How can I search for a specific word in a database file.
I used a structure as data structure.
it's just like that

struct vocab
{
char[30] word;
char[40] translation;
char[10] wordtype;
}

I can write and read data, but I would love to know how to find a word in this file depending on what a user types
thanks.
dede

: How can I search for a specific word in a database file.
: I used a structure as data structure.
: it's just like that
:

: struct vocab
: {
: char[30] word;
: char[40] translation;
: char[10] wordtype;
: }
: 

: I can write and read data, but I would love to know how to find a word in this file depending on what a user types
: thanks.
: dede
:


Your structure is incorrect -- but that is either just a posting typo, or if not then your compiler will complain bitterly to you :)

You will have to read the whole file one word at a time, for each word read compare it to whatever word the user types. Exactly how to do that depends on what language you are using -- C or C++.

I mixed up.

struct dictionary{
char word[50];
char translation[50];
char wordtype[10];
}voc;

but that's not the case here. so do I use fseek()? I just couldn't use it.
dede

This message was edited by stober at 2007-1-27 10:25:24

---

: I mixed up.
:

: struct dictionary{
: char word[50];
: char translation[50];
: char wordtype[10];
: }voc;
: 

: but that's not the case here. so do I use fseek()? I just couldn't use it.
: dede
:
:

why are you using fseek() ? There is no need for it. Just start at the beginning of the file and sequentually read it one word at a time until you find the word you want.

FILE *fp = fopen("filename.txt","r");
char word[50] = {0};
if(fp != NULL)
{
   while( fscanf(word,"%s",word) > 0)
   {
      // do something with this word

   }
}

or if you are writing c++ code

ifstream in("filename.txt");
std::string word;
while( in >> word )
{
   // do something with this word
}

: This message was edited by stober at 2007-1-27 10:25:24

---

: : I mixed up.
: :

: : struct dictionary{
: : char word[50];
: : char translation[50];
: : char wordtype[10];
: : }voc;
: : 

: : but that's not the case here. so do I use fseek()? I just couldn't use it.
: : dede
: :
: :
:
: why are you using fseek() ? There is no need for it. Just start at the beginning of the file and sequentually read it one word at a time until you find the word you want.
:
:

: FILE *fp = fopen("filename.txt","r");
: char word[50] = {0};
: if(fp != NULL)
: {
:    while( fscanf(word,"%s",word) > 0)
:    {
:       // do something with this word
: 
:    }
: }
: 

:
: or if you are writing c++ code
:

: ifstream in("filename.txt");
: std::string word;
: while( in >> word )
: {
:    // do something with this word
: }
: 

:
:
:


It will probably suffice for this case, but I'm pretty sure that's not how it is done in relational or OO SQL databases.

If I was some DB guru writing a DBMS I would implement it as a hash table and I would probably upload parts of the file(s) to RAM in some smart way before searching. Since hash tables won't get slower when the amount of data increases.

:
: It will probably suffice for this case, but I'm pretty sure that's not how it is done in relational or OO SQL databases.
:

I didn't think that is what the OP meant. There are probably as many ways to implement it in relational or SQL databases as there are software engineers to design them. I have no clue how they do it, never done it myself.

Well, I'm not planning to use RDB,, I just would love to have my own database,

Stober

I was trying to use fseek() because I thought it can return the value of am seeking, now I know it's not what I need. I think I need to throw the book I have in the stove :)
Thnaks guys
dede