---
name: "find_datafile_object"
section: "3alleg4"
platform: "linux"
package: "allegro4-doc"
version: "2:4.4.3.1-5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/find_datafile_object/3alleg4"
---

# find\_datafile\_object(3alleg4)

Searches a datafile for an object with a name. Allegro game programming library.

## NAME

find\_datafile\_object - Searches a datafile for an object with a name. Allegro game programming library.

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<allegro.h\>**

**DATAFILE \*find\_datafile\_object(const DATAFILE \*dat, const char \*objectname);**

## DESCRIPTION

Searches an already loaded datafile for an object with the specified  name. In the name you can use \`/' and \`#' separators for nested datafile paths. Example:

```
   char level_name[10];
   DATAFILE *dat, *level;
   ...
   uszprintf(level_name, sizeof(buffer),
             "LEVEL_%02d", level_number);
   level = find_datafile_object(dat, level_name);
   if (!level)
      abort_on_error("That level doesn't exist!");
```

## RETURN VALUE

Returns a pointer to a single DATAFILE element whose \`dat' member points to the object, or NULL if the object could not be found.

## SEE ALSO

**load\_datafile**(3alleg4), **load\_datafile\_object**(3alleg4)