Writing std::string to std::ofstream

[lampshader]

Why does my compiler not allow c++ to write a string to the output stream? For example:

void foo()
{
    std::ofstream outputStream;
    std::string myString = "x";

    outputStream.open("myFile.txt", ofstream::binary)
    outputStream << myString;

    outputStream.close();
}

Provided that we have a file, its open and we are permitted to write to it.

[firedraco]

What do you mean by "not allow"? Does it not compile? Does it crash? Does it blow up your computer?

[lampshader]

using: outputStream << myString results in a compilation error.

[LB]

I don't believe you. Please copy and paste the exact error message.

[Peter87]

have you included the <string> header?

[Horscht]

That's because there is no overload for strings. You have to convert it to a c-string:
outputStream << myString.c_str();

[LB]

Horscht wrote:

That's because there is no overload for strings. You have to convert it to a c-string

This is not true.

[Horscht]

Hmm ok, the overload seems to be in <string>. I looked in the ostream reference.
http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/string/string/operator%3C%3C/
Never knew that, I always converted to c_str() when working with streams.
I thought <string> would be included through some other headers, why else would I be able to use string? But it seems you have to include it additionally.

[LB]

You should never rely on that. Always include the headers for the things you use.