← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

OPENFILE ... FOR WRITE

Opens the file Scores.txt in write mode so data can be written into it with WRITEFILE. The file must be opened before writing. Keywords are in capitals.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 8.3 File Handling — Module 5

Understanding OPENFILE ... FOR WRITE in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: The file identifier "Results.txt" is a string, and FOR WRITE states the mode explicitly, which is good practice. 0478 pseudocode writes keywords in capitals, so OPENFILE, FOR and WRITE are all uppercase. A file must be opened before you write to it. Opening comes first, then WRITEFILE. FOR WRITE opens a file for writing. FOR READ opens a file for reading. The keyword is OPENFILE, not OPEN.

Common mistakes: The file was opened FOR WRITE, so data must be put into it with WRITEFILE. READFILE reads data out of a file. The line should be WRITEFILE "Names.txt", Name. The program wants to write Score into the file, so the file must be opened in write mode. FOR READ only allows reading. It should be OPENFILE "Data.txt" FOR WRITE.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 479–488) and word search (Modules 479–499).

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Learning

Duo

Which line correctly opens the file Scores.txt so data can be written to it?

OPENFILE Scores.txt FOR WRITEOPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

Matches

WRITEFILE "Scores.txt", Score OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

↓

WRITEFILE is used before the file is opened. OPENFILE ... FOR WRITE must come first.

Applying

Meanings

Term

OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

Meaning

Opens the file Scores.txt in write mode so data can be written into it with WRITEFILE. The file must be opened before writing. Keywords are in capitals.

Practice

OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

Testing

Gaps

"Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

Check Answer

Spots

3OPENFILE "Names.txt" FOR WRITE

4READFILE "Names.txt", Name

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Quick Questions

1. Which line correctly opens the file Scores.txt so data can be written to it?

A. OPENFILE Scores.txt FOR WRITE

B. OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE ✓

The file identifier is a string, so it goes in double quotes: "Scores.txt".

2. What does FOR WRITE tell the program in OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE?

A. The file is being opened so data can be written into it ✓

B. The file is being opened so data can be read from it

FOR WRITE is the file mode. It means the program will put data into the file. FOR READ is used to read data.

3. Which order of statements is correct?

A. WRITEFILE, then OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

B. OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE, then WRITEFILE ✓

A file must be opened before you write to it. Opening comes first, then WRITEFILE.

4. Which is the correct way to write the keywords in 0478 pseudocode?

A. OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE ✓

B. openfile "Scores.txt" for write

Keywords in 0478 pseudocode are written in capital letters: OPENFILE, FOR and WRITE.

5. True or false: it is good practice to state the mode (FOR WRITE) every time you open a file.

A. True: the mode makes clear what the program will do with the file ✓

B. False: the mode can be left out when opening a file

Stating the mode explicitly makes the code clear and shows exactly what the file is being used for.

Match the Pairs

OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE → Opens the file Scores.txt in write mode so data can be written into it

OPENFILE "Names.txt" FOR WRITE WRITEFILE "Names.txt", Name → The file is opened first, then data is written into it

The file name is a string in quotes, then the mode FOR WRITE states that you will write to the file → OPENFILE "Results.txt" FOR WRITE

Keywords such as OPENFILE and FOR WRITE are written in capital letters in 0478 pseudocode → OPENFILE "Marks.txt" FOR WRITE

WRITEFILE "Scores.txt", Score OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE → WRITEFILE is used before the file is opened. OPENFILE ... FOR WRITE must come first.

OPENFILE Scores.txt FOR WRITE → The file name is missing its quotation marks. The file identifier must be a string such as "Scores.txt".

Key Term

OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

Opens the file Scores.txt in write mode so data can be written into it with WRITEFILE. The file must be opened before writing. Keywords are in capitals.

Fill in the Blanks

1. OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

Hint: Type the keyword that opens a file before you use it.

2. OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

Hint: Type the keyword that sits between the file name and the mode.

3. OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE

Hint: Type the file mode, in capitals, that lets you put data into the file.

4. OPENFILE "Scores.txt" FOR WRITE WRITEFILE "Scores.txt", Score

Hint: Type the command that puts data into the file once it has been opened.

5. OPENFILE "Names.txt" FOR WRITE WRITEFILE "Names.txt", Name

Hint: The next line writes data, so type the mode the file must be opened in.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A DECLARE Name : STRING

B Name ← "Ava"

C OPENFILE "Names.txt" FOR WRITE

D READFILE "Names.txt", Name

E CLOSEFILE "Names.txt"

Line D — The file was opened FOR WRITE, so data must be put into it with WRITEFILE. READFILE reads data out of a file. The line should be WRITEFILE "Names.txt", Name.

Question 2

A DECLARE Score : INTEGER

B OPENFILE "Data.txt" FOR READ

C Score ← 85

D WRITEFILE "Data.txt", Score

E CLOSEFILE "Data.txt"

Line B — The program wants to write Score into the file, so the file must be opened in write mode. FOR READ only allows reading. It should be OPENFILE "Data.txt" FOR WRITE.

Question 3

A DECLARE Mark : INTEGER

B Mark ← 72

C OPENFILE "Marks.txt" FOR WRITE

D WRITEFILE Mark, "Marks.txt"

E CLOSEFILE "Marks.txt"

Line D — WRITEFILE needs the file identifier first, then a comma, then the data to write. The arguments are the wrong way round. It should be WRITEFILE "Marks.txt", Mark.

Question 4

A DECLARE Item : STRING

B Item ← "Pen"

C OPEN "Shop.txt" FOR WRITE

D WRITEFILE "Shop.txt", Item

E CLOSEFILE "Shop.txt"

Line C — The 0478 pseudocode keyword is OPENFILE, not OPEN. The line should be OPENFILE "Shop.txt" FOR WRITE.

Question 5

A DECLARE Age : INTEGER

B OPENFILE "Ages.txt" WRITE

C Age ← 16

D WRITEFILE "Ages.txt", Age

E CLOSEFILE "Ages.txt"

Line B — The keyword FOR is missing before the mode. The correct form is OPENFILE <File identifier> FOR WRITE, so the line should be OPENFILE "Ages.txt" FOR WRITE.

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