ABSTRACT   One of the most frequently used components of the standard C++ library are IOStreams. Before the standardization of C++, IOStreams existed in various flavors, all of which were similar, but not guaranteed to be compatible. With the intent to unify and standardize IOStreams, the classic IOStreams library was revised, improved, and formally specified as part of the standard C++ library.  The new standard IOStreams differ from the classic IOStreams component in several areas: The class hierarchy underwent some changes.  All IOStreams classes are now class templates and allow various character types and character traits. The error indication policy was enhanced so that IOStreams can raise exceptions. IOStreams are internationalized and allow multi-cultural text i/o. Some questionable features were removed and replaced by safer features; gone are assignment of streams, the strstream classes, access to file descriptors, and replacement of the stream buffer via setbuf().  Some of these modification have a visible impact on the way the new IOStreams are used.  User-defined operations such as shift operators and manipulators are likely to be templates nowadays. They must cope with exceptions. IOStreams users must have some basic knowledge of C++ locales in order to understand the internationalization features of the new IOStreams.  In this lecture we will explore the changes and extensions that distinguish the standard IOStreams from  the classic IOStreams. This is particularly interesting to developers who have existing IOStreams applications and want to migrate to the standard IOStreams.

Level:	intermediate
Duration:	2 hours
Prerequisites:	Attendants should have some degree of practical experience with the classic IOStreams and want to learn how to migrate to the standard IOStreams.
Presented at:	Application Development '99 , London, UK, July 1999