Random File Access... [RESOLVED]

[Max_aka_NOBODY]

Does the record size for random file access have to be fixed? If yes, is there any workaround for this?

Also, is it possible to write\read more than one record type to\from the same file?

If both of those are impossible, are they possible in VB.net?

Thanx in advance.

[dglienna]

Does the record size for random file access have to be fixed? If yes, is there any workaround for this?

Also, is it possible to write\read more than one record type to\from the same file?

If both of those are impossible, are they possible in VB.net?

Thanx in advance.

Yes. You have to make all records the same length. Otherwise, don't use Random access.

You can have a User Defined Type that can be common to different records, that have a variable used to distinguish between records. They must follow the same format, though.

I don't think that VB.Net is any different.

[BodwadUK]

You could use chunks of a fixed size e,g

Type Jelly
    Flavour as string * 10
    Colour as string * 10
    State as long
    Spare as string * 100
end type
 
Type JellyBean
    Flavour as string * 10
   Colour as string * 10
   Spare as string * 104 '  A Long is 4 bytes so to make equel length we add it to the spare string
end type

[Max_aka_NOBODY]

Thanx, people, but unfortunately I don't think your approach, Bodwak would be possible in my case. The file format isn't mine, and isn't supposed to be used in VB's Random Access since it has variable record lengths with no padding...

[BodwadUK]

Cant you find out the file format.

Whats the file format can you tell us?

[Max_aka_NOBODY]

The format is *.ES*(ESM, ESP, ESS, ESD) - basically data files for an RPG, entirely composed of variable-length records. But now I'm sticking with good ole` binary.