ok - i have a file with repeating data - in the exact same format over and over and over (about 3500 entries)... but at the very beginning of this text file there is a single number - that number is how many entries.... and it never repeats or has a spot... here''s an example.

2
74  74  74  76  75  75  74  67  67  60 
 68  75  74  64  95  23  8  14  1  4  1 
 1973  24  6  2400000  2  1991  4  17  14 
 0  0  0  0 
 0  0  0  0 
 3000  3000  90000  1  0  0 
 1  0  0  0  0  0 
 83530009  85770021  85660034  98770044  83540057  86770069  87690080  34440094  93230105  85340116 
 88850129  84550140  84550706  86750164  87970176  64540901  34340200  34230214  84440738  84250788 
 87670249  84540260  14340273  77650284  24130298  84540308  87660320  0  85580344  85760357 
 0  0  0  0  4  191  7  2 
 0  0  0  0  0 
-
Milan Hnilicka

drafted
133107070145082112130075117020098080125
1.16 (24.3.2002)
1.16 (24.3.2002)
-38  0  14  75  70 
 30  31  25  42  56  51  64  61  84  21 
 50  60  87  33  116  57  3  0  2  1  0 
 1990  23  10  100000  0  0  0  0  99 
 0  0  0  0 
 0  0  0  0 
 0  0  0  0  0  1 
 10  1  0  0  0  0 
 0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 
 0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 
 0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 
 0  0  0  0  3  208  11  6 
 0  0  0  0  0 
-
Jason Wregget

- -
110060103050085105100100100100100083100
1.16 (24.3.2002)
1.16 (24.3.2002)
 0  0  29  64  172 
 

now - see the "2" at the very beginning? that''s how many entries there are in the file. the file i''m using is much bigger though.. anyway - i need to know how to make the program skip, or only read the first line a single time. i know how to make it read all that data WITHOUT that first number - i''ve done it and i can read all 3500+ entries - however i don''t know how to make it read the file when that first number is in there... and i can''t remove it because i''m making a little program for another game (eastside hockey manager for those who know it) so, how can i make my input function completely skip that first number? or better yet - read it a single time then go to my format... here''s the code i have now.

Open ("C:\Documents and Settings\Wizzykin\Desktop\EHMTest\players.ehm") For Input As #1
Do While Not EOF(1)
Input #1, Shooting, Playmaking, Stickhandling, Checking, Positioning, Hitting, Skating, Endurance, Penalty, Faceoffs
Input #1, Leadership, Strength, Potential, Consistency, Greed, Fighting, Click, Team, MainPosition, Country, Handed
Input #1, BirthYear, BirthMonth, BirthDay, Salary, ContractLength, DraftYear, DraftRound, Draftedby, Rights
Input #1, Games, Goals, Assist, GWG
Input #1, Games2, Goals2, Assist2, GWG2
Input #1, GoalsR, AssistR, PointsR, NoTradeSwitch, TwoWaySwitch, PlayerTeamOption
Input #1, Status, Rookie, ConsideringOffer, TeamOffering, Timeconsidering, Injury
Input #1, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X
Input #1, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X
Input #1, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X
Input #1, GoalStreak, PointStreak, TotalGP, SuspendedGames, Training, Wght, Hght, StatusinOrg
Input #1, BeststreakGames, BeststreakGWG, BeststreakAssists, BestStreakPoints, BestStreakGoals
Input #1, X
Input #1, PlayerName
Input #1, Performance
Input #1, Drafted
Input #1, Potentialceilings
Input #1, verEHM, verEHM
Input #1, verEHM, verEHM
Input #1, Attitude, AlternatePosition, NHLRights, InjuryProne, OverallDraft

Loop

Close #1
 

see - my code reads with no first number. how can i slightly alter my code so that i can read that first number a single time? as you can see in my input file above (the example i posted) there is no space between entries (-38 0 14 75 70 - is the ending line for the first entry - then it goes right to the next entry and so on) so i can''t just put an input line for it... i hope that''s clear.

just to clarify - my code only works when i use the file with that first number deleted... but i can''t expect anyone who uses it to delete that number any time they want to use it.

1.) what's FreeFile?

2.) as i said - i can't put an extra "input #1", because the rest of the file doesn't repeat that number. it breaks the entire loop... it's a one time number that never repeats again - and there's no space for it anywhere else...

it's like this

3
Hello
1 2 3 4 5
Goodbye
1 2 3 4 5
What
1 2 3 4 5

-see, there's no room for an extra input...

Hello
1 2 3 4 5

is a single entry, then right below it is the next entry (goodbye)

that 3 isn't included at all in the cycle below it.

[edited by - Wizzy on October 21, 2003 6:12:12 PM]

i may have found out what to do

Do While X <> 1    Input #1, TotalPlayers    X = 1LoopDo While Not EOF(1)Input #1, Shooting, Playmaking, Stickhandling, Checking, Positioning, Hitting, Skating, Endurance, Penalty, FaceoffsInput #1, Leadership, Strength, Potential, Consistency, Greed, Fighting, Click, Team, MainPosition, Country, HandedInput #1, BirthYear, BirthMonth, BirthDay, Salary, ContractLength, DraftYear, DraftRound, Draftedby, RightsInput #1, Games, Goals, Assist, GWGInput #1, Games2, Goals2, Assist2, GWG2Input #1, GoalsR, AssistR, PointsR, NoTradeSwitch, TwoWaySwitch, PlayerTeamOptionInput #1, Status, Rookie, ConsideringOffer, TeamOffering, Timeconsidering, InjuryInput #1, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, XInput #1, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, XInput #1, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, XInput #1, GoalStreak, PointStreak, TotalGP, SuspendedGames, Training, Wght, Hght, StatusinOrgInput #1, BeststreakGames, BeststreakGWG, BeststreakAssists, BestStreakPoints, BestStreakGoalsInput #1, XInput #1, PlayerNameInput #1, PerformanceInput #1, DraftedInput #1, PotentialceilingsInput #1, verEHM, verEHMInput #1, verEHM, verEHMInput #1, Attitude, AlternatePosition, NHLRights, InjuryProne, OverallDraftMSFlexGrid1.Row = MSROWMSFlexGrid1.Col = 0MSFlexGrid1.Text = PlayerNameMSFlexGrid1.Col = MSFlexGrid1.Col + 1MSFlexGrid1.Text = MainPositionMSFlexGrid1.Col = MSFlexGrid1.Col + 1MSFlexGrid1.Text = PotentialMSFlexGrid1.Col = MSFlexGrid1.Col + 1MSFlexGrid1.Text = ConsistencyMSROW = MSROW + 1LoopClose #1 

i just added that first "do while x <> 1"

and it seems that it opens the file, reads that number into the var, then stops the loop - then the next loop continues where the other left off

Why did you put it in a loop if that code is only executed once? Just do it like clum said:

Input #1, TotalPlayers
Do While Not EOF(1)
Loop
Close #1

And yes, you need to close files when you are done using them.

[edited by - JonWoyame on October 21, 2003 7:33:29 PM]