Removing the last line of a file.

**skiingwiz** · 11-11-2003

I need to remove the last line of a text file. The last line is always the same, but the files could be very large so copying the file to a container and writing out all lines but the last is not an option.

Is there a quick way to do this? All of my other file code is using ofstreams, but I don't much care what objects I have to use to remove the line since it will be an action seperate from the rest of the file operations.

**Prelude** · 11-11-2003

>The last line is always the same
So ignore it...

**skiingwiz** · 11-11-2003

Originally posted by Prelude
>The last line is always the same
So ignore it...

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I need to remove the last line and then continue to add output to the file.

Basically, I am writing an XML file and I have to write the closing tag everytime I close the file. Then to add to the file I have to erase the closing tag, add the new info and rewrite the closing tag.

**major_small** · 11-11-2003

try this:

Code:

open file
create/open new 'temp' file
read line
output line to new 'temp' file
if line==last line
     output new data to 'temp' file
output last line (the last line you read in) to 'temp' file
close both files
copy 'temp' file to old file
delete 'temp' file

this way your not copying the whole file, into free-store... only line-by-line

note: if you do it this way, make sure the 'temp' file is clear of everything before you start writing to it (ios::trunc) because it will screw up your program eternally if you don't watch the XML file

**skiingwiz** · 11-11-2003

That is a pretty good temperary solution major_small. Thanks. I am still holding out hope that there is a way to do it without going through the entire file.

**major_small** · 11-11-2003

you mean not rewriting the entire file? there probably is, but it's not as easy

yes, there is such a thing as a lazy coder.

**alphaoide** · 11-11-2003

How about this?

Code:

fileObject.seekg(n, ios::end);

When n = 0, the get pointer will be placed at the end of fileObject; when n = 100, it means 100 bytes back from end of fileObject. I don't know how you could apply it for your purpose. Anyways, the same operation can be done with seekp (put pointer).

**DeathNinja42** · 11-11-2003

Find out how many bytes the closing tag is and use the seekg(that many bytes, ios::end) option, then just start writing.

I think that will work.

**skiingwiz** · 11-11-2003

Originally posted by DeathNinja42
Find out how many bytes the closing tag is and use the seekg(that many bytes, ios::end) option, then just start writing.

I think that will work.

That is what I am trying now, it doesn't seem to be working, no matter how far back I seek, it just starts to write at the end of the file. I believe the problem is that I was opening the file in ios::app mode, which I read resets the seek pointer to the end of the file before each inser. I am now trying to open in ios::ate, but this seems to be overwriting the whole file for some reason.

In any case, this is all very helpful. Thanks to everyone who responded. I'll keep working on it.

<edit> but it should be seekp and not seekg, right? </edit>

**alphaoide** · 11-11-2003

I can't tell what you did wrong but there is seekg() and there is seekp() . The first one is for the istream which at which the next input is to occur. The latter is for ostream which indicates the byte number in the file at which the next output should be placed.
n your case, you want to use seekp

**skiingwiz** · 11-11-2003

Thanks

**Cat** · 11-11-2003

However, for true commit or rollback behavior, you really want to make a copy, modify the copy, and only if everything else succeeded 100% do you delete the original and rename the copy.

It's a better strategy.

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