C++ prog: copy byte array

hey Guys,

here is my problem; i have read some bytes from a file to a char array and i want to copy the bytes exactly to another char array. i would be grateful to whoever can tell me the solution to this problem.

as, using strcpy() or strncpy(), will only copy the bytes up to the first null byte and then stop. and to use write() i would need a "file descriptor" for the destination array, and i am not sure it is possible to create a file descriptor for a program variable?


thanks in advance,

- user0182

Pseudocode:

Code:

---

stringa;
stringb;

p=0;

while p< length(stringa) {
 stringb[p]=stringa[p];
 p++;
}

---

thanks SirDice, i'll give it a try.

but, i'm more of an old-style C programmer, so i'm not familiar with strings, i tend to use char arrays. so, could you tell me does the length() function on strings work differently to the strlen() function on char arrays, or does it still just measure up to the first null byte. because if so, i still have the same problem?


regards,

- user0182

Try sizeof. Strlen would indeed give the string length upto the first NULL.

NB the length command was part of my pseudocode. I used it to give you an idea, it's no way near anything syntactically correct ;)

i'm not sure what you mean by use sizeof(), this will just give me the size of the array i.e.:

Code:

---

        int x;
        char str_a[1024];

        strcpy(str_a,"blah blah");
        x=sizeof(str_a);                //would return 1024

---

what i was looking for is; if anyone knows of a C function that will copy bytes from one char array to another char array, including null bytes? as i'm reading image files etc.

i know that the write() function would be perfect, providing that one can create a "file descriptor" for the destination array! but, i'm not sure one can create a file descriptor for a variable? if i have to then i can just write the function myself.

i just thought i would ask if a function already exists, so that i might learn something new about C programming. as i'm sure it probably does, as it would be a useful function. anyway, thanks for trying to help SirDice.


- user0182

Hmm... Was searching around for you.. It seems a C++ string can handle null bytes.
It's the old school C strings (char array) that uses a null byte to end the string.

The write function is C not C++. IIRC in C++ it should be cout << .

Also have a read here:
http://www.velocityreviews.com/forum...to-char-x.html

Well basically, if you're wanting to copy the whole array then what SirDice told you is correct. You can do something like the following:

Code:

---

char a[50], b[50];
int x=0;

for(; x<sizeof(b); x++)
  a[x]=b[x];

---

Once that has executed, a and b will have equivalent contents. Of course, you could also use memcpy:

Code:

---

char a[50], b[50];

memcpy(a, b, sizeof(b));

---

Have a look at http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/c...ng/memcpy.html

ac

thanks gothic_type, the memcpy() function was exactly what i was looking for.

thanks for your help too SirDice, it is much appreciated, although when you said that "The write function is C not C++.", i thought that the write() function is just a system call and so applies equally to C and C++, as C++ is just an extension of C and not a new language. unlike, the printf() function which has been made pretty much redundant by "cout <<".


regards,

- user0182

IIRC write is used a little different in C++. But I have to admit it's been a while since I've done anything with C++.

I'm mainly a perl monger and use C from time to time ;)