CSCI-1200 Computer Science II — Fall 2006
Lab 2 — Strings, Files, Command Line Arguments
Overview
This lab explores the use of command-line arguments, file input and output, and strings. It is an important
lab because it introduces tools that will be used in your labs and homework assignments throughout the
semester. Create a folder for this lab in your CSII labs directory and download these files:
http://www.cs.rpi.edu/academics/courses/fall06/cs2/labs/02_strings_args/simple_stats.cpp
http://www.cs.rpi.edu/academics/courses/fall06/cs2/labs/02_strings_args/in_numbers.txt
http://www.cs.rpi.edu/academics/courses/fall06/cs2/labs/02_strings_args/in_strings.txt
Once you have downloaded these files, you need not access the network any further. Turn off all network
connections.
Checkpoint 1
Start by reading the code and comments in simple stats.cpp. It contains an explanation of what is
needed in a program to handle command-line arguments and to open and read files. Then, just as you did
in the last lab, compile/build this program in your favorite C++ development environment.
If you are using g++, run the program from your shell / command prompt by typing:
simple_stats.exe in_numbers.txt
If you are using Visual Studio, there are two ways to run the program, try both:
1. Open a command prompt window and cd into the directory that contains the executable for the pro-
gram. It should be in the Debug directory under the project. Copy the downloaded file in numbers.txt
into this directory as well. Then you can run the program from the command prompt by typing
simple_stats.exe in_numbers.txt
If you created the program with a different project name than simple stats you will need to provide
a different executable name.
2. You can also run the program from within Visual Studio. This has the advantage of allowing the use
of the debugger. Go to Project->Properties, select Debugging and in Command arguments specify
the arguments you would like to pass into the program. In our case this is in_numbers.txt. (Note
that you should not give the name of the program executable, even though it will appear as one of
the actual arguments passed to the main function in your program.) The Working directory is by
default the directory of your project files, so you don’t need to change it unless you place the files you
are using somewhere else. (You should make sure that in_numbers.txt is in the working directory.)
When you run your program in Visual Studio, these arguments are used as if you entered them from
the Command Prompt.
Complete this checkpoint by demonstrating to a TA that you have successfully been able to run the
program as described above. (Visual Studio users must show both methods).
