how to check if file exists ?

[moroccanplaya]

i want to know how to check if the file already exists before creating the file?

                
puts("please enter a file name to create:\n");
scanf("%s", &file_name);
create_pointer = fopen( file_name, "ab");
if( create_pointer == NULL)	
//create file//
else
{
//file already exist// how would you check if the file already exists ?? 
}

[horace1]

Before you attempt to open it for writing you could open it for reading - if it exists the open will be sucessful otherwise if it does not exist the open would fail.

[moroccanplaya]

do you mean something like this ?

puts("please enter a file name to create:\n");
scanf("%s", &file_name);

if( create_pointer = fopen(file_name. "r"); 
printf("file already exist"); 
else
{
if(create_pointer != fopen(file_name"r"); 
create_pointer = fopen( file_name, "ab");
}

[horace1]

I was thinking

puts("please enter a file name to create:\n");
scanf("%s", &file_name);

if( create_pointer = fopen(file_name. "r") != NULL)
printf("file already exist");
else
{
create_pointer = fopen( file_name, "ab");

// write to the file

}

what do you want to do if the file already exists?
in the second fopen you can open it with "wb" as you know it does not exist

[Oralloy]

Alternately, you can use stat(), and get everything you ever wanted about the file. Use http://linux.die.net/man/2/stat to get the necessary information.

Cheers!

[moroccanplaya]

thanks allot for your hello i appreciate it

[Oralloy]

What are you trying to achieve?

If you want to do what is commonly called "create or append", I think you might be able to use the fopen()options string "a+b".

Here's a reference on fopen that explains the options string fairly clearly.

[moroccanplaya]

thanks it worked using fopen() was fine did mot need to use stat() thanks for your help much appreciated

[Oralloy]

Glad you got it worked out.

Cheers!
Oralloy