void open_file( ifstream& master, ifstream& transact )
{
	// attempts to open the master file and transaction file
	string master;
	string transact;

	master.open( MASTER, ios::nocreate | ios::binary );
	transact.open( TRANSACT, ios::nocreate );
	if( !master )
		cout << " ** Can't open " << master << " **" << endl;
	if ( !transact )
		cout << " ** Can't open " << transact << " **" << endl;
}

void read_file( ifstream& master, ifstream& transact )
{
	char ssn[9], transact_ssn[9],
		 name[20],
		 street[20],
		 city[20],
		 state[2],
		 zip[5],
		 dummy[2];
	rec record;

	master.read((char *) &record, sizeof(record));
	while( !master.eof() )
	{
		master.read(ssn, 9);
		master.read(name, 20);
		master.read(street, 20);
		master.read(city, 20);
		master.read(state, 2);
		master.read(zip, 5);
		master.read(dummy, 2);
		master.read((char *) &record, sizeof(record));
	}

	transact >> transact_ssn;
	while( !transact.eof() )
	{
		transact >> transact_ssn;
	}
}