can't acces in a .csv file that's already opened

[wboustany]

Hi all,

My problem is very simple.

a) I have an excel sheet that draws financial data from a software through DDE connection. That's very easely done (which is not the case if I wanted to do that directly from my software in C++)

b) anyway, so I have this software, an excel sheet in the middle, and my own software coded in c++ at the end.

c) While I fill dynamically the excel sheet with data, I want to access this data through my software.

However,

fstream ratesfile("input.xls");   
if (ratesfile.is_open()) printf("File Open\n"); else printf("File not open\n"); 

This code works if the excel file is closed. If it is open by my (which is always the case if I want to feed in the data through DDE), my software is unable to access the file. As if there's only one access possible at a time...

Can anyone help ?

[Skillless]

fstream is for both input and output i believe, wich means you ask to write to the file, and if a file is in use, youre not allowed to write afaik

try ifstream(wich is only for reading) instead of fstream

[wboustany]

Yes, just finally had this idea. Looks like it works, thanks for your time.