can you help me figure this out?

[_Lfred]

I'm a new programmer, I just was curious and wanted to write some code that would compare two .txt files char by char and check if they are identicle.
this is the code that I wrote, Can someone help me figure out why it doesn't work?
The compiler i'm using is microsoft visual C++ ver.6.0
my compiler shows 0 errors 0 warnings, but the .exe crashes

// alfred J. Denigris
// write a program that tests if two text files are identicle.
// 1_27_2009

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
using namespace std;

ifstream getA;
ifstream getB;

bool test(char a, char b);

int main()
{

int num=0;
char chA, chB;

ifstream getA;
ifstream getB;

getA.open("fileA.txt");
getB.open("fileB.txt");



while (!getA.eof() || !getB.eof())
{

	getA.get(chA);
	getB.get(chB);


	if (test(chA, chB) == true)
		cout <<" char number "<<num<<"  is "<< chA << "for file a and "<< chB << "  For file b.  TRUE" <<endl;
		else
		cout <<" char number "<<num<<"  is "<< chA << "for file a and "<< chB << "  For file b.  FALSE" <<endl;
	
num++;
}
	
	

getA.close();
getB.close();
	cout << "end";
	return 0;
}


	bool test(char a, char b)
	{	if(a==b)
	return true;
	else 
		return false;	}

[laserlight]

I suggest that you start by writing a program that reads a file and prints its contents. A few things to note while you are at it:

• Avoid the use of global variables.
• Indent your code consistently.
• Do not use eof() to control the loop.

[_Lfred]

well, besides the obvious problem of declaring the ifstream variables twice, once globaly and another time local to main. I found out the problem after reading your reply.

The problem was that...

are you ready for this??

I wrote the entire thing on my 16 GB made in Hong Kong jump drive, which i now declare to be worthless.

The data was never there to begin with and was crashing for reasons relating to that.

Luckily i posted this code into the forum and after i restarted my computer( and lost that bit of code that i was writting) I was able to retrieve it from this forum.

Therefore... Thank you Cprogramming.com for the ability of this forum service and your members for helping me to "solve this problem"