C# 0 The Complete Reference

Seek( )

 offers the greatest flexibility, there is another way to set the current file 

position. You can use the 

Position

 property. As shown previously in Table 14-2, 

Position

 is 

a read/write property. Therefore, you can use it to obtain the current position or to set the 

current position. For example, here is the code sequence from the preceding program that 

reads the “random.dat” file, rewritten to use the 

Position

 property:

// Use Position rather than Seek() to set the current

// file position.

try {

  f.Position = 0;

  ch = (char) f.ReadByte();

  Console.WriteLine("First value is " + ch);

  f.Position = 1;

  ch = (char) f.ReadByte();

  Console.WriteLine("Second value is " + ch);

  f.Position = 4;

  ch = (char) f.ReadByte();

  Console.WriteLine("Fifth value is " + ch);

  Console.WriteLine();

  // Now, read every other value.

  Console.WriteLine("Here is every other value: ");

  for(int i=0; i < 26; i += 2) {

    f.Position = i; // seek to ith character

    ch = (char) f.ReadByte();

    Console.Write(ch + " ");

  }

}

catch(IOException exc) {

  Console.WriteLine("Error Reading or Seeking");

  Console.WriteLine(exc.Message);

}