name of the text file: \n\n"; cin>>input_file; fin.open(input_file); } At first I didn't have the fin.close() at the top of the loop but added it when the loop was getting stuck in an infinite loop. I'm thinking that I might have to rename the file variable name each time, i.e.: input_file, input_file2, input_file3... Is there a better way?
jpchand is offline

09-16-2003, 06:37 AM	#2
twm root Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 232	>Is there a better way? Code: while (!cin.getline(filename) \|\| !fin.open(filename) cerr<<File open failure, try again...\n";
twm is offline

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