Convert float vertices to binary file?

[ChuckB]

Hi,
I can read and write vertices (floats) using ASCII files. I can even read vertices doing a binary read. How do I take some float values and write them to a binary file? A simple example writing a number such as -12.34 would be appreciated. In this case, I think a float takes 4 bytes...so the file would be that long.

I want to save my 3D model data in binary format for quicker loading.

Regards,
ChuckB

[Zaei]

Easy one =).

...
FILE * f = fopen("myDrive:\\myDir\\myFile.myFileExtension", "w+b");
float someFloat = -12.34f;
fwrite(&someFloat, 1, sizeof(float), f);
fclose(f);
...

Z.

[ChuckB]

Z,
I knew I could count on your help. :-)

Here is another question. Most samples of file writing and reading that I see tend to be good ole C. I don't see too many C++ examples using iostreams...reading/writing binary and ascii files. I suppose, why bother, when the C format is so easy to use. However, I do want to learn these other formats for file streaming.

Regards,
ChuckB

[Zaei]

Never used fstreams for binary file IO, but they are quite easy to use:

#include <fstream>
using namespace std;

main()
{
    ofstream of("myDrive:\\myDir\\myFile.myFileExtension");
    of << "Hello!" << endl;
    of.close();
    return 0;
}

That is the beauty of streams... consider this code:

#include <fstream>
using namespace std;

void output(ostream& os)
{
    os << "Hello" << endl;
}

main()
{
   output(cout);
   ofstream of(...);
   output(os);
   os.close();
   return 0;
}

You can also inherit from the ostream class to create your own output streams and such.

Z.

[parksie]

For binary, they're very similar in use to the C method:

#include <fstream>

void somecode() {
    ofstream fil("output.bin", ios::binary);

    char dat[256];

    fil.read(dat, 256); // i think, might need a sizeof in there somewhere.
}

I need my reference back