How to read integers elegantly using C++ stream?

Question

I have a file full of lines in this format:

1 - 2: 3

I want to only load numbers using C++ streams. Whats the most elegant way to do it? I

Answer 1

I would recommend doing at least cursory sanity checks when reading this:

int a, b, c;
char dash, colon;

if (not (cin >> a >> dash >> b >> colon >> c) or dash != '-' or colon != ':')
    Failure. Do something.