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# Q3TextStream Class Reference
[Qt3Support module]

The Q3TextStream class provides basic functions for reading and writing text using a QIODevice. More...

     #include <Q3TextStream>

This class is part of the Qt 3 support library. It is provided to keep old source code working. We strongly advise against using it in new code. See Porting to Qt 4 for more information.

Note: All the functions in this class are reentrant.

- List of all members, including inherited members
- Obsolete members

### Public Types

- enum Encoding { Locale, Latin1, Unicode, UnicodeNetworkOrder, ..., UnicodeUTF8 }

### Public Functions

- Q3TextStream ()
- Q3TextStream ( QIODevice * iod )
- Q3TextStream ( QString * str, int filemode )
- Q3TextStream ( QByteArray & a, int mode )
- Q3TextStream ( FILE * fh, int mode )
- virtual ~Q3TextStream ()
- bool atEnd () const
- QTextCodec * codec ()
- QIODevice * device () const
- int fill () const
- int fill ( int f )
- int flags () const
- int flags ( int f )
- int precision () const
- int precision ( int p )
- QString read ()
- QString readLine ()
- Q3TextStream & readRawBytes ( char * s, uint len )
- void reset ()
- void setCodec ( QTextCodec * codec )
- void setDevice ( QIODevice * iod )
- void setEncoding ( Encoding e )
- int setf ( int bits )
- int setf ( int bits, int mask )
- void skipWhiteSpace ()
- void unsetDevice ()
- int unsetf ( int bits )
- int width () const
- int width ( int w )
- Q3TextStream & writeRawBytes ( const char * s, uint len )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( QChar c )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( char c )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( signed short i )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( unsigned short i )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( signed int i )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( unsigned int i )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( signed long i )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( unsigned long i )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( float f )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( double f )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( const char * s )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( const Q3CString & s )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( const QString & s )
- Q3TextStream & operator<< ( void * ptr )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( QChar & c )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( char & c )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( signed short & i )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( unsigned short & i )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( signed int & i )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( unsigned int & i )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( signed long & i )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( unsigned long & i )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( float & f )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( double & f )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( char * s )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( QString & str )
- Q3TextStream & operator>> ( Q3CString & str )

## Detailed Description

The Q3TextStream class provides basic functions for reading and writing text using a QIODevice.

The text stream class has a functional interface that is very similar to that of the standard C++ iostream class.

Qt provides several global functions similar to the ones in iostream:

Function | Meaning
--- | ---
bin | sets the Q3TextStream to read/write binary numbers
oct | sets the Q3TextStream to read/write octal numbers
dec | sets the Q3TextStream to read/write decimal numbers
hex | sets the Q3TextStream to read/write hexadecimal numbers
endl | forces a line break
flush | forces the QIODevice to flush any buffered data
ws | eats any available whitespace (on input)
reset | resets the Q3TextStream to its default mode (see reset())
qSetW(int) | sets the field width to the given argument
qSetFill(int) | sets the fill character to the given argument
qSetPrecision(int) | sets the precision to the given argument

Warning: By default Q3TextStream will automatically detect whether integers in the stream are in decimal, octal, hexadecimal or binary format when reading from the stream. In particular, a leading '0' signifies octal, i.e. the sequence "0100" will be interpreted as 64.

The Q3TextStream class reads and writes text; it is not appropriate for dealing with binary data (but QDataStream is).

By default, output of Unicode text (i.e. QString) is done using the local 8-bit encoding. This can be changed using the setEncoding() method. For input, the Q3TextStream will auto-detect standard Unicode "byte order marked" text files; otherwise the local 8-bit encoding is used.

The QIODevice is set in the constructor, or later using setDevice(). If the end of the input is reached atEnd() returns TRUE. Data can be read into variables of the appropriate type using the operator>>() overloads, or read in its entirety into a single string using read(), or read a line at a time using readLine(). Whitespace can be skipped over using skipWhiteSpace(). You can set flags for the stream using flags() or setf(). The stream also supports width(), precision() and fill(); use reset() to reset the defaults.

See also QDataStream.

## Member Type Documentation

### enum Q3TextStream::Encoding

Constant | Value
--- | ---
`Q3TextStream::Locale` | `0`
`Q3TextStream::Latin1` | `1`
`Q3TextStream::Unicode` | `2`
`Q3TextStream::UnicodeNetworkOrder` | `3`
`Q3TextStream::UnicodeReverse` | `4`
`Q3TextStream::RawUnicode` | `5`
`Q3TextStream::UnicodeUTF8` | `6`

See setEncoding() for an explanation of the encodings.

## Member Function Documentation

### Q3TextStream::Q3TextStream ()

Constructs a data stream that has no IO device.

### Q3TextStream::Q3TextStream ( QIODevice * iod )

Constructs a text stream that uses the IO device iod.

### Q3TextStream::Q3TextStream ( QString * str, int filemode )

Constructs a text stream that operates on the Unicode QString, str, through an internal device. The filemode argument is passed to the device's open() function; see QIODevice::mode().

If you set an encoding or codec with setEncoding() or setCodec(), this setting is ignored for text streams that operate on QString.

Example:

         QString str;
         Q3TextStream ts( &str, IO_WriteOnly );
         ts << "pi = " << 3.14; // str == "pi = 3.14"

Writing data to the text stream will modify the contents of the string. The string will be expanded when data is written beyond the end of the string. Note that the string will not be truncated:

         QString str = "pi = 3.14";
         Q3TextStream ts( &str, IO_WriteOnly );
         ts <<  "2+2 = " << 2+2; // str == "2+2 = 414"

Note that because QString is Unicode, you should not use readRawBytes() or writeRawBytes() on such a stream.

### Q3TextStream::Q3TextStream ( QByteArray & a, int mode )

Constructs a text stream that operates on the byte array, a, through an internal QBuffer device. The mode argument is passed to the device's open() function; see QIODevice::mode().

Example:

         QByteArray array;
         Q3TextStream ts( array, IO_WriteOnly );
         ts << "pi = " << 3.14 << '\0'; // array == "pi = 3.14"

Writing data to the text stream will modify the contents of the array. The array will be expanded when data is written beyond the end of the string.

Same example, using a QBuffer:

         QByteArray array;
         QBuffer buf( array );
         buf.open( IO_WriteOnly );
         Q3TextStream ts( &buf );
         ts << "pi = " << 3.14 << '\0'; // array == "pi = 3.14"
         buf.close();

### Q3TextStream::Q3TextStream ( FILE * fh, int mode )

Constructs a text stream that operates on an existing file handle fh through an internal QFile device. The mode argument is passed to the device's open() function; see QIODevice::mode().

Note that if you create a Q3TextStream `cout` or another name that is also used for another variable of a different type, some linkers may confuse the two variables, which will often cause crashes.

### Q3TextStream::~Q3TextStream () `[virtual]`

Destroys the text stream.

The destructor does not affect the current IO device.

### bool Q3TextStream::atEnd () const

Returns TRUE if the IO device has reached the end position (end of the stream or file) or if there is no IO device set; otherwise returns FALSE.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also QIODevice::atEnd().

### QTextCodec * Q3TextStream::codec ()

Returns the codec actually used for this stream.

If Unicode is automatically detected in input, a codec with name() "ISO-10646-UCS-2" is returned.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also setCodec().

### QIODevice * Q3TextStream::device () const

Returns the IO device currently set.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also setDevice() and unsetDevice().

### int Q3TextStream::fill () const

Returns the fill character. The default value is ' ' (space).

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### int Q3TextStream::fill ( int f )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Sets the fill character to f. Returns the previous fill character.

### int Q3TextStream::flags () const

Returns the current stream flags. The default value is 0.

Flag | Meaning
--- | ---
`skipws` | Not currently used; whitespace always skipped
`left` | Numeric fields are left-aligned
`right` | Not currently used (by default, numerics are right-aligned)
`internal` | Puts any padding spaces between +/- and value
`bin` | Output and input only in binary
`oct` | Output and input only in octal
`dec` | Output and input only in decimal
`hex` | Output and input only in hexadecimal
`showbase` | Annotates numeric outputs with 0b, 0, or 0x if in `bin`, `oct`, or `hex` format
`showpoint` | Not currently used
`uppercase` | Uses 0B and 0X rather than 0b and 0x
`showpos` | Shows + for positive numeric values
`scientific` | Uses scientific notation for floating point values
`fixed` | Uses fixed-point notation for floating point values

Note that unless `bin`, `oct`, `dec`, or `hex` is set, the input base is octal if the value starts with 0, hexadecimal if it starts with 0x, binary if it starts with 0b, and decimal otherwise.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also setf() and unsetf().

### int Q3TextStream::flags ( int f )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Sets the stream flags to f. Returns the previous stream flags.

See also setf(), unsetf(), and flags().

### int Q3TextStream::precision () const

Returns the precision. The default value is 6.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### int Q3TextStream::precision ( int p )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Sets the precision to p. Returns the previous precision setting.

### QString Q3TextStream::read ()

Reads the entire stream from the current position, and returns a string containing the text.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also readLine().

### QString Q3TextStream::readLine ()

Reads a line from the stream and returns a string containing the text.

The returned string does not contain any trailing newline or carriage return. Note that this is different from QIODevice::readLine(), which does not strip the newline at the end of the line.

On EOF you will get a QString that is null. On reading an empty line the returned QString is empty but not null.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also QIODevice::readLine().

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::readRawBytes ( char * s, uint len )

Reads len bytes from the stream into s and returns a reference to the stream.

The buffer s must be preallocated.

Note that no encoding is done by this function.

Warning: The behavior of this function is undefined unless the stream's encoding is set to Unicode or Latin1.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also QIODevice::readBlock().

### void Q3TextStream::reset ()

Resets the text stream.

- All flags are set to 0.
- The field width is set to 0.
- The fill character is set to ' ' (Space).
- The precision is set to 6.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also setf(), width(), fill(), and precision().

### void Q3TextStream::setCodec ( QTextCodec * codec )

Sets the codec for this stream to codec. Will not try to autodetect Unicode.

Note that this function should be called before any data is read to/written from the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also setEncoding() and codec().

### void Q3TextStream::setDevice ( QIODevice * iod )

Sets the IO device to iod.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also device() and unsetDevice().

### void Q3TextStream::setEncoding ( Encoding e )

Sets the encoding of this stream to e, where e is one of the following values:

Encoding | Meaning
--- | ---
Locale | Uses local file format (Latin1 if locale is not set), but autodetecting Unicode(utf16) on input.
Unicode | Uses Unicode(utf16) for input and output. Output will be written in the order most efficient for the current platform (i.e. the order used internally in QString).
UnicodeUTF8 | Using Unicode(utf8) for input and output. If you use it for input it will autodetect utf16 and use it instead of utf8.
Latin1 | ISO-8859-1. Will not autodetect utf16.
UnicodeNetworkOrder | Uses network order Unicode(utf16) for input and output. Useful when reading Unicode data that does not start with the byte order marker.
UnicodeReverse | Uses reverse network order Unicode(utf16) for input and output. Useful when reading Unicode data that does not start with the byte order marker or when writing data that should be read by buggy Windows applications.
RawUnicode | Like Unicode, but does not write the byte order marker nor does it auto-detect the byte order. Useful only when writing to non-persistent storage used by a single process.

`Locale` and all Unicode encodings, except `RawUnicode`, will look at the first two bytes in an input stream to determine the byte order. The initial byte order marker will be stripped off before data is read.

Note that this function should be called before any data is read to or written from the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also setCodec().

### int Q3TextStream::setf ( int bits )

Sets the stream flag bits bits. Returns the previous stream flags.

Equivalent to `flags( flags() | bits )`.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also unsetf().

### int Q3TextStream::setf ( int bits, int mask )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Sets the stream flag bits bits with a bit mask mask. Returns the previous stream flags.

Equivalent to `flags( (flags() & ~mask) | (bits & mask) )`.

See also setf() and unsetf().

### void Q3TextStream::skipWhiteSpace ()

Positions the read pointer at the first non-whitespace character.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### void Q3TextStream::unsetDevice ()

Unsets the IO device. Equivalent to setDevice( 0 ).

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also device() and setDevice().

### int Q3TextStream::unsetf ( int bits )

Clears the stream flag bits bits. Returns the previous stream flags.

Equivalent to `flags( flags() & ~mask )`.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also setf().

### int Q3TextStream::width () const

Returns the field width. The default value is 0.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### int Q3TextStream::width ( int w )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Sets the field width to w. Returns the previous field width.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::writeRawBytes ( const char * s, uint len )

Writes the len bytes from s to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

Note that no encoding is done by this function.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also QIODevice::writeBlock().

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( QChar c )

Writes character `char` to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

The character c is assumed to be Latin1 encoded independent of the Encoding set for the Q3TextStream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( char c )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes character c to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( signed short i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes a `short` integer i to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( unsigned short i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes an `unsigned` `short` integer i to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( signed int i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes an `int` i to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( unsigned int i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes an `unsigned` `int` i to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( signed long i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes a `long` `int` i to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( unsigned long i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes an `unsigned` `long` `int` i to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( float f )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes a `float` f to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( double f )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes a `double` f to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( const char * s )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes a string to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

The string s is assumed to be Latin1 encoded independent of the Encoding set for the Q3TextStream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( const Q3CString & s )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes s to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

The string s is assumed to be Latin1 encoded independent of the Encoding set for the Q3TextStream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( const QString & s )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes s to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator<< ( void * ptr )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Writes a pointer to the stream and returns a reference to the stream.

The ptr is output as an unsigned long hexadecimal integer.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( QChar & c )

Reads a char c from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. Note that whitespace is not skipped.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( char & c )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a char c from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. Note that whitespace is skipped.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( signed short & i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a signed `short` integer i from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. See flags() for an explanation of the expected input format.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( unsigned short & i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads an unsigned `short` integer i from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. See flags() for an explanation of the expected input format.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( signed int & i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a signed `int` i from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. See flags() for an explanation of the expected input format.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( unsigned int & i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads an unsigned `int` i from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. See flags() for an explanation of the expected input format.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( signed long & i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a signed `long` int i from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. See flags() for an explanation of the expected input format.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( unsigned long & i )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads an unsigned `long` int i from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. See flags() for an explanation of the expected input format.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( float & f )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a `float` f from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. See flags() for an explanation of the expected input format.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( double & f )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a `double` f from the stream and returns a reference to the stream. See flags() for an explanation of the expected input format.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( char * s )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a "word" from the stream into s and returns a reference to the stream.

A word consists of characters for which isspace() returns FALSE.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( QString & str )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a "word" from the stream into str and returns a reference to the stream.

A word consists of characters for which isspace() returns FALSE.

### Q3TextStream & Q3TextStream::operator>> ( Q3CString & str )

This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.

Reads a "word" from the stream into str and returns a reference to the stream.

A word consists of characters for which isspace() returns FALSE.