How to input name of data file

[chara76]

I'm trying to create a program that opens a data file. I want the user to input the name of the data file, and the have the program open it up. However, I'm having trouble getting this too work. Here is what I have so far:

#include <iostream> 
#include <fstream>
#include <cstdlib>  
#include <string>  
using namespace std;
int main()
{
    // Initializes variables
    double x1, x2, x3;
    string  file1;
    
    cout<<"Enter name of first data file: ";  //Input name of data file
    cin>>file1;

    // Opens data file
    ifstream infile;
    infile.open(file1);  // Should open data file (does not)
    
    if(!infile)
       {
        cout<<"Unable to open file: "<<file1<<"\n"<<endl;  // Displays error message if data file cannot be opened
        system("pause");  // Pauses command window
        exit (0);  // Exits program
       }
    else
       {...

[ZuK]

open wants as const char *

infile.open(file1.c_str());  // this will open data file

Kurt

[laserlight]

To use a null terminated string given a std::string, use the c_str() member function, e.g.,

ifstream infile(file1.c_str());

[chara76]

Is there anything else I need to change? Because I still get the error message I put in:

Unable to open file: DataFile1

ie. Do I still initialize file1 as a string?

[laserlight]

Ah, but now you have fixed the syntax error. It may be the case that the file does not exist, e.g., because you specified a wrong name.

[chara76]

Thanks, you were right. I wasn't typing .txt at the end of the file name