Is this safe?

[mark smit]

Hello,


If you open a file in random mode and set the record length to 2048,
is it safe to read a record into a structure that is smaller than
the record length?

type CRecord
    m_WellNumber as long
    m_Pointer as long
end type

dim MyRecord as CRecord

open"database.db" for random as #1 len = 2048
get #1,seek(1),MyRecord

Thanks...

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Cheers

[Edwin Knoppert]

For files it might work.
However you don't want that.

Test:

Create a for binary opened file (0 bytes)
Then use PUT #1, 100000, a$

Close and take a closer look.
A memory (garbage) dump is put in the file!
If you create files be sure you fill them with chr$( 0 )
So, i can imagne your 'random' structure will also fill your file.

If your file has a correct length i suggest using the original structure and use a pointer or use poke$ and Peek$




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[email protected]

[Tom Hanlin]

The RANDOM file mode is designed for records of a single fixed length. It sounds like what you want is a BINARY file.

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Tom Hanlin
PowerBASIC Staff