void trace_out(const char *fmt, ... ) { static FILE *trace_file = 0L; time_t now = time(0L);//returns the specified calendar time value char date_string[23];//declaring character date string strftime(date_string, 256, "%Y-%m-%d %H.%M.%S", localtime(&now));//format of the time and date string if (!trace_file) { trace_file = fopen("trace.txt", "a+"); //trace file, provides output window for debugging//if trace file detected open file if (!trace_file) return; } //required to access variable arguement lists va_list v; va_start(v, fmt); fprintf(trace_file, "%s |", date_string);//prints the data to a date string format vfprintf(trace_file, fmt, v);//writes the formatted output to the trace file fputc('\n', trace_file);//wites the characters to the stream fflush(trace_file);//flushes the stream}