NX: Reading Database

[Chris Harris]

Hi all,
I have just started my solution to the Bodgitt and Scarper assigment. After reading some of the suggestions here I am a little confused. People have suggested reading the database using a RandomAccessFile, which sounds like a good way of moving around the database. However the assigment stats that I have to use a DataInputStream and a DataOutputStream. How can I get a DataInputStream to use a RandomAccessFile? As the DataInputStream takes InputStream in is constructor and RandomAccessFile is not an InputStream.
Thanks for your help.
Chris

[Philippe Maquet]

Hi Chris,

However the assigment stats that I have to use a DataInputStream and a DataOutputStream.

Are you sure your instructions don't state just something like this : "All numeric values are stored in the header information use the formats of the DataInputStream and DataOutputStream classes." ? If true :

It just concerns the header part of the file

Even for the header, the instructions just talk about the format used (for numbers). Formats of RandomAccessFile are 100% compatible with DataInputStream and DataOutputStream classes and implements the same interfaces (DataInput and DataOutput).

So you are safe to use it.
Best,
Phil.

[Chris Harris]

First of all thanks for getting back so quick.
What are the advantages of using a RandomAccessFile instead of the DataInputStream? As I am able to mark positions in the file and skip bytes with a DataInputStream?
Chris

[Philippe Maquet]

Hi Chris,

What are the advantages of using a RandomAccessFile instead of the DataInputStream?

Read/write support. Probably faster too, but I am not sure. But if you use NIO, its getChannel() method will return a readable/writable channel.
Regards,
Phil.