(Wide)String - storing in TFileStream, Delphi 7. What is the fastest way?

Question

I\'m using Delphi7 (non-unicode VCL), I need to store lots of WideStrings inside a TFileStream. I can\'t use TStringStream as the (wide)strings are mixed with binary data, t

Answer 1

You can also use TFastFileStream for reading the data or strings, I pasted the unit at http://pastebin.com/m6ecdc8c2 and a sample below:

program Project36;

{$APPTYPE CONSOLE}

uses
  SysUtils, Classes,
  FastStream in 'FastStream.pas';

const
  WideNull: WideChar = #0;

procedure WriteWideStringToStream(Stream: TFileStream; var Data: WideString);
var
  len: Word;
begin
  len := Length(Data);
  // Write WideString length
  Stream.Write(len, SizeOf(len));
  if (len > 0) then
  begin
    // Write WideString
    Stream.Write(Data[1], len * SizeOf(WideChar));
  end;
  // Write null termination
  Stream.Write(WideNull, SizeOf(WideNull));
end;

procedure CreateTestFile;
var
  Stream: TFileStream;
  MyString: WideString;
begin
  Stream := TFileStream.Create('test.bin', fmCreate);
  try
    MyString := 'Hello World!';
    WriteWideStringToStream(Stream, MyString);

    MyString := 'Speed is Delphi!';
    WriteWideStringToStream(Stream, MyString);
  finally
    Stream.Free;
  end;
end;

function ReadWideStringFromStream(Stream: TFastFileStream): WideString;
var
  len: Word;
begin
  // Read length of WideString
  Stream.Read(len, SizeOf(len));
  // Read WideString
  Result := PWideChar(Cardinal(Stream.Memory) + Stream.Position);
  // Update position and skip null termination
  Stream.Position := Stream.Position + (len * SizeOf(WideChar)) + SizeOf(WideNull);
end;

procedure ReadTestFile;
var
  Stream: TFastFileStream;

  my_wide_string: WideString;
begin
  Stream := TFastFileStream.Create('test.bin');
  try
    Stream.Position := 0;
    // Read WideString
    my_wide_string := ReadWideStringFromStream(Stream);
    WriteLn(my_wide_string);
    // Read another WideString
    my_wide_string := ReadWideStringFromStream(Stream);
    WriteLn(my_wide_string);
  finally
    Stream.Free;
  end;
end;

begin
  CreateTestFile;
  ReadTestFile;
  ReadLn;
end.