What is the working directory of my C++ program? [duplicate]

Question

I am trying to get my program to read a file and use the file as input information. I put the file in the same directory as my program, but still nothing.

Here is my code:

int main() { ifstream inFile; inFile.open("inData.txt"); if (inFile.fail()) { cout << "file did not open please check it\n"; system("pause"); system("exit"); } studentType sList[20]; getData(inFile, sList, 20); calculateGrade(sList, 20); printResult(sList, 20); inFile.close(); system("pause"); return 0; }

What compiler are you using? MSVS uses where the source files are as the working directory — NathanOliver
– NathanOliver, Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 2:09
I believe you are running the code from an IDE, such as MSVS. So an idea is to print the directory where the program is running and make sure there is a "inData.txt" file there . Take a look at stackoverflow.com/a/198099/4289700. — HugoTeixeira
– HugoTeixeira, Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 2:35
If your top priority is to get this working, I suggest using the complete path. Ex: inFile.open("C:\\myHome\\testFile.txt");. that is also a good practice to do in your production code. — Omi
– Omi, Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 7:00
The working directory is initialised when the process is started. It depends on how the process is started. How do you start the process? — David Heffernan
– David Heffernan, Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 7:07
@DavidHeffernan 'Initialized' isn't a great choice of words. It is determined by where you are when you start the process. — user207421
– user207421, Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 7:55

OrenIshShalom · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-28 03:25:10Z

0

Compile and run this program from the same location your program is. Wherever it creates the file output.txt is your working directory:

#include <fstream> int main(int argc, char **argv) { std::ofstream myfile; myfile.open("output.txt"); myfile << "output\n"; myfile.close(); return 0; }

When you run your program, put your inData.txt file in that directory.

answered Jul 28, 2018 at 3:25

OrenIshShalom

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3 Comments

user9254539 Over a year ago

You can just pass the file name to the constructor of std::ofstream and let the destructor close the file for you.

5MikesOut Over a year ago

I ran this, and it turns out it is the same directory where I originally placed my "inData.txt" file.

OrenIshShalom Over a year ago

@5MikesOut did you run my program and yours from the exact same location? if so, can you add the ls output (or windows equivalent) of this directory?

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