Java How to Program (early objects), 9/e

17.4 Sequential-Access Text Files

Next, we create and manipulate sequential-access files in which records are stored in order by the record-key field. We begin with text files, enabling the reader to quickly create and edit human-readable files. We discuss creating, writing data to, reading data from and updating sequential-access text files. We also include a credit-inquiry program that retrieves specific data from a file.

17.4.1 Creating a Sequential-Access Text File

Java imposes no structure on a file—notions such as records do not exist as part of the Java language. Therefore, you must structure files to meet the requirements of your applications. In the following example, we see how to impose a keyed record structure on a file.

The ...