Data Files

[Xarky]

Hi,
Is it possible to make use of data files in C? If yes can someone
tell how or suggest me a site from where I can learn them.
Thanks in Advance for your patience.

[Richard Bos]

be*********@yah oo.com (Xarky) wrote:

Is it possible to make use of data files in C?

No, it's not. Data files are a very advanced subject of information
theory, much too complicated for a simple language like C. In fact, even
C++, which we all know is a much stronger language than C, capable of
expressing much more advanced data types, is barely strong enough to
handle data files.
If you really need to use C, stick to simple kinds of files like binary
and text files, and keep all your data in memory or on the stack. If you
do need to use data files, my suggestion is to use a truly modern,
advanced programming language, such as ADA, ML, or Visual Basic.

Richard

[Thomas Matthews]

Richard Bos wrote:

be*********@yah oo.com (Xarky) wrote:

Is it possible to make use of data files in C?

No, it's not. Data files are a very advanced subject of information
theory, much too complicated for a simple language like C. In fact, even
C++, which we all know is a much stronger language than C, capable of
expressing much more advanced data types, is barely strong enough to
handle data files.
If you really need to use C, stick to simple kinds of files like binary
and text files, and keep all your data in memory or on the stack. If you
do need to use data files, my suggestion is to use a truly modern,
advanced programming language, such as ADA, ML, or Visual Basic.

Richard

Either there is sarcasm in this reply, or we have a different
understanding of the term "data file".

My understanding is any "data", integers, text, whatever, that
is placed into a file makes the file a "data file". That file
could be as simple as a word list or as complex as a database.

According to my definition, any language that has file access
capabilities can make use of data files.

The OP should review the "Files" or "I/O" section of a good
C language reference manual.
--
Thomas Matthews

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Other sites:
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[Darrell Grainger]

On Mon, 3 May 2004, Xarky wrote:

Hi,
Is it possible to make use of data files in C? If yes can someone
tell how or suggest me a site from where I can learn them.

The question is too vague to answer. I'd be inclined to say the answer is
YES. To the second part of your question, get a good text book on C
language or take a class at your local school. I have yet to see a good
online tutorial for someone with no programming experience.

--
Send e-mail to: darrell at cs dot toronto dot edu
Don't send e-mail to vi************@ whitehouse.gov

[Richard Bos]

Thomas Matthews <Th************ *************** *@sbcglobal.net > wrote:

Richard Bos wrote:

be*********@yah oo.com (Xarky) wrote:

Is it possible to make use of data files in C?

No, it's not. Data files are a very advanced subject of information
theory, much too complicated for a simple language like C.

Either there is sarcasm in this reply,

Surely not! Me, sarcastic? Inconceivable!

Richard

[Allan Bruce]

"Xarky" <be*********@ya hoo.com> wrote in message
news:bc******** *************** **@posting.goog le.com...

Hi,
Is it possible to make use of data files in C? If yes can someone
tell how or suggest me a site from where I can learn them.
Thanks in Advance for your patience.

why wouldnt it be possible? What kind of data are you talking about. I use
C and store vertex/texture data of 3d models usinf fwrite, and load them
back using fread. No problems, nice and quick and fairly darned reliable.
Perhaps, you should re-word your question?
Allan

[Karthik]

Xarky wrote:

Hi,
Is it possible to make use of data files in C?
I am afraid that is a very generic question. Having said that, there
is one thing you would like to know to begin with files in C - there are
text and binary data files and you distinguish between them while trying
to open the file.
Now, any standard C book should have something related to FILE
manipulation and the FILE data structure associated with this, that can
answer your questions.

If yes can someone
tell how or suggest me a site from where I can learn them.

There is only one site for all the fundamental questions -
http://www.google.com .

--
Karthik
Humans please 'removeme_' for my real email.

[CBFalconer]

Richard Bos wrote:

be*********@yah oo.com (Xarky) wrote:

Is it possible to make use of data files in C?

No, it's not. Data files are a very advanced subject of information
theory, much too complicated for a simple language like C. In fact,
even C++, which we all know is a much stronger language than C,
capable of expressing much more advanced data types, is barely
strong enough to handle data files.

If you really need to use C, stick to simple kinds of files like
binary and text files, and keep all your data in memory or on the
stack. If you do need to use data files, my suggestion is to use a
truly modern, advanced programming language, such as ADA, ML, or
Visual Basic.

Very amusing. You might have borne in mind that you are replying
to some sort of newbie, who is quite likely to take you
seriously. A sarcasm wrapper, or even some smileys, would have
been appropriate.

--
A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet and in e-mail?

[Malcolm]

"Xarky" <be*********@ya hoo.com> wrote in message

Is it possible to make use of data files in C? If yes can someone
tell how or suggest me a site from where I can learn them.

I suspect you are using the term "data files" to refer to some sort of
specific file format, such as a commercially available database might use.

In ANSI C you can open a file in text mode or in binary mode using the
fopen() function. You then have to know the format of the file to interpret
the data, which might be an ASCII text file, a JPEG image, a sound file, or
practically anything.

Now if someone has defined a special file format they will very often
provide C functions to help to parse it. For instance, if you are using MS
Windows, you can load a bitmap using a function that Microsoft has provided.
This will be one call rather than having to do all the work yourself. If
your "data file" is provided by a third party, then it is extremely likely
that they will have written some functions in C and will provide them to
programmers (assuming that they offer suport to developers at all).

[Joona I Palaste]

Richard Bos <rl*@hoekstra-uitgeverij.nl> scribbled the following:

Thomas Matthews <Th************ *************** *@sbcglobal.net > wrote:

Richard Bos wrote:

> be*********@yah oo.com (Xarky) wrote:
>> Is it possible to make use of data files in C?
>
> No, it's not. Data files are a very advanced subject of information
> theory, much too complicated for a simple language like C.
Either there is sarcasm in this reply,

Surely not! Me, sarcastic? Inconceivable!

"You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it
means."
Did I do this right? Anyway, I think that "The Holy Grail" is a much
funnier movie.

--
/-- Joona Palaste (pa*****@cc.hel sinki.fi) ------------- Finland --------\
\-- http://www.helsinki.fi/~palaste --------------------- rules! --------/
"Show me a good mouser and I'll show you a cat with bad breath."
- Garfield