Using API function ReadFile()

Using ReadFile()

Hello,

I would like to use a configuration file with my application, and use the ReadFile function (unless there is an even better way) to retrieve data from it. How would I go about retrieving data from a specific area in a text file?

For example:
In a file with several values I want to retrieve "Address," which, in this case, is "Whatever?"

Name: Whatever
Age: 11
Address: Whatever
Telephone Number: 555-5555

Can the SetFilePointer() function be used, in conjunction with ReadFile, of course, for this purpose? If so, how exactly?

Thanks in advance

Echidna

As long as you know the offset within your file, you can do -

SetFilePointer(hFileHandle,iOffset,0,FILE_BEGIN);

Thanks for responding, Zen

>>>As long as you know the offset within your file, you can do -
SetFilePointer(hFileHandle,iOffset,0,FILE_BEGIN);> >>

That is the problem. How do you keep track of the offset (I assume by offset you mean the number of bytes to move the file pointer) in a file that is constantly being appended?????

Is there a way to set the pointer by line instead of by bytes?

Thanks in advance

Note: I have used GetPrivateProfileString(), and the related functions, in the past for configuration files, but I will eventually need to learn how to use the ReadFile function since it is much more versatile.

Use GetFileSize() on the HANDLE returned from CreateFile().
GlobaAlloc() for the file size and read the lot with ReadFile().

Use a pointer to the mem block and string matching to find what you are looking for.

Use titles like

[NAME]
Your Name

[AGE]
12

ect
as these help to divide the file.

>>Is there a way to set the pointer by line instead of by bytes?

Not unless you make the lines all the same length and know which one you need or know each lines length.

With sprintf() you can set the string length with

Code:

---

int  iLineLength=MAX_LINE_SIZE;

sprintf(sBuffer,"%*s",iLineLength,sText);

---

Ahhhhh.......I see, good idea. Thanks for the suggestions, "novacain." Still, it appears as if GetPrivateProfileString() would be more efficient, but I will need to tackle using the ReadFile function some day -- today seems like a good day to start :-)

Thanks guys

Echidna