C++ how to read what I want from a file? -

how can assign variable c++ code value structured .txt file example? if have following input.txt structured this:

    <name> "john washington"     <age> "24"     <id> "19702408447417"     <alive status> "deceased" 

in c++ code if have

ifstream read("input.txt",ios::in); char name[64]; read>>name;//name point john washington string int age; read>>age;// cout<<age return 24; int id; read>>id;// cout<<id return 19702408447417 char alivestatus[32]; read>>alivestatus;//alivestatus point deceased string; 

how can make work above?

as @πάντα ῥεῖ mentioned in comments, need implement parser can interpret <> tags within file. additionally, recommend reconsidering data types.

specifically, given there's no special reason you're using char [], please switch std::string. don't know use case of code, if input.txt happens contain data thats larger size of arrays, or worse if input user-controlled, can lead buffer overflows , unwanted exploits. std::string has benefit of being standardized, optimized, more friendly char arrays, , has variety of useful algorithms , functions readily available use.

with regards text file parsing, can perhaps implement following:

    #include <fstream>     #include <iostream>     #include <string>      int main()     {         std::ifstream input_file("input.txt");          std::string name_delimeter("<name> ");         std::string age_delimeter("<age> ");         std::string id_delimeter("<id> ");         std::string alive_delimeter("<alive status> ");           std::string line;          std::getline(input_file,line);          std::string name(line,line.find(name_delimeter) + name_delimeter.size()); // string reasons described above          std::getline(input_file,line);          int age = std::atoi(line.substr(line.find(age_delimeter) + age_delimeter.size()).c_str());          std::getline(input_file,line);          std::string id(line,line.find(id_delimeter) + id_delimeter.size()); // example id overflows 32-bit integer                                                                             // maybe representing string more appropriate          std::getline(input_file,line);          std::string alive_status(line,line.find(alive_delimeter) + alive_delimeter.size()); // string same reason name           std::cout << "name = " << name << std::endl << "age = " << age << std::endl << "id = " << id << std::endl << "alive? " << alive_status << std::endl;     } 

the basis of code read file structured , construct appropriate data types them. in fact, because used std::string of data types, easy build correct output means of std::string's constructors , available functions.

maybe performing in loop, or file has several structures. approach problem, can make record class overloads operator >> , reads in data required.