Student Database: help with ifstream and ofstream operators

[czhines]

Hello, i've been working on a student data base that reads in the students name, birth date, social security, and department name (or major). I have all these items in the header files respectively; nameType, dateType, personType, and studentType.

I am now to create another header file called HWONEHEADER that contains the functions showMenu, loadStudent, insertStudent, searchByName, and SaveStudents. This is how far ive gotten

#ifndef HW
#define HW

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
#include <iomanip>
#include "studentType.h"


using namespace std;

ifstream inFile;
ofstream outFile;

void showMenu()
{
	cout<<"\nWelcome to the student database\n";
	cout<<"1. Add a student into the list\n";
	cout<<"2. List all students\n";
	cout<<"3. Search for a student by name\n";
	cout<<"4. Save the student list\n";
	cout<<"5. Exit\n";
}

void loadStudents()
{
	studentType Student;
	int total = 0;
	int id = 0;

	
	inFile.open("students.dat");
	
	while(!inFile.eof())
	{
		inFile>>Student;
		
		if (id != Student.getSSN())
		{
			
			total++;
			id = Student.getSSN();
		}
	}
	inFile.open("students.dat");
	
	cout<<endl<<total<< " students have been read into the list\n\n";
		inFile.close();
} 

Here is the cpp file i have.

int main()
{
	
	studentType department;
	cin>>department;
	cout<<department;
	
	
	
	/*
	
	
	bool changed = false;
	studentType loadStudents(50);


	char choose; //declare option choices for showMenu
//loop
	do
	{
		showMenu(); //show the menu
		cout<<"Please choose an option from the menu: "; 
		cin>>choose; 

		switch (choose) //case for handleing showMenu
		{
		case '1': //input student
		case 'a':
		case '2': //print the list of students
		case 'l':
		case 'L': studentType.printStudents(); //fuction to print all the students
		case '3': // search student by name
		case 'h':
		case 'H': searchByName(); //brings up the function searchByName

			break;
		case '4': //changed list
		case 'v': 
		case 'V': if (changed) //check if the list has been changed
					  saveStudents();
				  else
					  cout<<"\nNo changes need to be saved\n\n";
			break;
		case '5': //exit the system
		case 'e':
		case 'E':
			
			break;

		default:
			cout<<"Invalid option, please enter another option.\n\n";
		}
	}
	
	while (choose != '5' && choose != 'e' && choose != 'E');
	
	if (changed) //if the list has been changed then save it
		saveStudents();
	cout<<"Thank you for using the student database!\n\n";
	
	*/
	return 0;

	
}

I commented out the switch statement that intiates the menu.
Here is the studentType header file which works perfectly.

#ifndef studenttype
#define studenttype

#include <iostream>
#include "personType.h"


using namespace std;

class studentType : public personType
{
	friend ostream& operator<<(ostream&, const studentType&);
	friend istream& operator>>(istream&, studentType&);

public:
	void setDept(string); //set the department
	string getDept() { return dpmt; }; //get the department 
	
//constructors
	studentType();
	studentType(int, string, string);
private:
	string dpmt;
};
/**************************************
Overload iostream operator <<
**************************************/
ostream& operator<<(ostream& os, const studentType& aStudent)
{
	
	os<<(personType&)(aStudent)<<" "<<aStudent.dpmt;
	
	return os;
}
/**********************************************
Overload iostream operator >>
**********************************************/
istream& operator>>(istream& is, studentType& aStudent)
{
	personType& aPerson = (personType&)aStudent;
	is>>aPerson;
	cout<<" Please enter the department. ";
	is>>aStudent.dpmt;

	return is;
}
//set the students department
void studentType::setDept(string dept)
{
	setDept(dpmt);
}
//default constructor
studentType::studentType()
{
	dpmt = "jack"; //sets constructor to NULL
}
//constructor with parameters
studentType::studentType(int id, string first, string last)
	
{
	dpmt = "hello"; //set constructor to NULL
}

#endif 

I need help with the HWONEHEADER using the ifstream and ofstream operators to load all the students information into a file called student.dat I'am extremely confused because i can't find anything in my textbook about using ifstream and ofstream operators. Any input would be helpful. Thank you.

[czhines]

Can someone help me create the loadStudents and insertStudents in my HWONEHEADER file is basically what im asking. And making a menu using that switch statement in the cpp file that i have commented out.

[czhines]

Right now i know i need to make and array, but i need help with creating my loadStudents. Theres absolutely nothing in my book about ifstream and ofstream operators and creating dat files. Can someone please give some input? I didnt work hours on this stupid thing just to get stuck.

[czhines]

this is how far ive gotten.

#ifndef HW
#define HW

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
#include <iomanip>
#include "studentType.h"


using namespace std;



void showMenu()
{
	cout<<"\nWelcome to the student database\n";
	cout<<"1. Add a student into the list\n";
	cout<<"2. List all students\n";
	cout<<"3. Search for a student by name\n";
	cout<<"4. Save the student list\n";
	cout<<"5. Exit\n";
}

void loadStudents(ifstream& inFile, studentType list[], int listSize)
{
	int index;
    int quater;
	ofstream outFile;
	 //total = 0;
	//int id = 0;

	
	inFile.open("students.dat");
	
	for(index = 0; index < listSize; index++)
		inFile >> list[index].setDept[index];
	for(quater = 0; quater < 4; quater++)
		list[index].setDept[quater] = NULL;


}

The showMenu function works along with all my other header files. I need help with creating an array in my function loadStudents. I havent learned arrays very well and my book has nothing on how to work the ifstream ofstream operators.