Thread: reading from stdin and FILE

I've been working on this assignment for two days now and I'm stumped.

My first issue: I thought maybe there was something in C that could read full sentences from stdin, i browsed forums and found some suggestions such as:

Code:

scanf("%100[^\n]s", string);

but that's not working for me. so i came up with my own function and its not giving me the results i want. here is the function including the call from main:

Code:

/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
 *        FROM MAIN          *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
    printf("\nAdding a new part...\n\t");
    printf("Enter part name: ");
    get_string(new_part.pname);


/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
 *        FUNCTION DEFINITION        *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * /


void get_string(char *string)
{
    int length = 0;
    char string_cat[25];
    
    fpurge(stdin);
    
    while(string_cat[length] < 25)
    {
        if (string_cat[length] != '\n')
        {
            scanf("%s", string_cat);
            strcat(string, string_cat);
            length = strlen(string) -1;
        }        
    }
    
        string[length + 1] = '\0';


    fpurge(stdin);
}


/* * * * * * * * * * *
 *        INPUT          *
 * * * * * * * * * * */
new part




/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
 *        UNDESIRED OUTPUT       *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */ 
8newpart

where is the eight coming from? i thought fpurge clear the buffer. Also, I'm trying to add spaces in between words... i thought maybe putting within the while loop but outside of the if statement string[length +1] = '\0' would work, but it doesn't. so i put it outside of the loop but that i knew that wouldnt work either.

Problem #2 is reading from a file.. so far i have the following code which reads everything perfectly except the .txt file has a new line character at the end and i think its reading it:

Code:

/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 *        READS FROM FILE         *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */

    if(read_in != NULL)
    {
        while ((fgets(read_string, MAX_PARTS ,read_in) != NULL) && (array_position < MAX_PARTS))
        {
            sscanf(read_string, "%17c %s %lf %s %s %d", parts.elements[array_position].pname, parts.elements[array_position].pnumber, &parts.elements[array_position].weight, parts.elements[array_position].supplier1, parts.elements[array_position].supplier2, &parts.elements[array_position].in_stock);
            remove_spaces(parts.elements[array_position].pname);
            array_position++;
            parts.last++; 
        }
    }


    fclose(read_in);

/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
 *       PLEASE HELP ME REMOVE THE LAST LINE OF JUNK     *
 *       this is what it reads when i test it                               *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
ball bearings 1212-03, 3.7800000 N, 830 in stock

 , 0.0000000 N, 0 in stock

i want it to stop after reading the ball bearings line. a lot of issues for one post, but all related to reading inputs so i put it all on one. can someone please help me?