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Basic File Handling Programming Questions

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Jyotiprakash Mishra
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11 min read

Here are 10 C programming exercises that involve file handling:

  1. Word Count:

    • Read a text file and count the number of words in it.

  2. Character Frequency:

    • Read a text file and count the frequency of each character. Output the results to another file.

  3. File Copy:

    • Create a program that copies the contents of one file into another.

  4. Line Numbers:

    • Read a file and print each line with line numbers. Save the output to another file.

  5. File Encryption:

    • Implement a simple encryption algorithm to encrypt the contents of a file. Save the encrypted text to another file.

  6. File Concatenation:

    • Merge the contents of two files into a third file.

  7. Record Management:

    • Create a program that manages records. Each record can have multiple fields. Implement functionalities like add, delete, search, and modify records using a file as storage.

  8. File Search:

    • Implement a program that searches for a specific word in a text file and prints the line numbers where the word is found.

  9. CSV File Handling:

    • Read a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file and perform operations like sorting or filtering based on specific criteria.

  10. File Deletion:

    • Write a program that deletes a specific line from a text file.

These exercises cover a range of dynamic memory allocation-related concepts and will help you practice and strengthen your skills in C programming. I have solved all of the above with explanatory comments. You should first make a sincere attempt at solving these problems before looking at the solutions.

  1. Word Count:

     #include <stdio.h>

 int main() {
     FILE *file;
     char ch;
     int wordCount = 0;

     // Open the file in read mode
     file = fopen("sample.txt", "r");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (file == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the file.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Count words in the file
     while ((ch = fgetc(file)) != EOF) {
         if (ch == ' ' || ch == '\n' || ch == '\t') {
             wordCount++;
         }
     }

     // Close the file
     fclose(file);

     // Print the word count
     printf("Word count: %d\n", wordCount);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  2. Character Frequency:

     #include <stdio.h>

 int main() {
     FILE *inputFile, *outputFile;
     char ch;
     int frequency[256] = {0};

     // Open the input file in read mode
     inputFile = fopen("input.txt", "r");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (inputFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the input file.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Count character frequency
     while ((ch = fgetc(inputFile)) != EOF) {
         frequency[ch]++;
     }

     // Close the input file
     fclose(inputFile);

     // Open the output file in write mode
     outputFile = fopen("output.txt", "w");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (outputFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the output file.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Write character frequency to the output file
     for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
         if (frequency[i] > 0) {
             fprintf(outputFile, "Character '%c' occurs %d times.\n", i, frequency[i]);
         }
     }

     // Close the output file
     fclose(outputFile);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  3. File Copy:

     #include <stdio.h>

 int main() {
     FILE *sourceFile, *destinationFile;
     char ch;

     // Open the source file in read mode
     sourceFile = fopen("source.txt", "r");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (sourceFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the source file.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Open the destination file in write mode
     destinationFile = fopen("destination.txt", "w");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (destinationFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the destination file.\n");
         fclose(sourceFile); // Close the source file before exiting
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Copy the contents of the source file to the destination file
     while ((ch = fgetc(sourceFile)) != EOF) {
         fputc(ch, destinationFile);
     }

     // Close both files
     fclose(sourceFile);
     fclose(destinationFile);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  4. Line Numbers:

     #include <stdio.h>

 int main() {
     FILE *inputFile, *outputFile;
     char line[100];
     int lineNumber = 1;

     // Open the input file in read mode
     inputFile = fopen("input.txt", "r");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (inputFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the input file.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Open the output file in write mode
     outputFile = fopen("output.txt", "w");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (outputFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the output file.\n");
         fclose(inputFile); // Close the input file before exiting
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Read each line and print with line numbers
     while (fgets(line, sizeof(line), inputFile) != NULL) {
         fprintf(outputFile, "%d: %s", lineNumber, line);
         lineNumber++;
     }

     // Close both files
     fclose(inputFile);
     fclose(outputFile);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  5. File Encryption:

     #include <stdio.h>

 int main() {
     FILE *inputFile, *outputFile;
     char ch;

     // Open the input file in read mode
     inputFile = fopen("input.txt", "r");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (inputFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the input file.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Open the output file in write mode
     outputFile = fopen("output.txt", "w");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (outputFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the output file.\n");
         fclose(inputFile); // Close the input file before exiting
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Encrypt and write to the output file
     while ((ch = fgetc(inputFile)) != EOF) {
         fputc(ch + 1, outputFile); // Simple encryption by shifting characters by 1
     }

     // Close both files
     fclose(inputFile);
     fclose(outputFile);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  6. File Concatenation:

     #include <stdio.h>

 int main() {
     FILE *file1, *file2, *outputFile;
     char ch;

     // Open the first file in read mode
     file1 = fopen("file1.txt", "r");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (file1 == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open file1.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Open the second file in read mode
     file2 = fopen("file2.txt", "r");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (file2 == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open file2.\n");
         fclose(file1); // Close the first file before exiting
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Open the output file in write mode
     outputFile = fopen("output.txt", "w");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (outputFile == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the output file.\n");
         fclose(file1); // Close the first file before exiting
         fclose(file2); // Close the second file before exiting
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Copy the contents of file1 to the output file
     while ((ch = fgetc(file1)) != EOF) {
         fputc(ch, outputFile);
     }

     // Copy the contents of file2 to the output file
     while ((ch = fgetc(file2)) != EOF) {
         fputc(ch, outputFile);
     }

     // Close all files
     fclose(file1);
     fclose(file2);
     fclose(outputFile);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  7. Record Management:

     #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>

 // Define a structure for a record
 struct Record {
     int id;
     char name[50];
     float salary;
 };

 // Function to display the menu
 void displayMenu() {
     printf("\nRecord Management System\n");
     printf("1. Add Record\n");
     printf("2. Delete Record\n");
     printf("3. Search Record\n");
     printf("4. Modify Record\n");
     printf("5. Display All Records\n");
     printf("6. Exit\n");
     printf("Enter your choice: ");
 }

 // Function to add a new record
 void addRecord(FILE *file) {
     struct Record record;

     printf("Enter ID: ");
     scanf("%d", &record.id);
     printf("Enter name: ");
     scanf("%s", record.name);
     printf("Enter salary: ");
     scanf("%f", &record.salary);

     // Write the record to the file
     fseek(file, 0, SEEK_END);
     fwrite(&record, sizeof(struct Record), 1, file);

     printf("Record added successfully.\n");
 }

 // Function to delete a record
 void deleteRecord(FILE *file) {
     int targetID;
     printf("Enter the ID to delete: ");
     scanf("%d", &targetID);

     FILE *tempFile = fopen("temp.dat", "wb");
     struct Record record;

     // Copy records to the temporary file, excluding the one to delete
     while (fread(&record, sizeof(struct Record), 1, file) == 1) {
         if (record.id != targetID) {
             fwrite(&record, sizeof(struct Record), 1, tempFile);
         }
     }

     fclose(file);
     fclose(tempFile);

     // Remove the original file
     remove("records.dat");

     // Rename the temporary file to the original file name
     rename("temp.dat", "records.dat");

     printf("Record deleted successfully.\n");
 }

 // Function to search for a record by ID
 void searchRecord(FILE *file) {
     int targetID;
     printf("Enter the ID to search: ");
     scanf("%d", &targetID);

     struct Record record;

     // Search for the record by ID
     fseek(file, 0, SEEK_SET);
     while (fread(&record, sizeof(struct Record), 1, file) == 1) {
         if (record.id == targetID) {
             printf("Record found:\n");
             printf("ID: %d, Name: %s, Salary: %.2f\n", record.id, record.name, record.salary);
             return; // Record found, no need to continue searching
         }
     }

     printf("Record with ID %d not found.\n", targetID);
 }

 // Function to modify a record
 void modifyRecord(FILE *file) {
     int targetID;
     printf("Enter the ID to modify: ");
     scanf("%d", &targetID);

     struct Record record;

     // Search for the record by ID
     fseek(file, 0, SEEK_SET);
     while (fread(&record, sizeof(struct Record), 1, file) == 1) {
         if (record.id == targetID) {
             printf("Enter new name: ");
             scanf("%s", record.name);
             printf("Enter new salary: ");
             scanf("%f", &record.salary);

             // Write the modified record back to the file
             fseek(file, -sizeof(struct Record), SEEK_CUR);
             fwrite(&record, sizeof(struct Record), 1, file);

             printf("Record modified successfully.\n");
             return; // Record modified, no need to continue searching
         }
     }

     printf("Record with ID %d not found.\n", targetID);
 }

 // Function to display all records
 void displayAllRecords(FILE *file) {
     struct Record record;

     // Display all records in the file
     fseek(file, 0, SEEK_SET);
     while (fread(&record, sizeof(struct Record), 1, file) == 1) {
         printf("ID: %d, Name: %s, Salary: %.2f\n", record.id, record.name, record.salary);
     }
 }

 int main() {
     FILE *file = fopen("records.dat", "ab+");

     // Check if the file is opened successfully
     if (file == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the file.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     int choice;

     do {
         displayMenu();
         scanf("%d", &choice);

         switch (choice) {
             case 1:
                 addRecord(file);
                 break;
             case 2:
                 deleteRecord(file);
                 break;
             case 3:
                 searchRecord(file);
                 break;
             case 4:
                 modifyRecord(file);
                 break;
             case 5:
                 displayAllRecords(file);
                 break;
             case 6:
                 printf("Exiting the program.\n");
                 break;
             default:
                 printf("Invalid choice. Please enter a valid option.\n");
         }

     } while (choice != 6);

     fclose(file);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  8. File Search:

     #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>

 int main() {
     FILE *file;
     char line[100], searchWord[20];
     int lineNumber = 1;

     // Open the file in read mode
     file = fopen("textfile.txt", "r");

     // Check if file is opened successfully
     if (file == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the file.\n");
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Get the word to search
     printf("Enter the word to search: ");
     scanf("%s", searchWord);

     // Search for the word and print line numbers
     while (fgets(line, sizeof(line), file) != NULL) {
         if (strstr(line, searchWord) != NULL) {
             printf("Word found at line %d: %s", lineNumber, line);
         }
         lineNumber++;
     }

     // Close the file
     fclose(file);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  9. CSV File Handling:

     #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>

 // Define a structure for an employee record
 struct Employee {
     int id;
     char name[50];
     float salary;
 };

 // Function to read records from a CSV file
 int readCSVFile(const char *filename, struct Employee **employees) {
     FILE *file = fopen(filename, "r");

     // Check if the file is opened successfully
     if (file == NULL) {
         printf("Could not open the file.\n");
         return -1; // Return an error code
     }

     int capacity = 10; // Initial capacity for records array
     int size = 0;      // Current size of records array
     *employees = malloc(capacity * sizeof(struct Employee));

     // Check if memory allocation is successful
     if (*employees == NULL) {
         printf("Memory allocation failed.\n");
         fclose(file); // Close the file before exiting
         return -1;    // Return an error code
     }

     // Read records from the CSV file
     while (fscanf(file, "%d,%49[^,],%f\n", &(*employees)[size].id, (*employees)[size].name, &(*employees)[size].salary) == 3) {
         size++;

         // Check if the records array needs to be resized
         if (size >= capacity) {
             capacity *= 2;
             *employees = realloc(*employees, capacity * sizeof(struct Employee));

             // Check if memory reallocation is successful
             if (*employees == NULL) {
                 printf("Memory reallocation failed.\n");
                 fclose(file); // Close the file before exiting
                 return -1;    // Return an error code
             }
         }
     }

     fclose(file); // Close the file

     return size;  // Return the number of records read
 }

 // Function to print records
 void printRecords(struct Employee *employees, int size) {
     printf("ID\tName\t\tSalary\n");
     for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
         printf("%d\t%-15s\t%.2f\n", employees[i].id, employees[i].name, employees[i].salary);
     }
 }

 // Function to compare records for sorting by ID
 int compareByID(const void *a, const void *b) {
     return ((struct Employee *)a)->id - ((struct Employee *)b)->id;
 }

 // Function to filter records by salary threshold
 void filterBySalary(struct Employee *employees, int size, float threshold) {
     printf("\nEmployees with Salary above %.2f:\n", threshold);
     printf("ID\tName\t\tSalary\n");
     for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
         if (employees[i].salary > threshold) {
             printf("%d\t%-15s\t%.2f\n", employees[i].id, employees[i].name, employees[i].salary);
         }
     }
 }

 int main() {
     const char *filename = "employees.csv";
     struct Employee *employees;
     int size;

     // Read records from the CSV file
     size = readCSVFile(filename, &employees);

     // Check if reading the file was successful
     if (size == -1) {
         return 1; // Exit with an error code
     }

     // Display the original records
     printf("Original Records:\n");
     printRecords(employees, size);

     // Sort records by ID
     qsort(employees, size, sizeof(struct Employee), compareByID);
     printf("\nRecords after sorting by ID:\n");
     printRecords(employees, size);

     // Filter records by salary threshold (example: 50000)
     filterBySalary(employees, size, 50000);

     // Free allocated memory
     free(employees);

     return 0; // Exit successfully
 }

  10. File Deletion:

    #include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main() {
    FILE *file, *tempFile;
    char line[100];
    int lineToDelete;

    // Open the file in read mode
    file = fopen("data.txt", "r");

    // Check if file is opened successfully
    if (file == NULL) {
        printf("Could not open the file.\n");
        return 1; // Exit with an error code
    }

    // Open a temporary file in write mode
    tempFile = fopen("temp.txt", "w");

    // Check if file is opened successfully
    if (tempFile == NULL) {
        printf("Could not open the temporary file.\n");
        fclose(file); // Close the file before exiting
        return 1; // Exit with an error code
    }

    // Get the line number to delete
    printf("Enter the line number to delete: ");
    scanf("%d", &lineToDelete);

    // Copy lines to the temporary file, excluding the specified line
    int currentLine = 1;
    while (fgets(line, sizeof(line), file) != NULL) {
        if (currentLine != lineToDelete) {
            fprintf(tempFile, "%s", line);
        }
        currentLine++;
    }

    // Close both files
    fclose(file);
    fclose(tempFile);

    // Remove the original file
    remove("data.txt");

    // Rename the temporary file to the original file name
    rename("temp.txt", "data.txt");

    return 0; // Exit successfully
}
Exercisec programmingFile handling