I desperately need a command to copy two files together.  In DOS, this was
easy.  For example, to attach file2.txt to the end of file1.txt and store it
as file3.txt, you would use
copy file1.txt + file2.txt file3.txt

What VB or Windows API calls can I use to achieve this?  I've tried doing
this by simply reading in each of the two files and combining them manually.
This is extremely slow, however.  Any tips?

Thanks,
Russell Davis
---

Try using byte arrays to read/write the files and open all files involved As
Binary.

Try

'Open Two Input Files
    Open File1$ for Binary as #1
    Open File2$ for Binary as #2

'Open Output File
    Open NewFile3$ For Binary as #3

'Get File 1, then write to new file
    Buffer$=Space$(LOF(1))
    Get #1, Buffer$
    Put #3, Buffer$

'Get File 2, then write to new file
    Buffer$=Space$(LOF(2))
    Get #2, Buffer$
    Put #3, Buffer$

'Close
    Close #1
    Close #2
    Close #3

There are other ways, but this one is simple to use and understand. As
UniCode becomes more common (or in some foreign versions of VB?) this method
may not work. You could use a Byte array instead of strings, but the strings
will work for what I think you are doing.

Greg

Is there any speed difference using a byte array?

        Dim FileData() As Byte
        Dim FileLength as Long

        Open File1$ for Binary as #1
        Open File2$ for Binary as #2
        Open NewFile3$ For Binary as #3

        ReDim FileData(0 To LOF(1) - 1)
        Get #1, FileData()
        Put #3, FileData()
        FileLength = LOF(3)

        ReDim FileData(0 To LOF(2) - 1)
        Get #2, Buffer$
        Put #3,FileLength + 1, Buffer$

        Close #1
        Close #2
        Close #3

-- Dustin

I wouldn't think so. I prefer byte arrays myself. The example I used was
with strings, because it was easier for newbies to understand.

Greg

It works using this method (I already knew how to do that).  It just seems
like its being innefecient to load the whole file into memory, only to write
it back to disk.  Is there some way to do it directly, so it could just take
the copy the files together straight from the disk?  I am combining large
files, so I need it to be as fast as possible.  Any other suggestions are
gladly welcomed!

Thanks,
Russell Davis

Well, in C++, you can open a file and make it appear to be a memory block.
Using a similair techique as described before, you could write the file
without loading it into memory.

If you want to stay fully VB, another way is using the method before, but
limited the buffer size to a set size and looping the file. This will not
require the entire large file to be loaded in memory, but will take slightly
longer.

Greg

With simple string variable work:

Dim s As String

'Open Two Input Files
    Open File1$ for Binary as #1
    Open File2$ for Binary as #2

'Open Output File
    Open NewFile3$ For Binary as #3

'Get File 1, then write to new file
    s = Imput$(Lof(1), 1)
    Put #3, , s

'Get File 2, then write to new file
    s = Imput$(Lof(2), 2)
    Put #3, , s

'Close
    Close 1, 2, 3

PS. Care with Put and Get sintax is
Put #Channel, , s
Not
Put #Channel, s
--
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An Idea...

What if you used:

 Put #3, , Input$(Lof(1), 1)

This might just be the quickest way.

Greg

It might not necessarily take longer.  If you're reading a really large file
into memory all at once, Windows may have to swap to disk... so you'd
actually be reading from disk, writing to disk (virtual memory), reading
back from disk (virtual memory), then writing to disk again.

It really depends on the size of the file, the amount of memory available on
the system, other applications that are running, etc.

In some cases, looping might actually be faster.

--
Matthew A. Feinberg

ICQ: 3494579

G>
What if you used:

 Put #3, , Input$(Lof(1), 1)

This might just be the quickest way.
H>
No, no, no
This is not correct.
Binary write It requires a variable -not an expression  
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On Fri, 16 Jan 1998 15:25:21 -0800, "Russell Davis"

Alternatively, a bit of a cop out, but you could always create a batch
file on the fly to do:  copy file1.txt + file2.txt file3.txt and run
it hidden.

Regards Dave.

I do not know if this has been tried or said but how about copying the first
file to the new file name and then opening it for append assuming it is a
plain text file. Then adding the contents of file 2.  Saves opening 3 files
plus storage of file contents.  Just a thought.

Robbie

Sorry that was for Windows NT try Command /c for Windows 95...

Thanks David L. Gorman
AutoMation Programmer/Programmer
CompuCOM Systems Incorp.
1-609-224-5149

Private Sub Form_Load()
   Dim FileName1 As String
   Dim FileName2 As String
   Dim Merged_FileName As String
   Dim ShellFile As String
   Dim ShellCheck As Integer

   FileName1 = "C:\File1.txt"
   FileName2 = "C:\File2.txt"
   Merged_FileName = "C:\File.txt"

   ShellFile = "cmd /c" + Chr$(34) + "copy " + FileName1 + " + " +
FileName2 + _
            " " + Merged_FileName
   ShellCheck = Shell(ShellFile, vbHide)
End Sub

Thanks David L. Gorman
AutoMation Programmer/Programmer
CompuCOM Systems Incorp.
1-609-224-5149