renames and access

["Francesco Bochicchio" <bockman@virgilio.it>]

Hi all,

I have a piece of code that does something like this:

type REC_T is record
	A : Integer;
	B : String(4)
end record;

type REC_PTR_T is access REC_T;
REC_PTR : REC_PTR_T := new REC_T;

A renames REC_PTR.A;
B renames REC_PTR.B;

At this point, I can use A and B as if they where simple 
variables. BUT, when I later reallocate the memory like this:

function REALLOCATE_MEMORY return REC_PTR_T;
REC_PTR := REALLOCATE_MEMORY(); -- Actually, the ability to reallocate is
                                -- the reason for all this  fuss.
				--

then A and B still points to the old memory, not at the one currently
pointed by REC_PTR.

Is this normal ??(I work with ObjectADA, did not try yet with GNAT)  
Is there any way to have the renames to automatically points to the new
memory?
If this turns impossible, what would be an equivalent solution? At the
moment, my bet is to turn the renames into access. Any better idea?

BACKGROUND : the reason for all this is that we are trying to add a
failover capability to a very old application of many thousand lines 
of code. Therefore, the 'critical variables' (one hundred or more) shall
be allocated in a special area of memory which is mirrored between the
primary machine and its backup, where  a copy of the application
runs in hot standby. The trick with the renames should have spared us from
changing every line of code referring to one of these variables.

Thanks for any hints you can give me.

Ciao
-----
FB