DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name :M.Subramanyam
Designation :Senior Lecturer
Branch :Computer Engg.
Institute :Q.Q.Govt.Polytechnic,Hyderabad.
Year/Semester :III Semester
Subject :UNIX & C
Subject Code :CM-304
Topic :Files
Duration :50 Min
Sub Topic :fopen(),fclose()&File I/O functions
Teaching Aids :PPTs, Animation
CM304.84 1
 Recap

 What is program file?

 What is data file?
 Explain data hierarchy.
 Explain interaction between program and
console.
 Explain interaction between program and file.

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 Objectives

On completion of this period, you would be able

to know…
 Create or open a file
 Close a file
 File modes
 File I/O functions

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 Create or Open a File

 fopen(): To open or create a file

 Syntax:
Predefined Name of the Read, Write or
structure file Append
 FILE *fopen(<filename>,<mode>);
 Opening a file returns a pointer to a FILE
structure
 FILE is a predefined structure.
 FILE structure is defined in stdio.h file.
 If fopen() fails, NULL is returned.

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 Create or Open a File
Contd..
Example
 FILE *myPtr;
 Creates a FILE pointer called myPtr
 myPtr = fopen ("myFile.dat" , "r");
 If "myFile.dat" exists fopen function
returns reference of "myFile.dat".
 "myFile.dat" is opened in read mode.
 If "myFIle.dat" is not existing fopen()
returns NULL.
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 File Open Modes

Sno Mode Description

1 r Open a file for reading.

2 w Open a file for writing. If the file already exists,

discard the current contents.
3 a Append:open or create a for writing at the end of
the file.
4 r+ Open a file for update(reading and writing).

5 w+ Open a file for update. If the file already exists

discard current contents.
6 a+ Append:open or create a file for update, write is
done only at the end of the file.

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 fclose() function
 To close the file.
 Syntax: fclose(FILE *pointer);
 Closes specified file.
 It will place “eof ” at the end of the file.
 File pointer is moved to the beginning of
the file.
 Performed automatically when program
ends.
 Good practice to close files explicitly.

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 feof() function

feof(): stands for file end of file.

Syntax:feof( FILE *pointer )

 Returns true if file pointer is reached end-
of-file (no more data to process).
 Otherwise returns false.

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 Details

 Programs may process no files, one file, or

many files.

 Each file must have a unique name and

should have its own pointer.

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Example

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Example
Contd..

Test.dat file is opened

in the current working
directory

Fig.1
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 File I/O functions
Read Write
functions functions

fputc()
Character I/O fgetc()

fputs()
String I/O fgets()

File I/O putw()

Integer I/o getw()

fprintf()
Formatted I/O fscanf()

fwrite()
Structured I/O fread()

Fig.2
CM304.84 12
 Summary

In this period, you have learnt about ….

 file can be created or opened using fopen().
 fclose() is used to close the file.
 Different file modes like read, write, append etc.,
 Different file I/O functions.

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 Quiz

1)If fopen() fails, it returns

a) -1
b) 1
c) NULL
d) a file pointer

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 Quiz

1)If fopen() fails, it returns

a) -1
b) 1
c) NULL
d) a file pointer

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 Quiz

2)If a file is opened in w+ mode then

a)appending is possible

b)reading is possible

c)writing is possible

d)both b and c

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 Quiz

2)If a file is opened in w+ mode then

a)appending is possible

b)reading is possible

c)writing is possible

d)both b and c

CM304.84 17
 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain the function fopen() with its syntax.

2. What are the various file operating modes in C.

3. Explain the function fclose() with its syntax.

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