need help with command line arguments

Hi everyone.
I have to do the following for my project,
You are required to develop a program to search a test file for the number of occurrences of at least two words. Output from the program should be produced both on the display and held in second text file.

The input file, output file and the search words should be specified as command line arguments for the program.
i.e mysearchprog inputfile outputfile the but
where mysearchprog is the name of the program, inputfile and outputfile are the names of the input and output files and the and but are the search words.

Hint :
Your application should contain a number of functions.
Remember that words in the text file can be terminated with spaces, commas, full stops, etc.

I don't quite understand the command line arguments and how they're excecuted.
I've written the code below,it opens a file and gives the number of occurrence of 1-letter word , 2-letter word and so one,
how can I use the command line arguments and how can I search for specific words like the, but.
can someone one help me please.

Code:

---


#include "stdafx.h"
#include <stdio.h>
#define LEN_TOTAL 21

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
        int word_length_occurrence[ LEN_TOTAL ] = { 0 };
        char string[700]={0},
              tempStr[300]={0},
                  *tokenPtr;
          size_t i,
          maxLength = 0;
       
       
        FILE * pFile;
            pFile = fopen ("input.txt","r");
    if (pFile==NULL) perror ("Error opening file");
  else
  {
   
        while (fgets( tempStr, sizeof( tempStr ), pFile ) != NULL)
{
          strcat( string, tempStr );
}
                  tokenPtr = strtok( string, " \n" );
       
          while ( tokenPtr != NULL ) {
      maxLength = strlen( tokenPtr );
      word_length_occurrence[ maxLength ]++;
      tokenPtr = strtok( NULL, " ! -.,\n" );
        }
      printf( "%8s%15s\n", "Word Length", "Occurrences" );

          for ( i = 1; i < LEN_TOTAL; i++ )
      printf( "%4d%15d%c", i, word_length_occurrence[ i ], '\n' );
         
 
        printf( "\n" );
    getchar();
        fclose (pFile);
}
 
FILE * pFile2;
                pFile2 = fopen ("output.txt","w+");
                if (pFile2 != NULL) {
                fprintf( pFile2,"%8s%15s\n", "Word Length", "Occurrences" );

                for ( i = 1; i < LEN_TOTAL; i++ ) {
      fprintf( pFile2,"%4d%15d%c", i, word_length_occurrence[ i ],'\n' );
         
                fclose(pFile2);
                }
                }
 

 
 
  return 0;
}

---

First off, learn to indent your code properly (and use spaces instead of tabs).

But your question is simple.

Code:

---

int main(int argc, char*[] argv)

---

Assuming that's what your main function looks like, argc will hold the number of command line arguments, argv will be an array of those same command line arguments.

what about searching for the specific words as command line arguments such as the , but.

example :

./myprog file1.txt file2.txt word1 word2

argc = 5
argv[0] = myprog
argv[1] = file1.txt
argv[2] = file2.txt
argv[3] = word1
argv[4] = word2

The C standard library contains a number of string utility functions (I see you've already used a few of them). Look up strstr() and strcmp().

. . . and include <string.h>, whatever you do, since you're already using some functions from it.

Code:

---

int main(int argc, char*[] argv)

---

Actually, that's not right. My compiler doesn't like it. You should put the [] after argv.

Code:

---

int main(int argc, char *argv[])

---

how can I run the program with command line arguments, do I just run it by pressing F5 or is there another way,
cos pressing f5 doesn't work

Run it through the terminal/command line,

ie On Windows, I think it's something like: Start -> Run -> cmd (Or command.com if it's 9x based)
Then locate your compiled binary, ie with 'cd', then run it as such

Code:

---

blah.exe arg1 arg2 arg3

---

I personally use command-line prompt to do this type of stuff, but if you want, there is a setting for "command line" under "project->properties" (make sure you click on the executable "product", rather than some individual .c or .cpp file).

Just remember what you set it to last time, because I've more than once "confused myself" thinking that the command line is "x", when it's actually "y", and wondering why the application isn't doing what I wanted.

--
Mats

I don't see any exe files in the directory.
and when I use cpp file it says it not recognised as internal or external command

You are using visual studio, yes? The .exe file is in a directory called "Debug" or "Release" (depending on which build-mode you are using - and it CAN be changed, but I wouldn't recommend you mess with those things, as it can get very confusing to yourself and others).

Also, REMEMBER that when you switch from using the debug version to the release version (or other way around), you will need to move to the other directory, or you won't see the difference when you compile the code again with some changes... (Guess how I learned that one :-) )

--
Mats

thanks I found the exe file
but it still tells me that it's not recognised as internal or external command
when I try to run it,
I use start > run > cmd
then bring it to the debug directory where the exe file is and then I type
exe command line xxx yyy zzz

exe command line is the name of my exe file.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cyber_tech

thanks I found the exe file
but it still tells me that it's not recognised as internal or external command
when I try to run it,
I use start > run > cmd
then bring it to the debug directory where the exe file is and then I type
exe command line xxx yyy zzz

exe command line is the name of my exe file.

---

Can you copy and paste the exact command line from your command prompt? [Mark with the mouse and hit enter to copy from a command window]

--
Mats

its working now
thanks for the help Mats