2. Use of header file fstream.h
Types of stream objects
open() and close() functions
File mode constants
Reading and writing characters from / to
disk
Detecting end of file
Reading and writing objects from / to disk
File pointers for Random Access
Error handling functions
3. Most computer programs work with files.
Word processors create document files.
Database programs create files of information.
Compilers read source files and generate executable
files.
In C++, file input / output facilities are implemented
through a component header file of C++ standard
library. This header file is fstream.h.
4. File Stream Read data
A File stream act as an
interface between the
program and the files.
•The stream that
supplies data to the
program is known as
input stream.
•The stream that
receives data from the
program is known as
output stream.
Disk
Files
Program
Data input
Write data
Data
output
Output stream
Input stream
6. Using fstream.h
A stream is a sequence of bytes.
It is a general name given to a flow of data.
Different streams are used to represent
different kinds of data flow.
ifstream class represents input disk files.
ofstream class represents output disk files.
fstream – for both input and output
Member functions of these classes are used to
perform I/O operations.
7. Different Classes and its functions
Class Functions
filebuf It sets the file buffers to read and write.
Member functions : open(), close()
fstreambase This is the base class for fstream, ifstream and
ofstream classes.
Member functions : all input and output functions,
open(), close()
ifstream It provides input operations for file.
Member functions : get(), getline(), read(),
seekg(), tellg()
ofstream It provides output operations for file.
Member functions : put(), write(), seekp(), tellp()
fstream It is an input-output stream class
8. Opening and closing files
In C++, if we want to open a file, we must first obtain a
stream.(objects)
Opening of files can be achieved in two ways:
1. using the constructor function of the stream class
syntax : stream streamobject(“name of filename”);
2. using the function Open( )
Syntax : stream streamobject;
streamobject.open(“name of filename”);
A file is closed by disconnecting it with the stream it is
associated with.
Syntax : streamobject.close()
9. Types of Files
Files are of two types.
1. ASCII file or Text File :
Those files created by storing
characters
2. Binary file :
Those files created by storing a
block of memory
10. The concept of file modes:
It describes how a file is to be used
•to read from it
•to write to it
•to append it
•to read and write and so on.
Syntax :
streamobject.open( “filename”, file-mode);
11. File mode constants
Sl.No File modes Meaning
Stream
type
1 ios :: in it opens file for reading ifstream
2 ios :: out it opens file for writing ofstream
3 ios :: app
It causes all output to that file to be
appended to the end
ofstream
4 ios :: ate
It seeks to end-of-file upon opening of the
file.
ofstream
5 ios :: trunc Delete contents of the file if it exists ofstream
6 ios :: nocreate
It causes the open() functions to fail if the
file does not already exist. It will not create
a new file with that name.
ofstream
7 ios :: noreplace
It causes the open() functions to fail if the
file already exist. This is used when we
want to create a new file and at the same
time
ifstream
8 ios :: binary
It causes a file to be opened in binary
mode.
ifstream,
ofstream
12. Reading and writing characters
from / to disk
The functions put() and get() are used
for manipulating a file character by
character.
These functions are members of ostream
and istream respectively.
put() is used for output to the file.
get() is used for input from file.
13. To create a File using put()
#include<fstream.h>
void main()
{
ofstream outfile(“out.txt”);
char str[]=“This is a text file”;
int i=0;
while(str[i])
outfile.put(str[i++]);
outfile.close();
}
14. To read a File using get()
#include<fstream.h>
void main()
{ char ch;
ifstream infile(“out.txt”);
while(infile)
{ infile.get(ch);
cout << ch;
}
infile.close();
}
15. Detecting End of File(eof())
eof() is a member of ios class.
It returns a non-zero value if the end-
of-file is encountered and a zero
otherwise.
16. Reading and writing class objects
from / to disk
The functions write() and read() are
usually used to transfer a block of data
from and to the file.
These functions are members of
ofstream and ifstream respectively.
write() is used for output to the file.
read() is used for input from file.
17. write() function
To write to the file
It takes two arguments
i.e., a pointer to the block and
the size of the block
Eg.,
stdfile.write((char *)&s, sizeof(student));
18. read() function
To get the contents from the file
It takes two arguments
i.e., a pointer to the block and
the size of the block
Eg.,
stdfile.read((char *)&s, sizeof(student));
19. Program to Create a student File
#include <fstream.h>
class student
{
private :
int regno, mark;
char name[20];
public:
void getdata();
};
22. Program to Display a student File
#include <fstream.h>
class student
{
private :
int regno, mark;
char name[20];
public:
void getdata();
void display();
};
26. Open for READING only H A I
Input pointer
Open for WRITING only
output pointer
Open for APPEND mode H A I
output pointer
27. File Pointers for Random Access
When we open a file in more than one mode using
the fstream class, it is not necessary to close the file
and open it again when we need to switch from one
mode to another.
But if we are writing and reading in different in
different positions of the file, then, the stream
pointers have to be positioned appropriately.
Each file object is associated with two integer values
called the get_pointer and the put_pointer. These
are also called the current postion. These values
specify the byte number in the file.
28. Functions to move the File Pointer
seekg() Moves get_pointer(input
pointer) to a specified location.
seekp() Moves put_pointer(output
pointer) to a specified location.
tellg() Gives the current position to the
get_pointer
tellp() Gives the current position to the
put_pointer
29. Example:
infile.seekg(15);
It moves the file pointer to the byte number 15.
It is to be remembered that the bytes in a file
are numbered beginning from zero. Therefore,
the file pointer will be pointing to the 16th byte
in the file
31. seekg() and seekp() functions
It takes one or two arguments.
If it takes two arguments, then
the first one is the relative offset, ie., the
number of bytes the file pointer has to be moved
(+ for forward and – for backward)
The second argument is the position of the file
pointer from where the offset is to be considered.
The default argument for this is the beg
It can take values ios::beg, ios::end, ios::cur
32. Error Handling functions
The different possible error situations are
enumerated below
The file name used for a new file may be an
existing file name
A file which we are attempting to open for reading
may not exist.
There may be no more room on the disk for storing
the newly created file.
We may attempt to perform an operation when the
file is not opened for that purpose.
33. Error Handling Functions
eof() Returns non-zero if the end of file is
encountered while reading. Otherwise
returns zero.
fail() Returns non-zero when an input or
output operation has failed.
bad() Returns non-zero values if an invalid
operation is attempted or any
unrecoverable error has occurred.
However, if it is zero it may be possible to
recover from any other error reported
and continue operation
34. Error Handling Functions
good() Returns non-zero values if no error
has occurred. When it returns zero, no
further operations can be carried out.
clear() Resets the error state so that further
operations can be attempted
