Building Blocks of Data: A C++ Adventure Through LEGO Lands

In the kingdom of programming, there lies a labyrinthine library filled with ancient texts and data scrolls. Among these, a special collection dedicated to the art of Text I/O beckons adventurers from afar. Lab 4 is your map to this treasure trove, guiding you through the enchanted forests of CSV files, across the rivers of data parsing, and into the heart of LEGO datasets. Prepare your compilers, for an expedition into the depths of C++ awaits.

For source code please visit the Github repository here: Text IO Files

Overview

This repository contains the materials and source code for Lab 4 focused on Text Input/Output (I/O) operations with files in C++. The lab involves working with CSV files to process and analyze LEGO datasets. The main objective is to teach students how to read from and write to text files, parse data, and apply basic data processing techniques using C++.

Files Description

• Lab 4.pdf: Contains the lab instructions and requirements.
• main.cpp: The main C++ source file that contains the logic for reading, processing, and outputting data related to LEGO parts.
• main.h: Header file for the main.cpp, declaring functions used in the main source file.
• lego1.csv, lego2.csv, lego3.csv: CSV files containing LEGO parts data. Each file follows a similar structure but contains different datasets.

Main Components

Lab 4 PDF

The PDF document provides a detailed overview of the lab objectives, tasks, and specific instructions for students. It outlines the requirements for reading from and writing to files, as well as the expected outputs.

main.cpp

This is the primary source file for the lab. It includes the main function and other helper functions to perform tasks such as reading data from CSV files, processing the data, and writing results to a new file. The file demonstrates how to:

• Open and read files using ifstream.
• Write to files using ofstream.
• Parse CSV data using string manipulation techniques.
• Store and process data in appropriate data structures.
• Output processed information based on lab requirements.

main.h

A header file that declares functions implemented in main.cpp. It serves to organize the code and improve readability, making it easier to understand the structure of the program.

LEGO CSV Files

These files are used as input data for the lab exercises. They contain information about LEGO parts, including part numbers, names, colors, and quantities. The format is typical CSV, where each line represents a different LEGO part, and fields are separated by commas.

Functionality

The program implemented in main.cpp performs several key operations:

• File Reading: Opens the LEGO CSV files and reads their content.
• Data Parsing: Parses each line of the CSV files to extract LEGO part information.
• Data Processing: Processes the extracted data according to the lab's tasks (e.g., filtering, aggregating, or transforming data).
• File Writing: Writes the processed data to a new file, following the format specified in the lab instructions.

Methods Used

• File Stream Operations: Uses ifstream and ofstream for reading from and writing to files.
• String Manipulation: Employs string functions to split and parse CSV lines.
• Data Structures: Utilizes arrays or vectors (depending on implementation details) to store and manage data.
• Control Structures: Implements loops and conditional statements to iterate over file lines and process data.

Conclusion

As the dust settles on Lab 4: Text I/O Files Documentation, what remains is not just a collection of files and code, but a fortress of knowledge, built brick by brick with the LEGO data we've deciphered. This adventure through the lands of C++ and the realms of text file operations equips us with the tools to tackle even greater challenges ahead. So, with the map of Lab 4 in hand and the compass of our compilers at the ready, we set forth to new adventures, ever prepared to build, parse, and explore the endless possibilities that lie in the code beneath our fingers.