// to use a file as input you must 
// include the fstream (file stream) library
	#include <fstream>
// and establish the filename for the file and get ready for input including positioning at the start of the file
	ifstream inFile(filename.c_str(),ios::in);
// where filename is a string variable that the user has entered the correct filename for.
// BTW, the data file must by in the project folder for the project



// gets a line of text from the user or a file - putting the result into newVal where it is available for the caller
// MAR - toStop defaults to end of line - '\n' - other stops could be used
istream& mygetline(istream &strIn, string &newVal, char toStop = '\n') {
	char curr;
	newVal = "";
  	// get first char
	strIn.get(curr);
	// skip leading "white space" - new line, blank
	while ((curr == ' ') || (curr == '\n')) {
		strIn.get(curr);
	}
	// now get real chars
	while (curr != toStop) {
		// concatenate to the existing string then get next char
		newVal += curr; 
		strIn.get(curr);
	}
	return strIn;
}