Returning ifstream in a function

Question

Here\'s probably a very noobish question for you: How (if at all possible) can I return an ifstream from a function?

Basically, I need to obtain the filename of a databa

Answer 1

bool checkFileExistence(const string& filename)
{
    ifstream f(filename.c_str());
    return f.is_open();
}

string getFileName()
{
    string filename;
    cout << "Please enter in the name of the file you'd like to open: ";
    cin >> filename;
    return filename;
}

void getFile(string filename, /*out*/ ifstream& file)
{
    const bool file_exists = checkFileExistence(filename);
    if (!file_exists) {
        cout << "File " << filename << " not found." << endl;
        filename = getFileName();  // poor style to reset input parameter though
        ofstream dummy(filename.c_str();
        if (!dummy.is_open()) {
            cerr << "Could not create file." << endl;
            return;
        }
        cout << "File created." << endl;
    }
    file.open(filename.c_str());
}

int main()
{
    // ...
    ifstream file;
    getFile("filename.ext", file);
    if (file.is_open()) {
        // do any stuff with file
    }
    // ...
}