Can I write & read file in same program?

Here is my problem:
Write a C program that will read and display every second character in the file named test.dat.

Here is the cod I have so far:

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
       
                  FILE *outfile;
                    char data[40] = "kTjHdIjSo kInSg xAc rCv hPhRyOmGqRaAeM";
            outfile = fopen("test.dat","w");
            if (outfile == NULL)
              {
                    printf("\nFailed to open the file.\n");
       
              }
            fprintf(outfile,"%-40s\n",data[40]);
            fclose(outfile);
       
       
       
        FILE *infile;
        infile = fopen("test.dat","r");
        if (infile == NULL)
        {
                printf("\nFailed to open the file.\n");
               
        }
       
        while (fscanf(infile, "%s",data) !=EOF)
                printf("%-40s\n",data);
        fclose(infile);
       
       
       
       
        return 0;
}

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I was wondering can I make the test.dat file at the beginning of the program and then access it right after that? Also does anyone have any ideas on how to read the 2nd character? I was trying to spell out a message once I got it to work. I was thinking a FOR loop but not sure how to make it work. Can I increment by 2 and if so how? Thanks for helping me out guys. Also how do I get this to indent so the code is easier to read? It looks fine in the message box.

Thanks for the help Salem!

One more question though, I tried a FOR loop to scan every 2nd number but I guess I didn't set it up right. I just kept getting everything instead of the message I tried to embed. Any ideas on how to make this work? Here's the new code:

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
        int i;
        FILE *infile;
        FILE *outfile;
    char data[40] = "kTjHdIjSo kInSg xAc rCv hPhRyOmGqRaAeM";
        outfile = fopen("test.dat","w");
        if (outfile == NULL)
        {
                printf("\nFailed to open the file.\n");
       
        }
        fprintf(outfile,"%-40s\n",data);
        fclose(outfile);
       
       
       
       
        infile = fopen("test.dat","r");
        if (infile == NULL)
        {
                printf("\nFailed to open the file.\n");
               
        }
       
        while (fscanf(infile, "%s",data) !=EOF)
                printf("%-40s\n",data);
        fclose(infile);
       
       
       
       
        return 0;
}

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>Any ideas on how to make this work?

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
  char data[] = "kTjHdIjSo kInSg xAc rCv hPhRyOmGqRaAeM";
  /*
    * Create the file. Write 'data' string followed by newline.
    */
  FILE *file = fopen("test.dat", "w");
  if ( file != NULL )
  {
      fprintf(file, "%s\n", data);
      fclose(file);
  }
  /*
    * Read the file one char at a time; write every other char.
    */
  file = fopen("test.dat", "r");
  if ( file != NULL )
  {
      int i = 0; /* skip the first char */
      for ( ;; )
      {
        int ch = fgetc(file); /* read each char from file */
        if ( ch == EOF )
        {
            break;
        }
        if ( i ) /* print every other char */
        {
            putchar(ch);
        }
        i = !i; /* toggle 'i' to print every other char */
      }
      putchar('\n');
      fclose(file);
  }
  return 0;
}

/* my output
THIS IS A C PROGRAM
*/

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