Thread: how would i approach this problem?

how would i approach a problem like this?

PROBLEM:

to create an array-based application used to register, view, modify, delete student accounts... the information for each student account must also be stored in a file, unless they are deleted...


QUESTION:

must i store first the information on an array of structs then copy all information to the file upon closing [if program reopened, the file is read and infos are again stored on the array of structs for another manipulation]

OR

are there other approaches in handling this problem?

can i ask a BIG favor please?

can i ask you sir to write a program, as simple as possible[but atleast also an array of struct]
that covers up the principles above? huhu

cuz i can barely understand yet, i can barely picture out what to do... and i have to pass this the day after tomorrow... T.T

ahh i see sir... XD

because it would be obvious that it's written by someone who knows more C than your teacher, most likely

lol....

but my code is not something like [read, manipulate, overwrite...] T.T thats why im doomed... i can even barely make the add_student work T.T
btw, here's my noobish code

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

typedef struct student_info{
	long long int stud_num;
	char name[50];
	char bday[30];
	char course[50];
		} student;

void login(char username[], char password[]);
char admin(void);
	void add_student(student accounts[20], FILE *file);

//*******************************************************************

int main(void)
{

	char option;
	char temp[100];
	char username[30];
	char password[30];
	student accounts[20];
	FILE *file = fopen("Data/Accounts.txt", "a+");

	clrscr();

	login(username, password);

	if(strcmp(username, "ADMIN") == 0 && strcmp(password, "admin") == 0)
	{
		option = admin();

		switch(option)
		{

			case '1' : {
							clrscr();
							printf("\n\nThis is the [Add a Student Account] Function.\n\n");
							printf("--------------------------------------------------------");
							add_student(accounts, file);
							break;
					}

			default : printf("\n\nInvalid option.\n\n");
		}
	}

	else
	{
		gotoxy(19, 24); printf("Invalid username or password.");
	}

	fclose(file);


	getche();
	return 0;
}

//*******************************************************************

void login(char username[], char password[])
{
	clrscr();
	gotoxy(19,5);  printf("********* ********    ***     *** *********");
	gotoxy(19,6);  printf("**    ***  **    ***   ***   ***  **    ***");
	gotoxy(19,7);  printf("**     **  **     ***  ***   ***  **     **");
	gotoxy(19,8);  printf("***        **    ***   **** ****  ***      ");
	gotoxy(19,9);  printf("********   *******     ** *** **  ******** ");
	gotoxy(19,10); printf(" ********  **    ***   ** *** **   ********");
	gotoxy(19,11); printf("      ***  **     **   **  *  **        ***");
	gotoxy(19,12); printf("**     **  **     **   **     **  **     **");
	gotoxy(19,13); printf("***    **  **     **   **     **  ***    **");
	gotoxy(19,14); printf("********* ***     *** ****   **** *********");
	gotoxy(45,45); printf("Student Record Management System");
	gotoxy(19,18); printf("Enter username:");
	gotoxy(35,18); gets(username);
	gotoxy(19,20); printf("Enter password:");
	gotoxy(35,20); gets(password);
}

//*******************************************************************

char admin(void)
{
	char option;

	clrscr();
	printf("\n\n-----Welcome Administrator!!!-----\n");
	printf("\n[1] --- Add a Student");
	printf("\n[2] --- Modify a Student Account.");
	printf("\n[3] --- Delete a Student Account.");
	printf("\n[4] --- Display all Student Acount Entries.");
	printf("\n[5] --- Logout");
	printf("\n[6] --- Terminate Program.\n");

	printf("\n\nPlease choose the task you want to perform.\n\n");
	scanf("%c", &option);

	return option;
}

//*******************************************************************

void add_student(student accounts[20], FILE *file)
{
	int i;
	int free;

	for(i = 0; i < 20; i++)
	{
		if(accounts[i].stud_num == NULL)
			free = i;
	}

	printf("\n\nEnter student information:\n\n");

	printf("\n\nStudent Number [which will be the account's username]:\n\n\n\t\t");
	scanf("%lld", &accounts[free].stud_num);
	fprintf(file, "%lld", accounts[free].stud_num);
	fputs("\t\t", file);

	printf("\n\nName:\t\t");
	gets(accounts[free].name);		// i dont know  why 2 gets(); work while 1 gets(); doesnt...
	gets(accounts[free].name);
	fprintf(file, "%s", accounts[free].name);
	fputs("\t\t", file);

	printf("\nBirthdate:\t");
	gets(accounts[free].bday);
	fprintf(file, "%s", accounts[free].bday);
	fputs("\t\t", file);

	printf("\nCourse:\t\t");
	gets(accounts[free].course);
	fprintf(file, "%s", accounts[free].course);
	fputs("\n", file);

	printf("\n\nAccount creation successful.\n");
}

//*******************************************************************

btw, im abandoning this code...
i want to code another one but i wanna try first coding one not involving FILES...
maybe just add, delete, display students... to see whether my array of structs works...
after that, ill revise including FILES...

cuz im still new to structs, much more an array of it and the FILES... xD haha srry

one question...
how can i see if a struct[in an array] is empty or not?
this is for finding free slots in the array...

Code:

for(i = 0; i < 20; i++)
	{
		if(accounts[i].stud_num == NULL)
			free = i;
	}

will this work? considering that the struct is still the same?