Question

In __________ file access, the contents of the file are read in the order they appear in the file, from the file’s start to its end.

Short answer

Question: Explain the sequential file access method and its various steps. Answer: Sequential file access is a method in which the contents of a file are read in the order they appear, from the beginning of the file to its end. The process involves six main steps: 1. Identify the file access method: In sequential file access, the data is read sequentially from the beginning to the end of the file. 2. Opening the file: The file must be opened to create a file pointer, which tracks the current position within the file. 3. Reading data sequentially: Using programming language-specific commands or functions, data is read sequentially, starting from the first item and proceeding through each subsequent item. 4. File pointer movement: As the reading process progresses, the file pointer moves through the file, advancing to the next item after each read. 5. Detecting end of the file: When the file pointer reaches the end of the file, a signal or flag indicates that no more data can be read. 6. Closing the file: After the reading process is complete and all data has been accessed sequentially, the file should be closed to free up system resources and prevent accidental modification or further access.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the file access method

The method in which the contents of a file are read in the order they appear from the beginning to the end is called Sequential file access.

Opening the file

To use the sequential file access method, first, the file must be opened. Opening the file creates a file pointer, which keeps track of the current position within the file.

Reading data sequentially

Using a programming language-specific command or function, the data can be read from the file sequentially, beginning with the first item in the file and proceeding with each subsequent item in the order they appear.

File pointer movement

During the reading process, the file pointer gradually moves through the file. Each time a piece of data is read, the file pointer moves to the next item, always moving forward through the file.

Detecting end of the file

The reading process continues until the end of the file is reached. When the file pointer encounters the end of the file, this typically generates a signal or flag indicating that no more data can be read from the file.

Closing the file

After the reading process is complete and all data has been accessed sequentially, the file should be closed. Closing the file frees up system resources and ensures that the file cannot accidentally be modified or accessed further.