Expert: Smitha Renny - 8/25/2009

Question
How do you open an existing text file in a read only mode?

Answer
Dear Tumelo Quest

First, I'd like to apologise for the delay in replying. About your question about opening an existing text file in read only mode, here is the answer:

First make sure your file is created and the last character in it is the 'Enter' key. Now let's assume the name of the file is abc.txt. Here is the code for you:

#include<stdio.h>
#define NULL 0
void main(){
FILE *fp;
char c;
if((fp=fopen("abc.txt","r"))==NULL){         //this is the function (fopen())that'll open an
                                            //existing txt file in the read only mode - "r"
  printf("Cannot open the file");}
else
  do
     putchar(c=getc(fp));
  while(c!='\n');
fclose(fp);
getch();
}

The fopen function takes 2 arguments. The first one is the name of the file to be opened, the second is the mode in which it sould be opened. "r" - denotes opening the file in read only mode.

Regards
Smitha Renny