data conversion

[mani chandra]

I downloaded the FBN assignment. I have a few doubts about the data conversion tool:
a. For the data conversion program, whe i looked into the suncertify.db package, i noticed that the RandomAccessFile was reading the data from a file in ascii mode? So if my data conversion program writes the ascii data in binary mode, how will Data class be able to read it?
b. Should the data conersion tool make use of any classes in suncertify.db package?
Thanks if somebody can clarify these doubts, that will be great in getting me started.

[Paul Smiley]

It is my understanding that we are to write a stand alone tool that converts the ascii file to binary and then we are to modify the existing db package files to access the new binary files.

[Jerry Pulley]

Mani & Paul,
I'm not sure where y'all are going, so I'll just point out that the existing classes in suncertify.db provide all you need to write the "binary" file. There's a lot of benefit in code reuse, especially in this case. My instructions did not imply that I should modify the binary format, so I saw no implication that I should modify Data, DataInfo, and FieldInfo to access a new format.
Check this thread for a more complete discussion of the issue.
Jerry

[Rahul Srivastava-2K3377]

Hey folks I agree with jPly. If you read an ASCII file and write a binary file, what is the problem???. The Data class is meant to read a binary file. If you want to change it that's a different issue. But, they why would you change it. Any solid reasons!!!.
Its simple, you are given a program that reads binary file, and an ASCII file. To execute the program you can do two things :
1.) convert ASCII to binary.
2.) modify program to read ASCII.
What is your choice now??
Rahul sri