LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] Inserting text blob into a C program

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Inserting text blob into a C program

I'm writing a C program, and using Autotools. I have a large text file that I need to include verbatim, as data for my program.

I used to have a hacked-together Perl script that would take a file like this:

Code:

A Rabbi, a Priest, and a Minister walked into a bar.

The bartender said, "What is this, a joke?"

and generate a file like this:

Code:

#define TXT_DATA \

"A Rabbi, a Priest, and a Minister walked into a bar.\n" \

"The bartender said, \"What is this, a joke?\"\n" \

""

which I would then include into every source file that needed it. Unfortunately, I managed to somehow lose my Perl script, and rather than recreate it, I wanted to learn how to do this The Right Way(tm).

I found this site that contains instructions for doing exactly what I want, but that technique requires GNU's ld, and the whole point of using Autotools in the first place is to make my project platform- and compiler-independent.

Anybody got any ideas?

Edit: I should point out that, according to the Autotools help, I can do this with a script called either "txtc.sh" or "txtc.sh.in". Unfortunately, Google can't find such a script, and it's not in any package that I can find.

not sure why a normal file pointer declaration wouldnt work:

Code:

 FILE * fstream; char temp[100];

 fstream = fopen(file.txt, "r");

 ...

 fgets(temp, 100, fstream);

would this work for you or did i misunderstand ?

edit: else you would need to emulate that in a script by cat-ing (echo \#define, your joke, then the rest of your c-file) for each file you are editing.

AFAIK he wants the text embedded into the executable.

Yes, the text has to be embedded in the executable. Also, cat wouldn't work, since it would also need to escape quotes, add quotes to every line, add a backslash to the end of every line, etc., etc., etc.

For the moment (so the project can go ahead), I'm going to recreate my Perl script. However, I would really like to know if there's any way to do this.

Thanks!

Edit: Something like a Windows resource, for those of you familiar with Windows programming.

Qt has a resource system.

EDIT: http://doc.qt.nokia.com/4.6/resources.html

It's a command-line application (so far).

I wasn't saying you should use Qt (even though Qt is perfectly suited for non-GUI apps), I just made a suggestion.

In my opinion, your Perl script that translates the plain text into a format suitable for inclusion as a literal string is the right way. The script shouldn't be very hard to reproduce.

--- rod.

I also see nothing wrong with your Perl script solution.

Code:

#include <iostream>



using namespace std;



int main() {

  cout << endl

       << 'A Rabbi, a priest and a minister walked into a bar.\n'

       << 'The bartender said "What, is this a joke?"';

  return 0;

}

What's the point of that, and can't you see the OP isn't using C++?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny_Strawn (Post 4080170)

Code:

#include <iostream>



using namespace std;



int main() {

  cout << endl

       << 'A Rabbi, a priest and a minister walked into a bar.\n'

       << 'The bartender said "What, is this a joke?"';

  return 0;

}

I'm not trying to output it, it's actually data that my program needs. Also, I'm using regular C, not C++.

I've recreated my Perl script, so unless anyone has a better idea, that's what I'll use. Thanks for your help, everyone.

I think you should just go with your Perl script.

And mark the thread as solved (in Thread Tools).