Database saving problem and windows forms

[originaldaemon]

I am trying to create a simple database. Here is the code:

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
#include "conio.h"
#include <string>
using namespace std;

struct Station{
	string url;
	string name;
	string genre;
}temp;

char userInput;
string output;
int fileSize;
string searchParameter;
int index;
int results[1000];
int j;//temporary storage for a counter


void addStation(){ //problem here
	fstream hfile;
	hfile.open("database.txt", ios::binary|ios::in|ios::out);
	hfile.seekp(0, ios::end);
	cout<<"Enter URL:"<<endl;
	cin>>temp.url;
	cout<<"Enter Station Name"<<endl;
	cin>>temp.name;
	cout<<"Enter Genre"<<endl;
	cin>>temp.genre;
	hfile.write((char*)&temp, sizeof(temp));
	hfile.close();
};

void viewDataBase(){ //problem here
	fstream hfile;
	hfile.open("database.txt", ios::binary|ios::in|ios::out);
	hfile.seekg(0, ios::end);
	fileSize = hfile.tellg();
	hfile.seekg(0, ios::beg);
	index = 0;
	if (fileSize > 0){
		do{
			cout<<"---------"<<endl;
			cout<<index<<endl;
			hfile.read((char*)&temp, sizeof(Station));
			cout<<temp.url<<endl;
			cout<<temp.name<<endl;
			cout<<temp.genre<<endl;
			index++;
		}while(fileSize != hfile.tellg());
	}else{
		cout<<"The database is empty... press any key to continue"<<endl;
	}
	hfile.close();
	getch();

};

void wipeDataBase(){
	fstream hfile; 
	cout<<"are you sure? Y/N:"<<endl;
	cin>>userInput;
	if (userInput == 'y' ||userInput == 'Y'){  
	   hfile.open("database.txt", ios::binary|ios::in|ios::out|ios::trunc);
       hfile.close();
    }
}

void searchDataBase(char userDecision, string searchParameter, int results[1000]){
	fstream hfile;
	hfile.open("database.txt", ios::in|ios::out|ios::binary);
	hfile.seekg(0, ios::end);
	fileSize = hfile.tellg();
	hfile.seekg(0, ios::beg);
	index = 0;
	for(int x = 0; x<1001; x++){
		results[x] = -1;
	}
	if (fileSize > 0){
		do{
			hfile.read((char*)&temp, sizeof(Station));
			if (userInput == '1'){
				if (temp.url == searchParameter){
					for(int x = 0;x < 1001; x++){
						if (results[x] = -1){
							results[x] = index;
							break;
						}
					}
				}
			}

			if (userInput == '2'){
				if (searchParameter == temp.name){
					for(int x = 0;x < 1001; x++){
						if (results[x] = -1){
							results[x] = index;
							break;
						}
					}
				}
			}

			if (userInput == '3'){
				if (searchParameter == temp.genre){
					for(int x = 0;x < 1001; x++){
						if (results[x] = -1){
							results[x] = index;
							break;
						}
					}
				}
			}
			index++;
		}while(fileSize != hfile.tellg());
	}else{
		cout<<"the database is empty ... "<<endl;
	}
	hfile.close();
}

void displayData(int results[1000]){
	fstream hfile;
	hfile.open("database.txt", ios::binary|ios::in|ios::out);
	j = 0;
	do{
		hfile.seekg(results[j]*sizeof(Station), ios::beg);
		hfile.read((char*)&temp, sizeof(Station));
		cout<<"---------"<<endl;	
		cout<<index<<endl;
		cout<<temp.url<<endl;
		cout<<temp.name<<endl;
		cout<<temp.genre<<endl;
		j++;
	}while(j != 1000 && results[j] != -1);
}		
int main(){
	do{
		system("cls");
		cout<<"Welcome to DataBass"<<endl
			<<"Please Choose one of the following options"<<endl
			<<"1 - add DataBase"<<endl
			<<"2 - view dataBase"<<endl
			<<"3 - quit . . ."<<endl
			<<"4 - wipe dataBase"<<endl
			<<"5 - search dataBase"<<endl;
	
		do{
			cin>>userInput;
		}while(userInput != '1' && userInput != '2' && userInput != '3' && userInput != '4' && userInput != '5');		

		if (userInput == '1'){
			addStation();
		}
		
		if (userInput == '2'){
			viewDataBase();
		}

		if (userInput == '4'){
			wipeDataBase();
		}

		if (userInput == '5'){
				cout<<"Search by:"<<endl
				<<"1 - url"<<endl
				<<"2 - name"<<endl
				<<"3 - genre"<<endl;
			do{
				cin>>userInput;
			}while(userInput != '1' && userInput != '2' && userInput != '3');		
			cin>>searchParameter;
			searchDataBase(userInput, searchParameter, results);
			displayData(results);
			getch();
		}
	}while(userInput != '3');
	return 0;

}

i apologise for the lack of comments. The two functions im concentrating on just now are marked as "problem here". Basically my problem is that if you enter a certain amount of data using the addStation() function then the viewDatabase() function crashes the program, or alternately prints random symbols in place of the data that was entered. I have tried using the getline(cin, struct.string) comand aswell as cin>>struct.string but both give the same result.

the other thing i am wanting to do is tie it all into a windows form. If anyone could help me with that, it would be much apreciated. A link to a site explaining them well would be best. I have tried a few tutorials but i can't work out how to get from creating a windows form with certain functions like inputs and outputs, to tieing it with the functions i have created.

Any help would be much apreciated.

Currently i am using bloodshed to work on this, however i do have a copy of visual studio professional 2005 and 2008.

[Salem]

Well you could read the intro threads (there are plenty of opportunities, and you missed all of them. So much for paying attention) which tell you about code tags.

[originaldaemon]

Sorry for the bad posting. Having some internet problems. Here are the two functions that im having the problem with.

void addStation(){
	fstream hfile;
	hfile.open("database.txt", ios::binary|ios::in|ios::out);
	hfile.seekp(0, ios::end);
	cout<<"Enter URL:"<<endl;
	cin>>temp.url;
	cout<<"Enter Station Name"<<endl;
	cin>>temp.name;
	cout<<"Enter Genre"<<endl;
	cin>>temp.genre;
	hfile.write((char*)&temp, sizeof(temp));
	hfile.close();
};


void viewDataBase(){
	fstream hfile;
	hfile.open("database.txt", ios::binary|ios::in|ios::out);
	hfile.seekg(0, ios::end);
	fileSize = hfile.tellg();
	hfile.seekg(0, ios::beg);
	index = 0;
	if (fileSize > 0){
		do{
			cout<<"---------"<<endl;
			cout<<index<<endl;
			hfile.read((char*)&temp, sizeof(Station));
			cout<<temp.url<<endl;
			cout<<temp.name<<endl;
			cout<<temp.genre<<endl;
			index++;
		}while(fileSize != hfile.tellg());
	}else{
		cout<<"The database is empty... press any key to continue"<<endl;
	}
	hfile.close();
	getch();

};

[Salem]

Well the basic problem is your struct contains std::string. These contain pointers to dynamically allocated storage which will NOT be written to the file when you just write out the structure the way that you are (you just write the pointers).

Similarly, reading in just reads pointers, but what will they point to (garbage).

At the least, you would need to write out say url.c_str() + a delimiter.
But that's looking a lot like a regular text file (if your delimiter is \n).