How can I copy the data from an ifstream to a vector<char> ? The input file holds an array, so it contains something to the effect of: MapArray[10]{3,2,1,5,6,3,2,2,3,5,} The function I've written can read this and copy "10" to an array size variable, then the contents of the array between {} to a c-string. However with a c-string, the size must be constant, so I cannot use the variable from the input file to define it. This is why I am trying to use a vector. I've tried this: Code: int mSize = // data read from file, in example above, 10 mapFile.ignore(25, '{'); int vSize = mSize*2; // vector size is twice the map size vector<char> mDataV(vSize); // map Data Vector char mDataC[21]; // map Data C-string mapFile.getline(mDataC, vSize+1, '}'); // copy ifstream to mDataC mDataV.push_back(mDataC); // copy mDataC to mDataV But this returns error C2664, saying it cannot convert mDataC from char[21] to const char &. I understand what this means but not how to resolve it. I tried replacing mDataC with *mDataC, and this compiled, but no data was copied to mDataV (it was empty, and no map was drawn on the screen). Sadface, R.Young