File handling in C++ vs C

**rfclark** · 07-22-2008

Hello i am a C programmer that is currently in between my freshman and sophomore year of college. I am attempting to teach myself C++ over the summer. I was just wondering how i can use the #include<fstream> statement to open a file name as a string variable, so that the user can input the name of the file. I don't need you to show me any code, more just a flat out explanation of how the <fstream> works and how i can implement it for my practice program.

Thank you in advance, seeing as you managed to put enough time aside to read this far.

Just a heads up im not going to check for a reply until the morning i got a lot of material in today and am exhausted.

**Cactus_Hugger** · 07-23-2008

This is a FAQ.

**Daved** · 07-23-2008

>> how i can use the #include<fstream> statement to open a file name as a string variable
To pass a string to the fstream's constructor or open function, you need to call c_str() on the string variable. This is because the current version of fstream only takes a const char* instead of a string (the next standard will fix this). For example (assuming file_name is a std::string):

Code:

std::ifstream in_file(file_name.c_str());

Help on actually using the stream to input or output data probably requires a book or tutorial full of information.

**rfclark** · 07-23-2008

Thank you very much for the faq suggestion and the help.

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