The following code example is taken from the book
 
  The C++ Standard Library - A Tutorial and Reference
 by Nicolai M. Josuttis, Addison-Wesley, 1999
 
  © Copyright Nicolai M. Josuttis 1999
#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
using namespace std;
void redirect(ostream&);
int main()
{
    cout << "the first row" << endl;
    redirect(cout);
    cout << "the last row" << endl;
}
void redirect (ostream& strm)
{
    ofstream file("redirect.txt");
    
    // save output buffer of the stream
    streambuf* strm_buffer = strm.rdbuf();
    // redirect ouput into the file
    strm.rdbuf (file.rdbuf());
    file << "one row for the file" << endl;
    strm << "one row for the stream" << endl;
    // restore old output buffer
    strm.rdbuf (strm_buffer);
}    // closes file AND its buffer automatically