Reading information from .dat files

[rnashting]

I am trying to create a form that writes a .dat file, and then another form that reads the file and outputs the fields into a list box. The creation seems to have gone fine, but reading the file seems to not work so much. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Here's what I have so far:

Private Sub cmdCreate_Click()
    Open "c:\users\brian\Documents\School\CPT 323\friends.dat" For Output As #1
    Write #1, 1, "phone number", "first name", "last name"
    Write #1, 2, "111-111-1111", "Michael", "Massey"
    Write #1, 3, "222-222-2222", "Brian", "Tjarks"
    Write #1, 4, "333-333-3333", "George", "Fuller"
    Close 1    
End Sub

Private Sub cmdRead_Click()
    Dim phoneNumber As String
    Dim firstName As String
    Dim lastName As String    
    Open "friends.dat" For Input As #1    
    Do Until EOF(1)
        Input #1, phoneNumber, firstName, lastName
        lstFriends.AddItem "phoneNumber " & _
        "firstName " & "lastName"
    Loop    
    Close 1       
End Sub

[missinglinq]

Why in the world would you want to create an external data file instead of simply using a table to hold your data?

Linq ;0)>

[rnashting]

using .dat

I'm still learning to program, and the book I'm using is teaching about .dat files now. You're right that it doesn't seem like the best way, but I don't want to discount it without knowing what I'm discounting :)

[ADezii]

You've made several mistakes, so hopefully this will be a learning experience for you. I'll simply Post the code and should you have any questions, feel free to ask:

Open "c:\users\brian\Documents\School\CPT 323\friends.dat" For Output As #1

Write #1, 1, "phone number", "first name", "last name"
Write #1, 2, "111-111-1111", "Michael", "Massey"
Write #1, 3, "222-222-2222", "Brian", "Tjarks"
Write #1, 4, "333-333-3333", "George", "Fuller"

Close #1

Dim SequenceNumber As Long
Dim phoneNumber As String
Dim firstName As String
Dim lastName As String

With Me![lstFriends]
  .RowSourceType = "Value List"
  .ColumnCount = 4
  .ColumnWidths = ".25 in;;;"
End With

Me![lstFriends].RowSourceType = "Value List"
Me![lstFriends].ColumnCount = 4

Open "c:\users\brian\Documents\School\CPT 323\friends.dat" For Input As #1

Do While Not EOF(1)
 Input #1, SequenceNumber, phoneNumber, firstName, lastName
   lstFriends.AddItem SequenceNumber & ";" & phoneNumber & ";" & firstName & ";" & lastName
Loop

Close #1

[rnashting]

Thank you so much! The book we are using is very vague...and as you can see, I'm still not very good at this. I didn't even realize that the number in the write was a field, I assumed it was a place holder. Concerning your With block, can I set those things within the form design or do I have to write the code? I had set those things when building the form, and it seems to work, I'm just curious as to why you coded it instead.
Thanks again for your help!

[ADezii]

The With..End With Block sets certain Properties of the List Box in Code, but you can also do this in the Properties Window for the List Box (manually).