#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <fstream>
using namespace std;


struct purchase
{
    int accountNumber;
    string firstName;
    string lastName;
    string itemName;
    double cost;
    string itemDescription;
    int Quantity;
    purchase* next; // link
};

purchase *start_ptr = NULL; //permanently points to the start of the list.

int main()

{
    ifstream fin;
    fin.open("CustomerPurchases.txt");
    if(!fin.good()) throw "I/O error";

    purchase* head = 0;
    purchase *Customers[6]; //Array of pointers
    purchase *aPurchase, *temp2; //temporary pointers

    while (!fin.good())
    {

        aPurchase = new purchase;
         //declaring a new pointer and setting it to point at a new purchase object that you just made
        getline(fin, aPurchase -> accountNumber);

        fin >> aPurchase->firstName;
        fin.ignore(1000, 10);
        fin >> aPurchase->lastName;
        fin.ignore(1000, 10);
        fin >> aPurchase->itemName;
        fin.ignore(1000, 10);
        fin >> aPurchase->cost;
        fin.ignore(1000, 10);
        fin >> aPurchase->itemDescription;
        fin.ignore(1000, 10);
        fin >> aPurchase->Quantity;
        fin.ignore(1000, 10);

        aPurchase->next = NULL; /*sets the pointer from this node to the next to NULL indicating that it will be
                                  the LAST NODE when inserted into the list*/


     if (start_ptr == NULL)
         start_ptr = aPurchase; //set up a link to this node.
     else
       { temp2 = start_ptr;
         // We know this is not NULL - list not empty!
         while (temp2->next != NULL)                          //This loop terminates when pointing to null
           {  temp2 = temp2->next;
              // Move to next link in chain
           }
         temp2->next = aPurchase;
       }
  } //while

    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------