- FILE *file = fopen (filename, "r");
- if (not file) {
- THROWF (system_error, 1, "Comment file %s could not be opened for reading.", filename);
+ std::ifstream* fs = new std::ifstream();
+ fs->open(filename.c_str(), std::ifstream::in);
+
+ if (fs->fail()) {
+ THROWF(system_error, 1, "Comment file %s could not be opened for reading.", filename.c_str());