Function returning "stream" ?

[StephQ]

At the moment I have a void member function (of a given class) that
takes as input an obj of class type ofstream and write some debug
information to it using the << operator.
I would like to modify the code so that the function returns a
"stream" that can be "sent" to cout or to a file using <<, as this
would give me more flexibility.
I used " " because I'm not sure I'm not using the correct terms
here. :P
Is there an easy way to accomplish this task?
Thank you in advance!

Cheers
Stefano

[Kai-Uwe Bux]

Re: Function returning &quot;stream&qu ot; ?

StephQ wrote:

At the moment I have a void member function (of a given class) that
takes as input an obj of class type ofstream and write some debug
information to it using the << operator.
I would like to modify the code so that the function returns a
"stream" that can be "sent" to cout or to a file using <<, as this
would give me more flexibility.
I used " " because I'm not sure I'm not using the correct terms
here. :P

What about returning a std::string? You could send that to cout or a file
using <<. So it seems to fit the description.

Alternatively, you could also make your function use an ostream & instead of
a ofstream &.


Best

Kai-Uwe Bux

[StephQ]

Re: Function returning &quot;stream&qu ot; ?

On Mar 6, 1:39 pm, Kai-Uwe Bux <jkherci...@gmx .netwrote:

StephQ wrote:

At the moment I have a void member function (of a given class) that
takes as input an obj of class type ofstream and write some debug
information to it using the << operator.
I would like to modify the code so that the function returns a
"stream" that can be "sent" to cout or to a file using <<, as this
would give me more flexibility.
I used " " because I'm not sure I'm not using the correct terms
here. :P

>
What about returning a std::string? You could send that to cout or a file
using <<. So it seems to fit the description.
>
Alternatively, you could also make your function use an ostream & instead of
a ofstream &.
>
Best
>
Kai-Uwe Bux

See my reply above.
I have never used ostream before. Do you have a link to a reference /
tutorial about it and streams in general?

Best
StephQ

[Kai-Uwe Bux]

Re: Function returning &quot;stream&qu ot; ?

StephQ wrote:

On Mar 6, 1:39 pm, Kai-Uwe Bux <jkherci...@gmx .netwrote:

>StephQ wrote:

At the moment I have a void member function (of a given class) that
takes as input an obj of class type ofstream and write some debug
information to it using the << operator.
I would like to modify the code so that the function returns a
"stream" that can be "sent" to cout or to a file using <<, as this
would give me more flexibility.
I used " " because I'm not sure I'm not using the correct terms
here. :P

>>
>What about returning a std::string? You could send that to cout or a file
>using <<. So it seems to fit the description.
>>
>Alternativel y, you could also make your function use an ostream & instead
>of a ofstream &.
>>
>Best
>>
>Kai-Uwe Bux

>
See my reply above.

See my reply to that reply.

I have never used ostream before. Do you have a link to a reference /
tutorial about it and streams in general?

Unfortunately, computer books are incredibly booring to me (with very,
_very_ few exceptions). I don't read them unless I have to look up
something. For that, I usually refer to the C++ standard. However, it
appears to be general consensus in this forum that this is not a good
recommendation.

However, for the case you mentioned, I take it that you have some function

void log ( std::ofstream & the_stream ) {
...
}

I would try to just changing it to

void log ( std::ostream & the_stream ) {
// same body
}

Unless you use file-specific methods (for which I don't see a need), you
should get away with that small change.


Best

Kai-Uwe Bux

[Jim Langston]

Re: Function returning &quot;stream&qu ot; ?


"Kai-Uwe Bux" <jkherciueh@gmx .netwrote in message
news:esk3r2$9$1 @murdoch.acc.Vi rginia.EDU...

StephQ wrote:
>

>On Mar 6, 1:39 pm, Kai-Uwe Bux <jkherci...@gmx .netwrote:

>>StephQ wrote:
>At the moment I have a void member function (of a given class) that
>takes as input an obj of class type ofstream and write some debug
>information to it using the << operator.
>I would like to modify the code so that the function returns a
>"stream" that can be "sent" to cout or to a file using <<, as this
>would give me more flexibility.
>I used " " because I'm not sure I'm not using the correct terms
>here. :P
>>>
>>What about returning a std::string? You could send that to cout or a
>>file
>>using <<. So it seems to fit the description.
>>>
>>Alternatively , you could also make your function use an ostream &
>>instead
>>of a ofstream &.
>>>
>>Best
>>>
>>Kai-Uwe Bux

>>
>See my reply above.

>
See my reply to that reply.
>
>

>I have never used ostream before. Do you have a link to a reference /
>tutorial about it and streams in general?

>
Unfortunately, computer books are incredibly booring to me (with very,
_very_ few exceptions). I don't read them unless I have to look up
something. For that, I usually refer to the C++ standard. However, it
appears to be general consensus in this forum that this is not a good
recommendation.
>
However, for the case you mentioned, I take it that you have some function
>
void log ( std::ofstream & the_stream ) {
...
}
>
I would try to just changing it to
>
void log ( std::ostream & the_stream ) {
// same body
}
>
Unless you use file-specific methods (for which I don't see a need), you
should get away with that small change.

Umm.. I don't see a change. I think you meant to change it to:

std::ostream& log ( std::ostream& the_stream ) {
// same body
return the_stream;
}

didnt' you?

>
>
Best
>
Kai-Uwe Bux

[Kai-Uwe Bux]

Re: Function returning &quot;stream&qu ot; ?

Jim Langston wrote:

>
"Kai-Uwe Bux" <jkherciueh@gmx .netwrote in message
news:esk3r2$9$1 @murdoch.acc.Vi rginia.EDU...

>StephQ wrote:
>>

>>On Mar 6, 1:39 pm, Kai-Uwe Bux <jkherci...@gmx .netwrote:
>>>StephQ wrote:
>>At the moment I have a void member function (of a given class) that
>>takes as input an obj of class type ofstream and write some debug
>>information to it using the << operator.
>>I would like to modify the code so that the function returns a
>>"stream" that can be "sent" to cout or to a file using <<, as this
>>would give me more flexibility.
>>I used " " because I'm not sure I'm not using the correct terms
>>here. :P
>>>>
>>>What about returning a std::string? You could send that to cout or a
>>>file
>>>using <<. So it seems to fit the description.
>>>>
>>>Alternativel y, you could also make your function use an ostream &
>>>instead
>>>of a ofstream &.
>>>>
>>>Best
>>>>
>>>Kai-Uwe Bux
>>>
>>See my reply above.

>>
>See my reply to that reply.
>>
>>

>>I have never used ostream before. Do you have a link to a reference /
>>tutorial about it and streams in general?

>>
>Unfortunatel y, computer books are incredibly booring to me (with very,
>_very_ few exceptions). I don't read them unless I have to look up
>something. For that, I usually refer to the C++ standard. However, it
>appears to be general consensus in this forum that this is not a good
>recommendation .
>>
>However, for the case you mentioned, I take it that you have some
>function
>>
> void log ( std::ofstream & the_stream ) {
> ...
> }
>>
>I would try to just changing it to
>>
> void log ( std::ostream & the_stream ) {
> // same body
> }
>>
>Unless you use file-specific methods (for which I don't see a need), you
>should get away with that small change.

>
Umm.. I don't see a change. I think you meant to change it to:
>
std::ostream& log ( std::ostream& the_stream ) {
// same body
return the_stream;
}
>
didnt' you?

No, I did not. Rereading what I wrote, I find that I changed exactly what I
meant to change. You just missed it. Hint: I removed just one letter!


Best

Kai-Uwe Bux