Object Oriented Programming with C++, Second Edition

14.7 CLASSIFICATION OF FILES

One can look at files from various viewpoints. This will lead to different Classification of Files. Let us study them one by one.

A) {Historical perspective} Input file –Output file

In early days, programs (typically data processing) used to read data from one file. This was considered as input file. Output was also written to a file which was termed as output file. It may be noted that output file of one program may be input file for another program. Hence, this classification cannot be considered as basic classification.

B) {Programmers perspective} program file –data file

A programmer will write a program and compile it. It will create a program file with “.exe” extension. It contains machine language instructions ...