need help to passing string in function

I am trying to pass a string called fildir in a function closeFile(filedir)

I have provided the header file and cpp file. I am new to classes I need some help passing a string

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
header file


#include <string>

using std::string;
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// CStrengthCoachDlg dialog

class CStrengthCoachDlg : public CDialog
{
// Construction
public:
CStrengthCoachDlg(CWnd* pParent = NULL); // standard constructor
//void closeFile(char tempFilename[255]); //fm
void closeFile(string* filedir);


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
.cpp file



//void CStrengthCoachDlg::closeFile(char tempFilename[]) //close out file
void CStrengthCoachDlg::closeFile(string& filedir) //close out file
{
ofstream out_stream;
out_stream.close();
string systemcall = "START " + filedir;
system(systemcall.c_str());

return;
}



----------------------------------------------------------
compile errors:

Compiling...
StrengthCoachDlg.cpp
C:\Documents and Settings\fm\Desktop\Working_beta\Copy (2) of beta_strengthcoach_a\StrengthCoachDlg.cpp(776) : error C2664: 'closeFile' : cannot convert parameter 1 from 'class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocato
r<char> >' to 'class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > *'
No user-defined-conversion operator available that can perform this conversion, or the operator cannot be called
C:\Documents and Settings\fm\Desktop\Working_beta\Copy (2) of beta_strengthcoach_a\StrengthCoachDlg.cpp(4677) : error C2511: 'closeFile' : overloaded member function 'void (class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::alloca
tor<char> > &)' not found in 'CStrengthCoachDlg'
c:\documents and settings\fm\desktop\working_beta\copy (2) of beta_strengthcoach_a\strengthcoachdlg.h(17) : see declaration of 'CStrengthCoachDlg'
Error executing cl.exe.

I believe these don't match, and the compiler expects them to.

Code:

---

header file
---------------
void closeFile(string* filedir);

.cpp file
---------------
closeFile(string& filedir)

---

Choose either the "*" or the "&" and use the same in both, depending on how you want to pass the string.

1) your prototype and definition of closeFile are different

Code:

---

void closeFile(string* filedir);  // in header file

void CStrengthCoachDlg::closeFile(string& filedir) // in cpp file

---

2) how do you call the closeFile function ?

3) Your closeFile function ... I am confused on what file you are
closing. You declare a new ofstream and immediate call close on it
(without ever doing an open).

I am trying to close a file using a function I created called closeFile

I tried to pass in filedir but it did not work. I tried the code below and it does not work. Can somebody help me here. The main works and If I move the code that is closeFile to main it works but does not in the function.

need some help here

Thanks in advance.


here is part of my main:
// fileOutpName is entered from the GUI

string filedir = "C:\\training_output\\" + FileOutputName;

out_stream.open (filedir.c_str());

globalfile = filedir; // set filedir to a global string
....
...
....
closeFile(); // call closeFile


void CStrengthCoachDlg::closeFile(void) //close out file
{
ofstream out_stream;
out_stream.close();
string systemcall = "START " + globalfile;

system(systemcall.c_str());


return;
}

in closeFile, you created a new ofstream object, and called close
on it. You need the existing ofstream object.

Thank You. I learn so much from you.