Copying content of file into a 2D array

**trueman1991** · 12-15-2009

Hi, im currently writing a wordsearch programme and am on to the part where i need to store the information from a file into a 2D array.

This is the content of the file that i am using:

25 15
xmfycxvtljlqbbybkoumjqwbt
baubmeknbeydqmcnzyjpvrack
qqactivexnyvwdvcoshoyathg
vaghzkctudptjdphsztprbttl
obsnakjwqbouftmgnjqbylinu
vsewohvobxsduqjiffkoylodo
dukwwefroyamapmlrrjvdolop
iqkfxtlksjufmtrsbycmqrrri
afervlqidqxxaoanfqjlmcpjh
yoyywrbpfcalflcbbcoecspwl
twbxetyuyufvvmcuawjmbwlqh
txokdexmdbtgvhpyvsqtmljdx
dcatenrehteoxqdgnueljtrrn
jarteqvtxejfsqddkbuhcysfq
hpdrowssapxtrxhpdxcdhicon

i have already set up the C programme so that it opens the file and then reads the first line of the file so it knows what the height and width of the grid will be.

However im having trouble trying to work out how to put it into an array.

I will post my code below, but i would just like to let you know that i am yet to get something 100% solid so what you will see in my programme getting the content into the array is most probably a lot of bulls***

To put it plainly - Im having trouble taking this:
xmfycxvtljlqbbybkoumjqwbt
baubmeknbeydqmcnzyjpvrack
qqactivexnyvwdvcoshoyathg
vaghzkctudptjdphsztprbttl
obsnakjwqbouftmgnjqbylinu
vsewohvobxsduqjiffkoylodo
dukwwefroyamapmlrrjvdolop
iqkfxtlksjufmtrsbycmqrrri
afervlqidqxxaoanfqjlmcpjh
yoyywrbpfcalflcbbcoecspwl
twbxetyuyufvvmcuawjmbwlqh
txokdexmdbtgvhpyvsqtmljdx
dcatenrehteoxqdgnueljtrrn
jarteqvtxejfsqddkbuhcysfq
hpdrowssapxtrxhpdxcdhicon

and storing it in an array, because its in a file

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
	char filename[25];              
	char wordsearch[i] [j];     
	int height, width ;				


	FILE *f;                    	 
/* start of code for opening file */
{ 
  printf("Please specify input file\n");   
  scanf("%s", filename);			

    f = fopen(filename, "r");			
    while (f==NULL)						
  		{
			printf("Couldn't open input file, please change the file name \n");  
  			scanf("%s", filename);      
  			f = fopen(filename, "r");   
		}
} /* end of code for opening file */
{
		fscanf(f,"%d %d", &height, &width);
		printf("The height of the grid is... %d\n", height);
		printf("The width of the grid is... %d\n", width);
}

{
	/* start of code to putting content of file into array
	int column;
	int row;

	for (column = 0, column < height, i++)
	fscanf(f, "%s\n", &wordsearch[i]);

	for(row = 0, row < width, i++)
	fscanf(f, "%s\n", &wordsearch[i]);
	*/
}
}

any input will be greatly apprectiated.

**jeffcobb** · 12-15-2009

fread() is your friend.

Code:

 result = fread (bufferSizeOfWidth,1,width,pFile);

**trueman1991** · 12-15-2009

thanks, i dont spose you could use it in context, doesnt have to be with what i have here, but with some example code in it.
This is because i kinda understand what you getting at with the help of wikipedia but im still not 100% sure what to do :P.

**quzah** · 12-15-2009

Code:

for( x = 0; x < rows; x++ )
     fgets( row[ x ], cols, file );

You could just do something like that. You're going to have to handle the newline anyway, unless it's a binary file, and it's just a series of consecutive bytes without any newlines. In which case, fread is indeed your friend.

Quzah.

**jeffcobb** · 12-15-2009

Well.....since I have already gotten my knuckles wrapped for providing complete solutions but I still want to help, here is my compromise:

Code:

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

int main(void)
{
   char filename[25];
   char wordsearch[50] [50]={{0}};// props to MHJ
   int width, height;

   FILE *f;
   // initialize your variables!!


   { /* Code for opening the file */
      printf("Please specify input file\n");
      scanf("%s", filename);

      f = fopen(filename, "r");
      while (f==NULL)
      {
	 printf("Couldn't open input file, please change the file name \n");
	 scanf("%s", filename);
	 f = fopen(filename, "r");
      }
   } /* end of code for opening file */
   {
      fscanf(f,"%d %d",&width, &height);
      printf("The height of the grid is... %d\n", height);
      printf("The width of the grid is... %d\n", width);

      for(int lines = 0; lines < height; lines++)
      {
	 int nCharsRead = fread( (void*)wordsearch[lines], 1, width, f);
      }
      fclose(f);
      // now show what you ended up with
      for(int x = 0; x < height; x++)
      {
	 printf("%s", (char*)wordsearch[x]);
      }
      printf("\n");
   }
   
}

It demonstrates what you want but ...I left a small bug in here. Run it to see the bug. Happy troubleshooting

Peace
Jeff

**jeffcobb** · 12-15-2009

I meant to ask: whats up with all of the code block braces?

Just wondering. Never seen anyone do that unless they were trying to control the destruction of some automatic vars....

Peace.

**trueman1991** · 12-15-2009

do you mean the

Code:

{ and }

if so im just using them to break it up so its easier to understand from my point of view, cos i have like the code for opening the code so i put that in its own seperate braces and once thats done leave well alone.

**trueman1991** · 12-15-2009

thanks for helping

also i like your trick, declaring them inside the for loops

**jeffcobb** · 12-15-2009

Originally Posted by trueman1991

do you mean the

Code:

{ and }

if so im just using them to break it up so its easier to understand from my point of view, cos i have like the code for opening the code so i put that in its own seperate braces and once thats done leave well alone.

Ok...just watch for automatic variables created inside the braces destructing outside of them....but to each his own.

Happy Tuesday...

Jeff

**laserlight** · 12-15-2009

Originally Posted by trueman1991

if so im just using them to break it up so its easier to understand from my point of view, cos i have like the code for opening the code so i put that in its own seperate braces and once thats done leave well alone.

Consider turning them into functions instead.

Originally Posted by trueman1991

also i like your trick, declaring them inside the for loops

A warning though, in case you need to work with a compiler that does not support C99: declaring variables like that was introduced in C99. Likewise, your variable declarations in the middle of a block are also a C99 feature. Previously, local variables would have to be declared at the start of a block.

**itCbitC** · 12-16-2009

IMO consider using a dynamic 2D array instead of a static / pre-allocated 2D array.
With a static array it's easy to go out of bounds if line length > array's 2nd dimension; or
You will end up consuming more memory than you actually need.

Thread: Copying content of file into a 2D array

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Copying content of file into a 2D array

BTW...

Similar Threads

Can we have vector of vector?

Read file in 2D array

file into 2d array

Help with an Array

Text file to 2D Array PLEASE HELP!