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Forum Update on Monday, May 27th 2025

Encode/decode to binary file

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  • Cobra91151C Cobra91151

    @Hollywood33

    Hi! You can create a binary file with QDataStream class.

    H Offline
    H Offline
    Hollywood33
    wrote on last edited by
    #3

    @Cobra91151 Could you please write in detail:
    void MainWindow::on_pushButton_3_clicked()
    {

    }

    aha_1980A Cobra91151C 3 Replies Last reply
    0
    • H Hollywood33

      @Cobra91151 Could you please write in detail:
      void MainWindow::on_pushButton_3_clicked()
      {

      }

      aha_1980A Offline
      aha_1980A Offline
      aha_1980
      Lifetime Qt Champion
      wrote on last edited by
      #4

      @Hollywood33 do you really expect us to do your homework?

      you have nothing except some auto generated code. even the project description is a bit vague.

      you should refine your task (break it into baby steps) and then the implementation will become clearer.

      and be aware that you will need some C++ knowledge to perform your task.

      Qt has to stay free or it will die.

      1 Reply Last reply
      8
      • mrjjM Offline
        mrjjM Offline
        mrjj
        Lifetime Qt Champion
        wrote on last edited by mrjj
        #5

        Hi
        A good start is the documentation
        http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qdatastream.html
        it also contains samples and explain what is going on.
        as @Cobra91151 already mentions :)

        1 Reply Last reply
        5
        • H Hollywood33

          @Cobra91151 Could you please write in detail:
          void MainWindow::on_pushButton_3_clicked()
          {

          }

          Cobra91151C Offline
          Cobra91151C Offline
          Cobra91151
          wrote on last edited by
          #6

          @Hollywood33

          Ok. I will write some stuff a little bit later. I need to fix my ftp issue first.

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • H Hollywood33

            @Cobra91151 Could you please write in detail:
            void MainWindow::on_pushButton_3_clicked()
            {

            }

            Cobra91151C Offline
            Cobra91151C Offline
            Cobra91151
            wrote on last edited by
            #7

            @Hollywood33

            So, here is the code example to create/write data to a binary file:

            #include <QFile>
            #include <QDataStream>
            #include <QMessageBox>
            
            void MainWindow::on_pushButton_3_clicked()
            {
                    QFile *myBinaryFile = new QFile(qApp->applicationDirPath() + "/myDataFile.dat");
                    myBinaryFile->open(QIODevice::WriteOnly);
                    QDataStream binaryDataStream(myBinaryFile);
                    binaryDataStream.setVersion(QDataStream::Qt_5_9); //set QDataStream version for your Qt version if you need both forward and backward compatibility
                    binaryDataStream << QString("This is a test...");
                    myBinaryFile->close();
                    myBinaryFile->deleteLater();
                    QMessageBox::information(this, "Information", "Binary file created!", QMessageBox::Ok);
            }
            

            It writes a myDataFile.dat binary file to the application directory. If you want to read the data from the binary file, take a look at the documentation, the process will be similar. Happy coding!

            H 2 Replies Last reply
            3
            • Cobra91151C Cobra91151

              @Hollywood33

              So, here is the code example to create/write data to a binary file:

              #include <QFile>
              #include <QDataStream>
              #include <QMessageBox>
              
              void MainWindow::on_pushButton_3_clicked()
              {
                      QFile *myBinaryFile = new QFile(qApp->applicationDirPath() + "/myDataFile.dat");
                      myBinaryFile->open(QIODevice::WriteOnly);
                      QDataStream binaryDataStream(myBinaryFile);
                      binaryDataStream.setVersion(QDataStream::Qt_5_9); //set QDataStream version for your Qt version if you need both forward and backward compatibility
                      binaryDataStream << QString("This is a test...");
                      myBinaryFile->close();
                      myBinaryFile->deleteLater();
                      QMessageBox::information(this, "Information", "Binary file created!", QMessageBox::Ok);
              }
              

              It writes a myDataFile.dat binary file to the application directory. If you want to read the data from the binary file, take a look at the documentation, the process will be similar. Happy coding!

              H Offline
              H Offline
              Hollywood33
              wrote on last edited by
              #8

              @Cobra91151 Thank you very much!

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Cobra91151C Cobra91151

                @Hollywood33

                So, here is the code example to create/write data to a binary file:

                #include <QFile>
                #include <QDataStream>
                #include <QMessageBox>
                
                void MainWindow::on_pushButton_3_clicked()
                {
                        QFile *myBinaryFile = new QFile(qApp->applicationDirPath() + "/myDataFile.dat");
                        myBinaryFile->open(QIODevice::WriteOnly);
                        QDataStream binaryDataStream(myBinaryFile);
                        binaryDataStream.setVersion(QDataStream::Qt_5_9); //set QDataStream version for your Qt version if you need both forward and backward compatibility
                        binaryDataStream << QString("This is a test...");
                        myBinaryFile->close();
                        myBinaryFile->deleteLater();
                        QMessageBox::information(this, "Information", "Binary file created!", QMessageBox::Ok);
                }
                

                It writes a myDataFile.dat binary file to the application directory. If you want to read the data from the binary file, take a look at the documentation, the process will be similar. Happy coding!

                H Offline
                H Offline
                Hollywood33
                wrote on last edited by
                #9

                @Cobra91151 Hi! I tried, file created but it's not binary, just plain test text in in.
                I want it to look like this: 01101001010101010010.

                J.HilkJ 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • H Hollywood33

                  @Cobra91151 Hi! I tried, file created but it's not binary, just plain test text in in.
                  I want it to look like this: 01101001010101010010.

                  J.HilkJ Offline
                  J.HilkJ Offline
                  J.Hilk
                  Moderators
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #10

                  @Hollywood33 how do you think data is stored on your HD?

                  You happen to have a good text-editor that interpretes the 01's as ASCII-chars and displays them.

                  Not a problem of Qt but your external file-viewer.

                  I think what you want is to save Strings/Numbers as human readable 0/1 in a *.txt file. Correct?
                  Than you'll have to create a function that takes a String/Number and returns a fromated string, that you than can save into your file.


                  Be aware of the Qt Code of Conduct, when posting : https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct


                  Q: What's that?
                  A: It's blue light.
                  Q: What does it do?
                  A: It turns blue.

                  H 1 Reply Last reply
                  3
                  • J.HilkJ J.Hilk

                    @Hollywood33 how do you think data is stored on your HD?

                    You happen to have a good text-editor that interpretes the 01's as ASCII-chars and displays them.

                    Not a problem of Qt but your external file-viewer.

                    I think what you want is to save Strings/Numbers as human readable 0/1 in a *.txt file. Correct?
                    Than you'll have to create a function that takes a String/Number and returns a fromated string, that you than can save into your file.

                    H Offline
                    H Offline
                    Hollywood33
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #11

                    @J.Hilk I opened it in TextEdit on mac, notepad in Win. You are right, I need sequence of "0" and "1" in .txt file. Please write example using QFileDialog.
                    It has to work with all file extensions and file sizes.

                    jsulmJ 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • H Hollywood33

                      @J.Hilk I opened it in TextEdit on mac, notepad in Win. You are right, I need sequence of "0" and "1" in .txt file. Please write example using QFileDialog.
                      It has to work with all file extensions and file sizes.

                      jsulmJ Offline
                      jsulmJ Offline
                      jsulm
                      Lifetime Qt Champion
                      wrote on last edited by jsulm
                      #12

                      @Hollywood33 said in Encode/decode to binary file:

                      It has to work with all file extensions and file sizes.

                      What does it have to do with file extension and file size?!
                      If I understood you correctly all you want to do is writing a text file containing 0 and 1 as characters, right?
                      File extension is simply part of file name and does not define its format. You could store a picture as "mypicture.xml" - it still would be a picture and not XML.
                      If you would have checked the documentation (http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qfile.html) you would have found this:

                      QFile file("out.txt");
                      if (!file.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly | QIODevice::Text))
                          return;
                      
                      QTextStream out(&file);
                      out << "The magic number is: " << 49 << "\n";
                      

                      https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

                      H 1 Reply Last reply
                      3
                      • mrjjM Offline
                        mrjjM Offline
                        mrjj
                        Lifetime Qt Champion
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #13

                        Hi
                        I read it as he just want a binary file but do not understand that
                        some editors will not show the raw binary but show
                        it translated. So not sure he wants ASCII 0 and 1 but meant
                        it as a way to say binary which QDataStream already is :)

                        jsulmJ 1 Reply Last reply
                        4
                        • mrjjM mrjj

                          Hi
                          I read it as he just want a binary file but do not understand that
                          some editors will not show the raw binary but show
                          it translated. So not sure he wants ASCII 0 and 1 but meant
                          it as a way to say binary which QDataStream already is :)

                          jsulmJ Offline
                          jsulmJ Offline
                          jsulm
                          Lifetime Qt Champion
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #14

                          @mrjj @Hollywood33 OK, then I would suggest to use a hex-editor instead of a text editor :-)

                          https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          3
                          • jsulmJ jsulm

                            @Hollywood33 said in Encode/decode to binary file:

                            It has to work with all file extensions and file sizes.

                            What does it have to do with file extension and file size?!
                            If I understood you correctly all you want to do is writing a text file containing 0 and 1 as characters, right?
                            File extension is simply part of file name and does not define its format. You could store a picture as "mypicture.xml" - it still would be a picture and not XML.
                            If you would have checked the documentation (http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qfile.html) you would have found this:

                            QFile file("out.txt");
                            if (!file.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly | QIODevice::Text))
                                return;
                            
                            QTextStream out(&file);
                            out << "The magic number is: " << 49 << "\n";
                            
                            H Offline
                            H Offline
                            Hollywood33
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #15

                            @jsulm it writes plain text.
                            I want file to be saved in .txt file as sequence of 0 and 1. It must look like 01010001 in simple text editor, like Notepad, not HEX viewer.

                            jsulmJ 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • H Hollywood33

                              @jsulm it writes plain text.
                              I want file to be saved in .txt file as sequence of 0 and 1. It must look like 01010001 in simple text editor, like Notepad, not HEX viewer.

                              jsulmJ Offline
                              jsulmJ Offline
                              jsulm
                              Lifetime Qt Champion
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #16

                              @Hollywood33 Then you want to write text. Because text editors (like the name suggests) only understand text. It wouldn't be a binary file. You would write 1 and 0 as characters:

                              QFile file("out.txt");
                              if (!file.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly | QIODevice::Text))
                                  return;
                              
                              QTextStream out(&file);
                              out << "010001100101110";
                              

                              You need to understand the difference between text and binary. 0 as character in a text file is stored as ASCII number 48, 1 is 49. That means if you store 01 in a text file and open it in a hex editor you will see 4849 (or 0x30 0x31 as hex).

                              https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

                              H 1 Reply Last reply
                              1
                              • jsulmJ jsulm

                                @Hollywood33 Then you want to write text. Because text editors (like the name suggests) only understand text. It wouldn't be a binary file. You would write 1 and 0 as characters:

                                QFile file("out.txt");
                                if (!file.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly | QIODevice::Text))
                                    return;
                                
                                QTextStream out(&file);
                                out << "010001100101110";
                                

                                You need to understand the difference between text and binary. 0 as character in a text file is stored as ASCII number 48, 1 is 49. That means if you store 01 in a text file and open it in a hex editor you will see 4849 (or 0x30 0x31 as hex).

                                H Offline
                                H Offline
                                Hollywood33
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #17

                                @jsulm i know the difference between text and binary code.
                                I want to see 0&1's as UTF-8 text in *.txt file. What you have written is only writes text into file.

                                jsulmJ 1 Reply Last reply
                                -1
                                • H Hollywood33

                                  @jsulm i know the difference between text and binary code.
                                  I want to see 0&1's as UTF-8 text in *.txt file. What you have written is only writes text into file.

                                  jsulmJ Offline
                                  jsulmJ Offline
                                  jsulm
                                  Lifetime Qt Champion
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #18

                                  @Hollywood33 '1' and '0' are same in ASCII and UTF-8 as far as I know...

                                  https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • J.HilkJ Offline
                                    J.HilkJ Offline
                                    J.Hilk
                                    Moderators
                                    wrote on last edited by J.Hilk
                                    #19

                                    because I'm a good guy :-)

                                    QString toBitString(const QVariant &v)
                                    {
                                        QByteArray bytes = v.toByteArray();
                                        QString bitString;
                                    
                                        QChar Zero('0');
                                        QChar One('1');
                                    
                                        for(int y(0); y <bytes.size(); y++){
                                            for(int i(0); i < 8; i++){
                                                bool b = (bytes[y] >> i) & 1;
                                                bitString.append(b ? One:Zero);
                                            }
                                        }
                                        return bitString;
                                    }
                                    

                                    Edit:
                                    Small edit in the code example, v.toByteArray().data() totally unnecessary!


                                    Be aware of the Qt Code of Conduct, when posting : https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct


                                    Q: What's that?
                                    A: It's blue light.
                                    Q: What does it do?
                                    A: It turns blue.

                                    H 1 Reply Last reply
                                    2
                                    • J.HilkJ J.Hilk

                                      because I'm a good guy :-)

                                      QString toBitString(const QVariant &v)
                                      {
                                          QByteArray bytes = v.toByteArray();
                                          QString bitString;
                                      
                                          QChar Zero('0');
                                          QChar One('1');
                                      
                                          for(int y(0); y <bytes.size(); y++){
                                              for(int i(0); i < 8; i++){
                                                  bool b = (bytes[y] >> i) & 1;
                                                  bitString.append(b ? One:Zero);
                                              }
                                          }
                                          return bitString;
                                      }
                                      

                                      Edit:
                                      Small edit in the code example, v.toByteArray().data() totally unnecessary!

                                      H Offline
                                      H Offline
                                      Hollywood33
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #20

                                      @J.Hilk It looks like what I need. It remains only to understand how to use it with QFileDialog.

                                      mrjjM Cobra91151C 2 Replies Last reply
                                      0
                                      • H Hollywood33

                                        @J.Hilk It looks like what I need. It remains only to understand how to use it with QFileDialog.

                                        mrjjM Offline
                                        mrjjM Offline
                                        mrjj
                                        Lifetime Qt Champion
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #21

                                        @Hollywood33
                                        Hi
                                        The docs shows how to use it.
                                        http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qfiledialog.html
                                        It has sample :)

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • H Hollywood33

                                          @J.Hilk It looks like what I need. It remains only to understand how to use it with QFileDialog.

                                          Cobra91151C Offline
                                          Cobra91151C Offline
                                          Cobra91151
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #22

                                          @Hollywood33

                                          Ok, here is the code how I would save it with QFileDialog class using @J-Hilk solution.

                                          QString filters = "Text Documents (*.txt);;All files (*.*)";
                                          QString filePath = QFileDialog::getSaveFileName(this, "Save binary file", qApp->applicationDirPath() + "/MyFile", filters, nullptr);
                                          
                                           if (!filePath.isEmpty()) {
                                                QFile *myFile = new QFile(filePath);
                                                myFile->open(QIODevice::WriteOnly);
                                                QTextStream myTextStream(myFile); //QTextStream is used because you want to save it in .txt file
                                                myTextStream << toBitString(QString("This is a test!"));
                                                myFile->close();
                                                myFile->deleteLater();
                                                QMessageBox::information(this, "Information", "Binary file is saved!", QMessageBox::Ok);
                                           }
                                          
                                          mrjjM H 2 Replies Last reply
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