INFO: ftell() May Return an Invalid Value with a Text File (68337)
The information in this article applies to:
- The C Run-Time (CRT), when used with:
- Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition 1.0
- Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition 1.5
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 1.0
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 2.0
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.0
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 5.0
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 6.0
This article was previously published under Q68337 SUMMARY
When ftell() is used on a file opened in text mode that contains only
linefeeds (0x0A) with no carriage returns (0x0D), ftell() may return an
incorrect value on the first call, causing all subsequent return values to
be wrong as well. Opening the file in binary mode eliminates this problem.
A text file, by definition, contains CR-LF pairs that are condensed to
single LF (linefeed) characters on input. A file that contains LF
characters with no CR (carriage return) characters is an ill-formed text
file and should be processed in binary mode.
Sample Code
/* Compile options needed: none
*/
#include <stdio.h>
void main( void)
{
FILE *ptr;
char a[80];
fpos_t offset;
int row;
char buffer[42] = "0123456789012345678901234567890123456789\n";
/* | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | */
/* Create a file called TESTFILE.TXT that contains 12 lines of
40 chars each with linefeeds only. */
ptr = fopen( "TESTFILE.TXT", "wb" );
for( row = 0; row < 12; row++ )
fprintf( ptr, buffer );
fclose( ptr );
/* Open the file in text mode. */
ptr = fopen( "TESTFILE.TXT", "r" );
/* Positions (or should position) the file pointer at an offset.
of 41 */
fgets( a, 79, ptr );
offset = ftell( ptr );
printf( "offset = %ld\n", offset ); /* Prints out 30. */
fclose( ptr );
}
Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 12/12/2003 |
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Keywords: | kbcode kbCRT kbinfo KB68337 kbAudDeveloper |
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