Question on array of strings

Question on array of strings

[Peter Mueller]

Hello,

I have some strings and depending of an enum I want to return a
string. My code looks the following:

function Event_To_String(Event : in Events_Type) return String is
   Ev1_Name : aliased constant String :="ev3434";
   Ev2_Name : aliased constant String :="evEnd";
   eventStrings : constant array (1..2) of access constant String :=
(Ev1_Name'Access,Ev2_Name'Access);

   begin

   return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event));
end Event_To_String;

The compiler says:

expected type "Standard.String"
found type access to "Standard.String" defined ...

I think that my code returns the pointer to the string and not the
string. But I don't know how to fix it.
Is there a better solution to create an array of strings and accessing
them with an index?

Thanks,
Peter

Re: Question on array of strings

[Jeffrey R. Carter]

Peter Mueller wrote:
> 
> I have some strings and depending of an enum I want to return a
> string. My code looks the following:
> 
> function Event_To_String(Event : in Events_Type) return String is
>    Ev1_Name : aliased constant String :="ev3434";
>    Ev2_Name : aliased constant String :="evEnd";
>    eventStrings : constant array (1..2) of access constant String :=
> (Ev1_Name'Access,Ev2_Name'Access);
> 
>    begin
> 
>    return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event));
> end Event_To_String;
> 
> The compiler says:
> 
> expected type "Standard.String"
> found type access to "Standard.String" defined ...
> 
> I think that my code returns the pointer to the string and not the
> string. But I don't know how to fix it.

You're correct. But first, a probable error:

'Pos for an enumeration type returns values starting at zero:

type E is (One, Two);

E'Pos (One) = 0
E'Pos (Two) = 1

Your array index range is "Integer range 1 .. 2". So, assuming Events_Type is 
the first-named subtype (the name used in the type declaration), if you ever 
called this with Events_Type'First, you would get Constraint_Error.

However, there is no reason to use Integer indices. An array may be indexed by 
any discrete subtype:

type Event_Name is array (Events_Type) of ...;

Then you can say

Eventstrings (Event)

As for your question, you dereference an access value by appending .all to it:

Eventstrings (Event).all

> Is there a better solution to create an array of strings and accessing
> them with an index?

For a discrete subtype like this, probably not. What you have is a mapping 
Events_Type => String. If you were mapping something non-discrete to String, 
than a map or similar associative data structure would be better.

It's also possible to store String values in [Un]Bounded_String objects; that 
would be better if the strings are not constant. It would also eliminate 
(explicit) use of access types and values.

-- 
Jeff Carter
"C's solution to this [variable-sized array parameters] has real
problems, and people who are complaining about safety definitely
have a point."
Dennis Ritchie
25

Re: Question on array of strings

[Hibou57 (Yannick Duchêne)]

On 29 oct, 21:48, Peter Mueller <peter.o.muel...@gmx.de> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have some strings and depending of an enum I want to return a
> string. My code looks the following:
>
> function Event_To_String(Event : in Events_Type) return String is
>    Ev1_Name : aliased constant String :="ev3434";
>    Ev2_Name : aliased constant String :="evEnd";
>    eventStrings : constant array (1..2) of access constant String :=
> (Ev1_Name'Access,Ev2_Name'Access);
>
>    begin
>
>    return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event));
> end Event_To_String;
>
> The compiler says:
>
> expected type "Standard.String"
> found type access to "Standard.String" defined ...
>
> I think that my code returns the pointer to the string and not the
> string. But I don't know how to fix it.
> Is there a better solution to create an array of strings and accessing
> them with an index?
>
> Thanks,
> Peter

The compiler error you've reported is not the single point to notice
about in test case.

The first one, the one you are talking about :
You have a function whose return type is String.
You have an array of anonymous access to String.
The return statement returns an item of that array.

So fat, you have then a function which is expected to return a String,
but you return an access to String.
The expected returned type of the function and the type you return are
not the same.
The compiler complains about that, it tries to tell you that the
expression you attempt to return, is not of type String.

To get a String from an access to String, you have to use the “ .all ”
suffixe.
Do know what is  “ .all ” ?
If you need explanations about it, just tell, you will be asked about
it.

Just change
“ return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event));  ”
into
“ return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event)).all;  ” and every thing
will be OK.

That's to correct what does not work.

To got further now : you wants an association from Events_Type to
String, aren't you ?
So why to you use an array whose index range is “ 1 .. 2 ” ?
I suggest you to use Events_Type instead.

So, as a second step, you may turn
“ eventStrings : constant array (1..2) of access constant String ”
into
“ eventStrings : constant array (Events_Type) of access constant
String ”

Do you understand what it is ?

Then, as you use Events_Type as the array index range, you do not need
any more (and must not also), the “ Events_Type'Pos(Event) ” and you
can use just Event instead

So then replace
“ return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event)).all ”
with
“ return EventStrings(Event).all ”

Providing that your Events_Type is a enumeration of two elements
(otherwise, just update the array initialization to match the required
number of items).

Next now : you have an array of constant, which will be initialized
each times you enter the function. There are no kind of “ static ” in
Ada like there are in C. To achieve static global allocation, you have
to declare your array outside of the function, at the package level.

So now, try to change

   function Event_To_String(Event : in Events_Type) return String is
      Ev1_Name : aliased constant String :="ev3434";
      Ev2_Name : aliased constant String :="evEnd";
      eventStrings : constant array (Events_Type) of access constant
String :=
        (Ev1_Name'Access,
         Ev2_Name'Access);

      begin
         return EventStrings(Event).all;
      end Event_To_String;begin

into

   Ev1_Name : aliased constant String :="ev3434";
   Ev2_Name : aliased constant String :="evEnd";

   eventStrings : constant array (Events_Type) of access constant
String :=
     (Ev1_Name'Access,
      Ev2_Name'Access);

   function Event_To_String(Event : in Events_Type) return String is
      begin
         return EventStrings(Event).all;
      end Event_To_String;begin

What tutorial do you have in hands to learn Ada ?

Read you soon

Y.

Re: Question on array of strings

[Hibou57 (Yannick Duchêne)]

On 29 oct, 22:36, "Jeffrey R. Carter" <spam.jrcarter....@spam.acm.org>
wrote:
> You're correct. But first, a probable error:
He is not at all : his implementation is returning an access to String
while the function is expected to return a String.

Re: Question on array of strings

[Gautier write-only]

Hello!

My usual way of doing that is:

function Event_To_String(Event : in Events_Type) return String is
begin
  case Event is
    when Ev1 => return "ev3434";
    when Ev2 => return "evEnd";
  end case;
end;

You live longer without pointer ;-).

For more complicated cases, I use unbounded strings, like there:

  type External_packer_info is record
    name, title, URL, options: Unbounded_String;
    expanded_options    : Unbounded_String;
    -- options with dynamically expanded tokens
    made_by_version     : Unsigned_16;
    pkzm                : Zip.PKZip_method;
  end record;

  ext: array(External) of External_packer_info:=
    (
      (U("zip.exe"), U("Zip"), U("http://info-zip.org/"), U("-9"), U
(""), 20, Zip.deflate),
       -- Zip 2.32 or later
      ...
     );

HTH
_________________________________________________________
Gautier's Ada programming -- http://sf.net/users/gdemont/
NB: For a direct answer, e-mail address on the Web site!

Re: Question on array of strings

[Jeffrey R. Carter]

Hibou57 (Yannick Duch�ne) wrote:
> On 29 oct, 22:36, "Jeffrey R. Carter" <spam.jrcarter....@spam.acm.org>
> wrote:
>> You're correct. But first, a probable error:
> He is not at all : his implementation is returning an access to String
> while the function is expected to return a String.

"You're correct" referred to "I think that my code returns the pointer to the 
string and not the string."

-- 
Jeff Carter
"C's solution to this [variable-sized array parameters] has real
problems, and people who are complaining about safety definitely
have a point."
Dennis Ritchie
25

Re: Question on array of strings

[Robert A Duff]

In addition to the good answers in this thread, another thing that might
work for the OP is:

    Events_Type'Image(Event)

although it annoyingly uses ALL_CAPS, and doesn't work if
the event names contain blanks and whatnot.

"Hibou57 (Yannick Duch�ne)" <yannick_duchene@yahoo.fr> writes:

> Next now : you have an array of constant, which will be initialized
> each times you enter the function. There are no kind of � static � in
> Ada like there are in C. To achieve static global allocation, you have
> to declare your array outside of the function, at the package level.

This part is not necessarily true.  The compiler is free to do static
global allocation here.

> So now, try to change
>
>    function Event_To_String(Event : in Events_Type) return String is
>       Ev1_Name : aliased constant String :="ev3434";
>       Ev2_Name : aliased constant String :="evEnd";

The above strings are certainly statically allocated in GNAT.

>       eventStrings : constant array (Events_Type) of access constant
> String :=
>         (Ev1_Name'Access,
>          Ev2_Name'Access);

I think the above array is, too, but I'm not sure.
You'd have to experiment to find out.

>       begin
>          return EventStrings(Event).all;
>       end Event_To_String;begin

In other words, a good compiler will do the following tranformation for
you.  The advantage is to avoid polluting the global namespace.

> into
>
>    Ev1_Name : aliased constant String :="ev3434";
>    Ev2_Name : aliased constant String :="evEnd";
>
>    eventStrings : constant array (Events_Type) of access constant
> String :=
>      (Ev1_Name'Access,
>       Ev2_Name'Access);
>
>    function Event_To_String(Event : in Events_Type) return String is
>       begin
>          return EventStrings(Event).all;
>       end Event_To_String;begin

- Bob

Re: Question on array of strings

[Peter Mueller]

Hello,

On 29 Okt., 22:38, Hibou57 (Yannick Duchêne)
<yannick_duch...@yahoo.fr> wrote:
> On 29 oct, 21:48, Peter Mueller <peter.o.muel...@gmx.de> wrote:
>
>
>

>
> To get a String from an access to String, you have to use the “ .all ”
> suffixe.
> Do know what is  “ .all ” ?
> If you need explanations about it, just tell, you will be asked about
> it.

So far I have not used ".all".

>
> Just change
> “ return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event));  ”
> into
> “ return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event)).all;  ” and every thing
> will be OK.
>
> That's to correct what does not work.

Ok

>
> To got further now : you wants an association from Events_Type to
> String, aren't you ?
> So why to you use an array whose index range is “ 1 .. 2 ” ?
> I suggest you to use Events_Type instead.
>
> So, as a second step, you may turn
> “ eventStrings : constant array (1..2) of access constant String ”
> into
> “ eventStrings : constant array (Events_Type) of access constant
> String ”
>
> Do you understand what it is ?

Yes, this is clear.

>
> Then, as you use Events_Type as the array index range, you do not need
> any more (and must not also), the “ Events_Type'Pos(Event) ” and you
> can use just Event instead
>
> So then replace
> “ return EventStrings(Events_Type'Pos(Event)).all ”
> with
> “ return EventStrings(Event).all ”
>
> Providing that your Events_Type is a enumeration of two elements
> (otherwise, just update the array initialization to match the required
> number of items).
>
> Next now : you have an array of constant, which will be initialized
> each times you enter the function. There are no kind of “ static ” in
> Ada like there are in C. To achieve static global allocation, you have
> to declare your array outside of the function, at the package level.
>
...
>
> What tutorial do you have in hands to learn Ada ?

I followed the intro from http://burks.bton.ac.uk/burks/language/ada/adacraft

Thanks for your comprehensive answer!

Peter

Re: Question on array of strings

[Hibou57 (Yannick Duchêne)]

On 30 oct, 10:10, Peter Mueller <peter.o.muel...@gmx.de> wrote:
> I followed the intro fromhttp://burks.bton.ac.uk/burks/language/ada/adacraft
Ah, the famous Craft. I've never read it (I've simply started learning
Ada with the ARM, then I looked at some document for some specific
stuff, like design and conventions), but I know it is very famous all
over the web. It just seems it is not updated to match Ada 2005 and
seems to be tied to Ada 95, but seems to be good if I believe what
people says about this one.

You may have a look at Ada-Log as well if you can : http://www.adalog.fr/
(but french only)

>
> Thanks for your comprehensive answer!
>
> Peter
You're welcome
(it appears to me I've left a lot of spelling mistakes in the prior
reply, sorry for that)