Saving and reading a Text file

[Sparky]

Hi

Could anyone give me a simple code, codes that I could use to write data to a text file and then read the data. I a more detailed explaination I am creating a program that requires delphi to save information such as high scores "Permanently" so that when the program is closed and opened again the data is still there. I have read a few programs on the web but in my case i want the data on the text file to be from highest to lowest and not randomly added.

I hope this is detailed enough. Please feel free to contact me if you need pacifics. And sorry to anyone who as posted this in an other way before.

I would be of great help if anyone could assists me

[WingedPanther]

What I would do is store the data in memory in a sorted form. Then you can write it easily. When you resave, simply wipe out the current data and rewrite it.

AssignFile(oFile,filename)
rewrite(oFile)
CloseFile(oFile)
Append(oFile)

Reading the file should be straight-forward.

[Sparky]

I am not totally clear on the method on how to do it. I am only a student and they consider this "more advanced". Could you please give an example of the methodology. At the moment I have my data added to A listbox and i smply want to right it to a file Permanently and then rewrite to the file everytime the list changes and that the file can be view when eg: A button is clicked. This would be very much appreciated.

[WingedPanther]

It seems that you have two different issues.
1) reading writing data. This is done with the readln/writeln functions.
2) keeping the data sorted in memory. This will depend on what data structures you are using.

[Sparky]

Ive sort of got the hang woth using a text file, but could anyone help me to add new data without deleting the old data and to edit the old data by removing what i dont need. I also have the problem that my changes to my text file arent saved when i exit my program and restart it.

I have a edit box for my new high score (for the persons name) and labels to display the names of people with older high scores. (These names i want to edit without rewriting them which rewrites the file and leaves the new high score out) I have a button to confirm the data in the editbox and write it to the file. This is what my code looks like:

unit assignment12_MDJ_u;

interface

uses
  Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
  Dialogs, StdCtrls, Buttons;

type
  TfrmHigh = class(TForm)
    ListBox1: TListBox;
    bmbVeiw: TBitBtn;
    bmb: TBitBtn;
    Label1: TLabel;
    Label2: TLabel;
    Label3: TLabel;
    Edit1: TEdit;
    BitBtn1: TBitBtn;
    procedure FormShow(Sender: TObject);
    procedure bmbClick(Sender: TObject);
    procedure bmbVeiwClick(Sender: TObject);
    procedure BitBtn1Click(Sender: TObject);
  private
    { Private declarations }
  public
    { Public declarations }
  end;

var
  frmHigh: TfrmHigh;
     myfile : textfile;
implementation

uses assignment_MDJ_u;

{$R *.dfm}
procedure Write;
  var
    myfile : textfile;
  text : string;
begin

end;


procedure TfrmHigh.FormShow(Sender: TObject);
var
  text : string;
begin

end;

procedure TfrmHigh.bmbClick(Sender: TObject);
begin

  AssignFile(myFile, 'Test.txt');
  ReWrite(myFile);


  WriteLn(myFile, EDIT1.text);
  WriteLn(myFile, label1.caption);
  WriteLn(myFile, label2.caption);
  WriteLn(myFile, label3.caption);


  CloseFile(myFile);
end;

procedure TfrmHigh.bmbVeiwClick(Sender: TObject);
var
text : string;
begin
   Reset(myFile);

   while not Eof(myFile) do
   begin
     ReadLn(myFile, text);
     listbox1.Items.Add(text);
   end;

   CloseFile(myFile);

end;
end.

could anone tell me what i must add or change and under what sections in detail please.

I hope im not too much of a burden but my text books dont tell me how to do this thanks.

[WingedPanther]

You'll need to save your file in the OnFormClose event.
Don't try to work directly with the file contents when saving, just wipe and start over.

[Sparky]

Hi I am now able to save my data to a File as you have seen above. I am using several pages in my program so i am using the show / hide methos to display them. My only problem is that when I but the code in the On show property and on hide property and run the program it gives me the following error (I/O 102) which means file not assigned. I tryed to write test data in the on activate property, it work, but i didnt want fixed data so I deleted it (still in Brackets below). This i though the data should be now saved but when I sstarted it up it gave me the problem as above. The on show property is the error when i used trace into. Could anyone please help me with this problem as still no text books help me and internet codes are not sutable.

Here is my code.

unit assignment12_MDJ_u;

interface

uses
  Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
  Dialogs, StdCtrls, Buttons, ExtCtrls;

type
  TfrmHigh = class(TForm)
    edtNameinput: TEdit;
    bmbConfirm: TBitBtn;
    ListBox1: TListBox;
    imgBack: TImage;
    procedure FormShow(Sender: TObject);
    procedure FormHide(Sender: TObject);
    procedure FormActivate(Sender: TObject);
    procedure imgBackClick(Sender: TObject);
  private
    { Private declarations }
  public
    { Public declarations }
  end;

var
  frmHigh: TfrmHigh;
   myFile : TextFile;
implementation

uses assignment_MDJ_u;

{$R *.dfm}

procedure TfrmHigh.FormShow(Sender: TObject);
var
   text   : string;
begin
      // Reopen the file for reading
   Reset(myFile);
 
   // Display the file contents
   while not Eof(myFile) do
   begin
     ReadLn(myFile, text);
     listbox1.Items.Add(text);
   end;

   // Close the file for the last time
   CloseFile(myFile);
end;

procedure TfrmHigh.FormHide(Sender: TObject);
var
   text   : string;
begin
   // Try to open the Test.txt file for writing to
   AssignFile(myFile, 'Test.txt');
   ReWrite(myFile);
 
   // Write to this file
   WriteLn(myFile, edtNameinput.text);
   WriteLn(myFile, listbox1.items.add(text));

   // Close the file
   CloseFile(myFile);
end;

procedure TfrmHigh.FormActivate(Sender: TObject);
var
   text   : string;
begin
  { // Try to open the Test.txt file for writing to
   AssignFile(myFile, 'Test.txt');
   ReWrite(myFile);

   // Write words to this file
   WriteLn(myFile, '20 Sally');
   WriteLn(myFile, '9 John');
    WriteLn(myFile, '50 Jean');
     WriteLn(myFile, '34 Sam');

   // Close the file
   CloseFile(myFile);}

end;

procedure TfrmHigh.imgBackClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
frmHigh.Visible := False;
frmWelcome.Visible := True;
end;

end.

I hope this is not too much of a headach to anyone (My ignorance) but i hope this problem will be solved with great speed.

[WingedPanther]

You have to use the AssignFile command before you can do anything else.

Also, PLEASE use code tags (with the # button) when posting code.

[Sparky]

Thanks it works well it was so simple, I'm sorry if I caused any annoyances. I will now remember to use code Tags

[lucuis]

Also you can use TStrings.LoadFromFile(), .SaveToFile(). It is simpler to parse, because you are loading whole stuff into the memory.