c++ - ifstream no conversion from char to char exists error -

    int main()     {         char buffer[1024];         ifstream datafile ("./data.dat");         while(buffer)         {             localhouse->location = datafile.getline(buffer, 1024);         } } 

this throws error: no suitable converion function "std::basic_istream<char, std::char_traits<char>>" "char" exists.

it continues throw error if use pointer buffer instead. far can tell i'm using seen in example here.

there's example on stackoverflow here

that shows similar usage can't work, , it's causing me tear hair out on error seems can't convert char char. >.<

getline's return value istream object guess it's not want assign localhouse->location. getline reads line of file buffer variable have provided first parameter.