Alphabetical Order

[Diablo01]

I need help PLEASE! I have a file that has 45 names in it. I have been given an assignment where i need to write a program that reads that file completely and display 2 names. If there was a line to be formed I need it to read out who will be at the front of the line and who will be at the back of the line based on first name only. I am at the beginning of the class (about 5 weeks in) and there is a very limited amount of C++ I can use to accomplish this. Please help!. Thank you.

[MiiNiPaa]

Use file streams to get data:
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/files/

Use vector of strings to store data:
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/stl/vector.html
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/string.html

Use std::sort to sort data:
http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/algorithm/sort/

Use back() and front() functions to access last and first elements:
http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/vector/vector/back/
http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/vector/vector/front/

[Diablo01]

cannot use vector as we have not studied that yet.
cannot use algorithm as we have not studied that yet either.
I know that there are alot of ways to do this but I am limited to what I can use.

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
ifstream inputfile;
string filename;
string name;
string front, back, student;
int students = 46;


inputfile.open("lineup.txt");

if (!inputfile)

{
cout << "The input file did not open properly";
return 0;

}

inputfile >> name;

if (inputfile)
{
while (inputfile >> student)
{
for (int count = 1; inputfile >> student; count++)
{

if (count == 1)
front = back = student;
else if (student < front)
back = student;
}
}

cout << endl
<< front << " This is the name of the student at the front of the line.\n" ;
cout << back << " This is the name of the student at the end of the line." << endl;

inputfile.close();
}


return 0;
}

This is what I have and just about what I can use as well

[Diablo01]

I am starting to think that I have to use ASCII some how to accomplish this task. I dont know as I cannot find the answer. I have spent excess of 20 hrs on this project mostly because of the alphabetical issue.

[Diablo01]

Basically from what I can see i have to use the most basic and annoying means of code to alphabetize a list of names read from a file.

[MiiNiPaa]

Ok, try this:

inputfile >> student;
front = back = student;
while(inputfile >> student) {
    if (student < front)
        front = student;
    if (student > back)
        back = student;
}
std::cout << front << " <---- " << back;