Having problems reading data from files

[namcintosh]

I really need some help.

I am trying to read some information from a file in C++. Here is the program that I wrote. (Beware, I am very new to this, so don't freak out if the program seems a little off).

#include <iostream>
#include <conio>
#include <fstream>            
#include <string>
 
using namespace std;
 
int main()
{
       ifstream inFile;
       int people;
 
       inFile.open("f:\\people.dat");
       cout <<"Reading information from the file. \n\n";
 
       inFile >> people;
       cout << people <<endl;
 
       inFile >> people;
       cout << people << endl;
 
       inFile >> people;
       cout << people << endl;
 
       inFile.close();
       cout << "\nDone.\n";
 
       getch();
       return 0;
} 

The data in the file is:
2000 4000 5000 9000 14000 18000

However, when I compile my program, all I get is this:

Reading information from the file.

4219055
3771088
3771088

Done.

Why am I seeing two different types of data? And what can I do to fix this??

Any output is appreciated.

[Ganon11]

Are you sure it's opening the file correctly? Could the file name be mispelled either in the file or in your program?

[namcintosh]

Are you sure it's opening the file correctly? Could the file name be mispelled either in the file or in your program?

I have the file saved on my hard drive. The file location is f:\\people.dat. My program runs, but the numbers on my program is extremely messed up, and I don't know how they got there.

[weaknessforcats]

Probably the file is not opening.

Do this:

inFile.open("f:\\people.dat");
if (inFile.fail())
{
cout << "File failed to open - bailing" << endl;
return 1;
}

I ran your code and it works fine.

[namcintosh]

Probably the file is not opening.

Do this:

inFile.open("f:\\people.dat");
if (inFile.fail())
{
cout << "File failed to open - bailing" << endl;
return 1;
}

I ran your code and it works fine.

Well, I did that, but all that came up was a black screen (which flashed for about 1 second) and that was it. It still didn't come out right. What am I doing wrong??

[sicarie]

int a;
inFile.open("f:\\people.dat");
if (inFile.fail())
{
        cout << "File failed to open - bailing (Press enter to continue)" << endl;
        return 1;
}
cin >> a;
 

Try the above - it'll keep that screen open until you hit enter, but if it's flashing up, I'm betting it's trying to display the above message, which means it's not finding the file (or not able to open the .dat filetype).

[namcintosh]

int a;
inFile.open("f:\\people.dat");
if (inFile.fail())
{
        cout << "File failed to open - bailing (Press enter to continue)" << endl;
        return 1;
}
cin >> a;
 

Try the above - it'll keep that screen open until you hit enter, but if it's flashing up, I'm betting it's trying to display the above message, which means it's not finding the file (or not able to open the .dat filetype).

So, should I save my file to another location (like my hard drive) and try to run the program again? The file that I am trying to read from is located on my flash drive.

[weaknessforcats]

About your flashing black screen.

That was your program executing.

You see, Visual Studio has two kinds of builds: a debug build where the .exe has code in it to run the debugger and a release build without that debugger code.

The default is debug. Probably this is your case.

Next, when you run tour program, you are selecting "Start" from the "Debug" menu. Visual Studio sees the debug code in your exe and ASSUMES you are using your debugger so ti just runs the code expecting you have inserted any pauses. Hence the black screen as your program screams by becuse you are not using your debugger.

The correct this is to select "Start Without Debugging". Im this case, you are telling Visual Studio that while it is a debug build you are no usiong your debugger. Visual Studio will run the code and at the end of main() will pause with:

Press Any Key To Continue...

on your screen so you can see what happened.

[namcintosh]

About your flashing black screen.

That was your program executing.

You see, Visual Studio has two kinds of builds: a debug build where the .exe has code in it to run the debugger and a release build without that debugger code.

The default is debug. Probably this is your case.

Next, when you run tour program, you are selecting "Start" from the "Debug" menu. Visual Studio sees the debug code in your exe and ASSUMES you are using your debugger so ti just runs the code expecting you have inserted any pauses. Hence the black screen as your program screams by becuse you are not using your debugger.

The correct this is to select "Start Without Debugging". Im this case, you are telling Visual Studio that while it is a debug build you are no usiong your debugger. Visual Studio will run the code and at the end of main() will pause with:

Press Any Key To Continue...

on your screen so you can see what happened.

I got it to open. Thanks!!:-)