Thread: read() always returning 0 (not reading)

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    19

    read() always returning 0 (not reading)

    I am playing around with the read(), write(), and open() system calls. I wrote a function to open/create 3 files, a function to write a test message to the files, and a file to read and print to the terminal what is in the files.

    The open and write system calls work fine, if I cat the files they display exactly what they should. When I try to read from the files though my reads are always returning 0, and so not displaying anything from the file.

    I tried running the program once, then commenting out the write function. When I do this the read function will read from the files, but the output is unfortunately garbage. I seem to have this sort of trouble when using the read system call and would very much appreciate any help so I can use them properly.

    Here are the open and read functions, I have code in the read function to check the values of the fd that the pointers hold and they are correct.

    Code:
    
    int openfiles(int *fdp1, int *fdp2, int *fdp3){
    
    	/*Open file for appending */
    	if((*fdp1=open("file1-append", O_RDWR|O_CREAT|O_APPEND,S_IRUSR |S_IWUSR))==-1){
    		perror("File1 Open Error");
    	}
    	
    	/* open file and truncate */
    	if((*fdp2=open("file2-trunc", O_RDWR|O_CREAT|O_TRUNC, S_IRUSR|S_IWUSR))==-1){
    		perror("File2 Open Error");	
    	}
    	
    	/* Open file only if it does not already exist */
    	if((*fdp3=open("file3-wronce", O_RDWR|O_CREAT|O_EXCL, S_IRUSR|S_IWUSR))==-1){
    		perror("File3 Open Error");
    	}
    
    return 0;
    
    }
    
    int readfiles(int *fdp1, int *fdp2, int *fdp3){
    	printf("\nfdp1:%d,fdp2:%d,fdp3:%d\n",*fdp1,*fdp2,*fdp3);
    	ssize_t readstatus;	
    	char mybuffer[BUFF_SIZE];
    	
    	
    	
    	puts("File 1:");
    	readstatus = read(*fdp1,&mybuffer,BUFF_SIZE);
    	printf("\nreadstatus:%d\n",readstatus);
    	while(readstatus > 0){
    		puts(mybuffer);
    		printf("\nreadstatus:%d\n",readstatus);
    		readstatus = read(*fdp1,&mybuffer,BUFF_SIZE);
    	}
    	printf("\nreadstatus:%d\n",readstatus);
    	if(readstatus ==-1){
    		perror("Error reading File 1:");
    		exit(1);
    	}
    	
    
    	
    	if((readstatus = read(*fdp2,&mybuffer,BUFF_SIZE))==-1){
    		perror("Error reading File 2:");
    		exit(1);
    	}
    	printf("\nreadstatus:%d\n",readstatus);
    	puts("File 2:");
    	puts(mybuffer);
    	if((readstatus = read(*fdp3,&mybuffer,BUFF_SIZE))==-1){
    		perror("Error reading File 3:");
    		puts("File probably already exists");	
    	}
    	puts("File 3:");
    	puts(mybuffer);
    
    	return 0;
    
    }

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    6,815
    Check the modes you're using to open your input files. All three files are being opened O_RDWR (which means you can both read and write them). O_APPEND (which you're using for the first input file) positions the file pointer at the end of the file, so read() will always return zero on the first call. O_TRUNC, which you're using for the second, truncates the file to length zero - which also causes read() to return zero on the first call.
    Right 98% of the time, and don't care about the other 3%.

    If I seem grumpy or unhelpful in reply to you, or tell you you need to demonstrate more effort before you can expect help, it is likely you deserve it. Suck it up, Buttercup, and read this, this, and this before posting again.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    19
    Ah! Thank you grumpy. That makes sense. So I'll give lseek a shot.

    Thanks!

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