Here is the file I'm trying to read http://www.geocities.com/tontowmerlin/programing/file.html
The file contains variables that where stored by a c/c++ program.  I have tried opening the file in several different modes, but all I can get out of it is garbage.


Another guy has managed to read it in python using the following code:
[code]
from igc import *
import struct

class CSVEntityWriter:
    def write( self, f, entity, items = None, ignore = [] ):
        if items == None:
            items = entity.attribs.keys()
           
        for i in items:
            if entity.attribs.has_key( i ):
                f.write( '"' + str( entity.attribs[ i ] ) + '",' )
            else:
                f.write( ',' )

        if ignore == None:
            ignore = entity.attribs.keys()
           
        for name, value in entity.attribs.iteritems():
            if (not name in items) and (not name in ignore):
                f.write( '"' + str( value ) + '",' )
        f.write( "\n" )

class CSVWriter:
    def __init__(self, igcreader):
        self.reader = igcreader

    def write( self ):
        self.dir = self.reader.getCoreName() + '/'
        try:
            os.makedirs( self.dir )
        except OSError, err:
            if err.errno != errno.EEXIST:
                print "Fatal Error:", err
                return

        self.writeFactions()
        self.writeShips()
        self.writeParts()
        self.writeDmgTable()
        self.writeMissiles()
        self.writeMines()
        self.writeProbes()
        self.writeProjectiles()
        self.writeStations()
        self.writeDrones()
        self.writeChaff()
        self.writeTech()
        self.writeTreasure()

        self.writeChaffTable()
#        self.writeTechTrees()

    def writeData( self, path, data, attribs = None, ignore = [] ):
        entWriter = CSVEntityWriter()
       
        print "Writing", path, len(data), "entities"

        if len(data) == 0:
            return

        attribs = None
        ignore = []
        if attribs == None:
            attribs = data[0].attribs.keys()
        if ignore == None:
            ignore = data[0].attribs.keys()

        attribs.sort()
        f = file( self.dir + path, "w" )
        for a in attribs:
            f.write( '"' + a + '",' )
        for key in data[0].attribs:
            if ( not key in attribs ) and ( not key in ignore ):
                f.write( '"' + key + '",' )
        f.write( "\n" )
        for d in data:
            entWriter.write( f, d, attribs, ignore )

    def writeShips( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name", "Sig", "Scan", "Ammo", "Rip Time" ]
#        ignore = [ "Description" ]
        ignore = []
        self.writeData( "ships.csv", self.reader.ships, attribs, ignore )
       
    def writeFactions( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name", "Ship Sensors", "Ship Signature" ]
        self.writeData( "factions.csv", self.reader.factions, attribs )

    def writeTech( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name" ]
        ignore = [ "Description" ]
        self.writeData( "tech.csv", self.reader.techs, attribs, ignore )

    def writeParts( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name" ]
        ignore = [ "Description", "Type" ]
        self.writeData( "parts.csv", self.reader.parts, attribs, ignore )
        self.writeData( "weapons.csv", self.reader.weapons, attribs, ignore )
        self.writeData( "shields.csv", self.reader.shields, attribs, ignore )
        self.writeData( "cloaks.csv", self.reader.cloaks, attribs, ignore )
        self.writeData( "boosters.csv", self.reader.boosters, attribs, ignore )

    def writeMissiles( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name" ]
        ignore = [ "Description", "Unused" ]
        self.writeData( "missiles.csv", self.reader.missiles, attribs, ignore )

    def writeMines( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name" ]
        ignore = [ "Description", "Unused" ]
        self.writeData( "mines.csv", self.reader.mines, attribs, ignore )

    def writeDrones( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name" ]
        ignore = [ "Description", "Unused" ]
        self.writeData( "drones.csv", self.reader.drones, attribs, ignore )
   
    def writeChaff( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name" ]
        ignore = [ "Description", "Unused" ]
        self.writeData( "chaff.csv", self.reader.chaff, attribs, ignore )
   
    def writeProjectiles( self ):
        attribs = [ "UID" ]
        self.writeData( "projectiles.csv", self.reader.projectiles, attribs )

    def writeProbes( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name" ]
        ignore = [ "Description", "Unused" ]
        self.writeData( "probes.csv", self.reader.probes, attribs, ignore )

    def writeStations( self ):
        attribs = [ "Name" ]
        ignore = [ "Description", "Unused" ]
        self.writeData( "stations.csv", self.reader.stations, attribs, ignore )
   
    def writeDmgTable( self ):
        if self.reader.const != None:
            print "Writing dmgtable.csv"
            f = file( self.dir + "dmgtable.csv", "w" )
            f.write( '"DC \ AC","asteroid (AC0)","light (AC1)","medium (AC2)","heavy (AC3)","extra heavy (AC4)","utility (AC5)","minor base hull (AC6)","major base hull (AC7)","lt & med shield (AC8)","minor base shld (AC9)","major base shld (AC10)","parts (AC11)","lt base hull (AC12)","lt base shld (AC13)","large shield (AC14)","AC15","AC16","AC17","AC18","AC19"\n' )
            for i in range(20):
                f.write( '"DC' + str(i) + '",' )
                for j in range(20):
                    f.write( '"' + str( self.reader.const.dmgTable[ i*20 + j ] ) + '",' )
                f.write( '\n' )

    def writeChaffTable( self ):
        print "Writing chaff table"
        f = file( self.dir + "chaff_table.csv", "w" )

        f.write( '"Missile \ Chaff",' )
        for c in self.reader.chaff:
            f.write( '"' + c.attribs["ld_name"] + '",' )

        for m in self.reader.missiles:
            f.write( "\n" )
            f.write( '"' + m.attribs["ld_name"] + '",' )
            for c in self.reader.chaff:
                ecm = c.attribs["strength"]
                resist = m.attribs["resist"]
                chance = 0
                if( ecm <= resist ):
                    chance = 0.5 * ecm / resist
                else:
                    chance = 1.0 - (0.5 * resist / ecm)
                f.write( str(chance) + ',' )

    def writeTreasure( self ):
        self.writeData( "treasure_set.csv", self.reader.treasureset )

    def writeTechTrees(self):
        nodes = []
        nodes.extend( self.reader.parts )
        nodes.extend( self.reader.missiles )
        nodes.extend( self.reader.mines )
        nodes.extend( self.reader.probes )
        nodes.extend( self.reader.chaff )
        nodes.extend( self.reader.factions )
        nodes.extend( self.reader.techs )
        nodes.extend( self.reader.stations )
        nodes.extend( self.reader.ships )

        self.allNodes = nodes

        defMap = {}
        preMap = {}
        for i in range(400):
            defMap[str(i)] = []
            preMap[str(i)] = []

        uidMap =  {}
        for n in nodes:
            defs = n.attribs["Def"].split()
            pres = n.attribs["Pre"].split()
            tn = TechNode( n )
            uidMap[n] = tn
            for d in defs:
                defMap[d].append( tn )
            for p in pres:
                preMap[p].append( tn )

        self.uidMap = uidMap
        self.autodefs = []
        for i in range(400):
            if len(defMap[str(i)]) == 0:
                self.autodefs.append( str(i) )

        print "Writing Tech Tree"
        tfile = file( self.dir + "techtree.txt", "w" )
        for n, tn in uidMap.iteritems():
            tfile.write( tn.toString() + "\n" )
            for pre in tn.getPre().split():
                tfile.write( "    depends on: " + pre + "\n" )
                for dep in defMap[pre]:
                    tn.addParent( dep )
                    tfile.write( "         " + dep.toString() + " OR\n" )

#        self.writeFactionTree( self.factions[0] )

    def writeFactionTree(self, f):
        nw = NodeWalker( self.autodefs )
        nw.walk( self.uidMap[f] )

class NodeWalker:
    def __init__(self, defList):
        self.currentDefs = []
        self.currentDefs.append( defList )
        self.visitedNodes = []
        self.nodeQueue = []
        self.indent = 0

    def walk(self, node):
        if( self.meetsDefs( node ) and not self in self.visitedNodes ):
            print " "*self.indent + node.toString()
            self.indent += 2
            self.visitedNodes.append( self )
            defs = self.currentDefs[-1]
            defs.extend( node.getDef().split() )
            self.currentDefs.append( defs )
            self.nodeQueue.extend( node.children )
            while len(self.nodeQueue) > 0:   
                self.walk(self.nodeQueue.pop(0))
            self.indent -= 2
            self.currentDefs.pop()

    def meetsDefs(self, node):
        for p in node.getPre().split():
            if not p in self.currentDefs[-1]: return False
        return True

class TechNode:
    def __init__(self, entity):
        self.entity = entity
        self.parents = []
        self.children = []

    def getPre(self):
        return self.entity.attribs["Pre"]

    def getDef(self):
        return self.entity.attribs["Def"]

    def addParent(self, technode):
        if( technode != self and not technode in self.parents ):
            self.parents.append( technode )
            technode.children.append( self )

    def toString(self):
        return self.entity.toString()

class HTMLEntityWriter:
    def write( self, f, entity, items = None, ignore = [] ):
        if items == None:
            items = entity.attribs.keys()

        f.write( "<TR>" )
        for i in items:
            if entity.attribs.has_key( i ):
                if type( entity.attribs[ i ] ) is float:
                    f.write( '<TD>' + str( round( entity.attribs[ i ], 2 ) ) + '</TD>' )
                else:
                    f.write( '<TD>' + str( entity.attribs[ i ] ) + '</TD>' )
            else:
                f.write( '<TH></TH>' )

        if ignore == None:
            ignore = entity.attribs.keys()

        for name, value in entity.attribs.iteritems():
            if (not name in items) and (not name in ignore):
                if type( value ) is not float:
                     f.write( '<TD>' + str( value ) + '</TD>' )
                else:
                     f.write( '<TD>' + str( round( value, 2 ) ) + '</TD>' )

        f.write( "<TR>" )

def sortByAttrib( ents, key ):
    entMap = {}
    for e in ents:
        if not entMap.has_key( e.attribs[key] ):
            entMap[ e.attribs[key] ] = [ e ]
        else:
            entMap[ e.attribs[key] ].append( e )

    sList = []
    sKeys = entMap.keys()
    sKeys.sort()
    for k in sKeys:
        for s in entMap[ k ]: sList.append( s )

    return sList

class HTMLWriter:
    def __init__(self, reader):
        self.reader = reader

    def fillData(self, data, ent):
        d = data[:]
        for s in re.findall("\[.+?\]",d):
            d = string.replace(d, s, ent.getAttrib( s[1:-1] ))
        return d

    def writeHTMLTOC(self, ents, f):
        f.write( '<P>\n' )
        for e in ents:
            f.write('- <A HREF="#' + e.getAttrib("Name") + e.getAttrib("UID") + '">' + e.getAttrib("Name") + '</A> ' )
           
    def writeHTMLBody(self, ents, f, template):
        data = file( 'templates/' + template, "r").read()
        for e in ents:
            f.write( self.fillData( data, e ) )

    def writeData(self, f, header, template, data):
        print "Writing", header, len(data), "entities"
        f.write( "<H1>" + header + "</H1>\n" )
        sdata = sortByAttrib( data, "Name" )
        self.writeHTMLTOC(sdata, f)
        self.writeHTMLBody(sdata, f, template)

    def writeShipsByFaction(self):
        for f in self.reader.factions:
            ships = self.reader.filterByFaction( self.reader.ships, f )
            ships = sortByAttrib( ships, "Name" )
            print "Writing ships for faction", f.toString(), len(ships), "entities"
            output = file( self.dir + f.attribs["Name"] + ".html", "w" )
            output.write( "<H1>" + f.attribs["Name"] + " Ships</H1>\n" )
            self.writeHTMLTOC(ships, output)
            self.writeHTMLBody(ships, output, "ship_template.html" )

    def writeEquipment(self):
        self.writeData( file( self.dir + "probes.html","w"), "Probes", "probe_template.html", self.reader.probes )
        self.writeData( file( self.dir + "missiles.html","w"), "Missiles", "missile_template.html", self.reader.missiles )
        self.writeData( file( self.dir + "shields.html","w"), "Shields", "shield_template.html", self.reader.shields )
        self.writeData( file( self.dir + "boosters.html","w"), "Boosters", "boost_template.html", self.reader.boosters )
        self.writeData( file( self.dir + "weapons.html","w"), "Weapons", "weapon_template.html", self.reader.weapons )
        self.writeData( file( self.dir + "cloaks.html","w"), "Cloak", "cloak_template.html", self.reader.cloaks )

    def write(self):
        self.dir = self.reader.getCoreName() + '/'
        try:
            os.makedirs( self.dir )
        except OSError, err:
            if err.errno != errno.EEXIST:
                print "Fatal Error:", err
                return

        self.writeShipsByFaction()
        self.writeEquipment()
 

for fname in os.listdir("."):
if fname[-4:] == ".igc":
print "**** DUMPING", fname, "****"
reader = IGCReader()
reader.open( fname )
CSVWriter(reader).write()

##if len( sys.argv ) < 2:
##    reader.open( "dn_000450.igc" )
##else:
##    reader.open( sys.argv[1] )
##
##if len( sys.argv ) < 3:
##    HTMLWriter(reader).write()
##else:   
##    if sys.argv[2] == "CSV":
##        CSVWriter(reader).write()
[/code]

Why would you do that, there's a CSV module already

Visual Basic 6.0?

[quote author=topaz link=topic=15887.msg159939#msg159939 date=1161117563]
Why would you do that, there's a CSV module already
[/quote]

At the moment I don't know python and that code doesn’t output everything in the file.  I also would like to do everything in visual basic 6.0.

But if you mean that there is a CSV module already made in visual basic 6.0, then I would like to know where to look for it.

[quote author=UserLoser link=topic=15887.msg159955#msg159955 date=1161136908]
Visual Basic 6.0?
[/quote]
The code I posted reads the file and outputs .cvs files but is written in python.  I need to be able to read the file and access the data contained in the file using visual basic 6.0

[quote author=Tontow link=topic=15887.msg159956#msg159956 date=1161139810]
But if you mean that there is a CSV module already made in visual basic 6.0, then I would like to know where to look for it.
[/quote]

I think the Recordset object of ADODB will read a CSV file, and possibly SaveAs one as well.

[code]
Option Explicit

Private cn As New ADODB.Connection
Private rs As New ADODB.Recordset

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Dim SQL As String
    cn.Open "Driver={Microsoft Text Driver (*.txt; *.csv)};Dbq=c:\temp\;Extensions=asc,csv,tab,txt"
    SQL = "SELECT * FROM file.csv"
    rs.Open SQL, cn, adOpenStatic, adLockReadOnly, adCmdText
    Debug.Print "Loaded " & rs.RecordCount & " records."
    Debug.Print "Column names:"
    Dim rPos As Long, fPos As Long
    Dim s As String
    For fPos = 0 To rs.Fields.Count - 1
        Debug.Print rs.Fields(fPos).Name
    Next
    Debug.Print "Displaying first 3 records..."
    rs.MoveFirst
    For rPos = 0 To 2
        s = ""
        For fPos = 0 To rs.Fields.Count - 1
            If Len(s) Then s = s & vbCrLf
            s = s & rs.Fields(fPos).Value & ", "
        Next
        Debug.Print rPos & ": " & s
        rs.MoveNext
    Next
End Sub
[/code]

The data looks pretty unintelligible ... are you sure it's a CSV file?

it reads the file, then outputs csv files with the data.

I tryed asking for help on vbforums.com , but I didnt get too far and ended up useing the csv output of CoreDump.
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=433735