Reading char with code -31.. what the hell?

[JRevor]

I'm reading a file, byte to byte. After a while, apparently i read a byte with a negative code.

Here's the troublesome code segment (which is inside a loop)

   // DATA TYPES
   //i short;
   //char buffer;
   //fstream ifs;
   ifs.read(&buffer,1); 
   i = (short) buffer; 
   cout << "Read byte with code: "<< i << endl;

I need the positive ascii code of the byte i've just read. How should I do that?

[firedraco]

Try using an unsigned char.

[JRevor]

Effectively, that solved the problem. Thanks!