Record BlockWrite problems

[Memphis]

hi there, i've been having problems with writing some variant sized records. i have no idea what is going wrong, anyone can confirm my code would be really appreciated.

the type: (there is a reason why it is an array of byte, because i tried many other ways to get it to work and still no luck)

  TRule = record
    data        : array of byte;
  end;
  PRule = ^TRule;

the writing of the data, first i created a test record.

  New(nr);
  SetLength(nr.data, 8 + 6);
  Integer((@nr.data[0])^) := 1;
  Integer((@nr.data[4])^) := 1;
  PAnsiChar((@nr.data[8])^) := 'Admin'+#0;
  rules.Add(nr);                  // (cant be bothered to make as a linked list until i get it working)

now writing it

var
  datalen: DWord;
  i: Integer;
  nr: PRule;
  f: file of byte;
begin
  AssignFile(f, './rules.rul');
  ReWrite(f);
  for i := rules.Count-1 downto 0 do begin
    nr := rules[i];

    datalen := Length(nr.data);
    BlockWrite(f, datalen, 4);
    BlockWrite(f, nr.data, datalen);
  end;
  CloseFile(f);

and finally reading it

    AssignFile(f, './rules.rul');
    Reset(f);
    while not eof(f) do begin
      BlockRead(f, datalen, 4);
      GetMem(nr, datalen);
      BlockRead(f, nr, datalen);
      rules.Add(nr);
    end;
    CloseFile(f);

thanks in advance for any help.

;MM;

[JSoftware]

Use
ReWrite(f,1);
and
Reset(f,1);

[Memphis]

hi thanks for reply, ok you can't use rewrite(f, 1) or reset, when you have a file of

the file of byte referes to 1 byte, however for confirmation sake, i removed of byte, and changed both to ", 1".

however, it does exact same thing, doesnt output and load the data back correctly.

btw it always outputs the right amount of bytes.

;MM;

[JSoftware]

Try this
[pascal]
var
datalen: DWord;
i: Integer;
nr: PRule;
f: file of byte;
begin
AssignFile(f, './rules.rul');
ReWrite(f);
for i := rules.Count-1 downto 0 do begin
nr := rules[i];

datalen := Length(nr.data);
BlockWrite(f, datalen, 4);
BlockWrite(f, nr.data[0], datalen);
end;
CloseFile(f);
[/pascal]

[pascal]
AssignFile(f, './rules.rul');
Reset(f);
while not eof(f) do begin
GetMem(nr, SizeOf(TRule));
BlockRead(f, datalen, 4);
SetLength(nr.data, datalen);
BlockRead(f, nr.data[0], datalen);
rules.Add(nr);
end;
CloseFile(f);
[/pascal]

[Memphis]

hi, the GetMem with SizeOf will not work as the data array is dynamic, i have tried with the nr.data[0] but that does not work neither unfortuanatly.

[JSoftware]

It should work. nr is a pointer to a record which has a field which is a dynamic array. The record should be 4 bytes because the dynamic array field is a pointer to a compiler defined dynamic array structure. That's why you need the .data[0] to "dereference" the dynamic record.

.data will give you a pointer to the structure of the dynamic array which contains some metainformation

[Memphis]

It should work. nr is a pointer to a record which has a field which is a dynamic array. The record should be 4 bytes because the dynamic array field is a pointer to a compiler defined dynamic array structure. That's why you need the .data[0] to "dereference" the dynamic record.

.data will give you a pointer to the structure of the dynamic array which contains some metainformation

well anyways i have tried this way and it still causes error on reloading the data, opening the file, again the file length is correct, but the data does not look correct that is written.

edit: i found one of the problems, now just gonna test it all, if it works i will post a working version anyways

[pascal]
New(nr);
SetLength(nr.data, 8 + 6);
Integer((@nr.data[0])^) := 1;
Integer((@nr.data[4])^) := 1;
strLCopy(pChar(@nr.data[8]), 'Admin'+#0, 6);
rules.Add(nr);
[/pascal]

this was the problem, the data being written was incorrect to start with lol

edit: ok thanks for all your help, seems that was the problem.

[noeska]

It is good to have an hex editor available to inspect the file being written. That helped me a great deal while developing nvfs. Once you are sure the file is written correctly try to do a read test.