File I/O Question

[Vorbis5]

Hi guys,

I'm relatively new to C++. I've been trying to make a program where it
asks you to input the name of a text file and spits the text of the file
out onto the screen.

Heres the code:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <fstream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
	string lines;
	// Asks what file you want to open
	cout << "What file do you want to open? ";
	string file;
	// I dont really know what to do at this part...
	fstream theFile (file);
	// Tests to see if file exists and if it does
	// it prints the text in the file to the screen
	if (theFile.is_open())
	{
		while (!theFile.eof())
		{
			getline (theFile, lines);
			cout << lines << endl;
		}
		theFile.close();
	}
	// If file was not found then this executes
	else
	{
		cout << "The file could not be found..." << endl;
	}
	// I know this part is kinda poor
	// but i'm just being lazy :D
	system ("PAUSE>nul");
	return 0;
}

I think its the fstream theFile (file); part thats not working. All help is most appreciated :D

[firedraco]

That code would work fine, except you need to use file.c_str(), since fstreams only take char* as arguments. Also, you need to ask the user for the file name, preferably using getline().

[Vorbis5]

Yesssss!!!! Thank you so much man! Lol I'm excited right now :D