Using inFile to read from TXT yields gibberish

Hello. I'm using the following code to try to just read a few names from a text file (I'm learning C++ from a college book). However, when I run it, the outputFile program makes the names right, but when I read it in, I get gibberish.. like ASCII characters.

I've tried re-starting the computer, and making sure NOTEPAD was the default .TXT document program.

Thanks for any help.

Code:

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#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
  ifstream inFile;
  const int SIZE = 81; //Size limit
  char name[SIZE];
 
  inFile.open("demofile.txt");
  cout << "Reading data from the file.\n\n";
 
  inFile >> name;
  cout << name << endl;
  inFile >> name;
  cout << name << endl;
  inFile >> name;
  cout << name << endl;
  inFile >> name;
  cout << name << endl;
 
  inFile.close();
  cout << "\nDone.\n";
 
    system("PAUSE");
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

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How do you know that the line

Code:

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inFile.open("demofile.txt");

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succeeds?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tabstop

How do you know that the line

Code:

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inFile.open("demofile.txt");

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succeeds?

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oh, crap.. I just wrote this long message, then realized that you're right.. I forgot to add the frigging path.. it should be inFile.open("c:\\demofile.txt");

Ok, thanks. I feel dumb. :)

A simple:

Code:

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if (!inFile)
{
}

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Will help a lot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bubba

A simple:

Code:

---

if (!inFile)
{
}

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Will help a lot.

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1) There is little reason not to simply do

Code:

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if ( !inFile.open("demofile.txt") )
{
}

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2) Failing to open a file is only one of the places an error can occur. Every line that deals with the file should be error checked. The best way to do this is to call inFile.exception(ios::failbit|ios::badbit) and put the whole thing into a try block. The alternative solution is to check each call to inFile for failure, and deal with it there.