Expert: Narendra - 3/2/2004

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Hi, The question subject might be a bit misleading. Anyway this is what I want to do. There is a particular log file that I want to access using C and read its contents and pass them to another process through a socket. I want to read the file as soon as it is accessed. I mean suppose some information is written to the log file. I want to know that and start reading those information immidiately. Still could't figure out a way to do that. Think you can help me?

Thanks
Nivantha.
Answer -
Is it the same process which is writing into the log file?

-ssnkumar

No. It's not the same process. It is another programm that's doing the logging. I want to monitor the log file and if it's being updated. Read the file and send those information over the network to another process.
Answer -
If it is another program, then that means another process!
Did you mean another function?

If it is just another function, then you can use signals.
If it is another program/process, then you need IPCs

-Narendra


It is a separate process. And it's a process that I have no control of. I think you are referring to some thing like a pipe by IPC. But it isn't possible to use a pipe when u don't have any control over the other process. So how to approach that? Can u please give me some more into?

Thanks
Nivantha.

Answer
If it is an outside process, which is not in your control, then there is only 1 way left with you.
Keep polling for change in the modification time of the log file. When modification time of a file changes, that indicates that the file has been accessed/edited.

You can use stat() function to query for the modification time of a file.

-ssnkumar