Re: More concise syntax for addressing std::vector* ???

From:
"Alf P. Steinbach" <alfps@start.no>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
Sun, 22 Mar 2009 05:02:31 +0100
Message-ID:
<gq4d8r$js4$1@news.motzarella.org>
* Peter Olcott:

"Vaclav Haisman" <v.haisman@sh.cvut.cz> wrote in message
news:49C509E1.1090309@sh.cvut.cz...

Peter Olcott wrote, On 21.3.2009 14:03:

"Balog Pal" <pasa@lib.hu> wrote in message
news:gq1nc6$1nhk$1@news.ett.com.ua...

"Peter Olcott" <NoSpam@SeeScreen.com>

Is there a more concise way of saying this:
Ptr->operator[](0)

(*Ptr)[0];


That worked in this simple case. What about this more
complex case:

Number03 = Array01.Array->operator[](0).
                   Array->operator[](0).
                   Array->operator[](0).
                   Array->operator[](0).
                   Array->operator[](0).
                   Array->operator[](0).Number;

Such deep array structures are highly unlikely. If you do
not like
(*vecptr)[0] then use reference: std::vector<foo> & v =
*vecptr; v[0];.


It is a given (like in geometry, it can't change) design
requirement that the depth of reference specified above can
not be changed. I don't want to explain my reasoning because
that would require disclosing proprietary information.

The above syntax compiles and produce the desired
functionality. I just want to be able to specify it more
concisely if possible.


SOLUTION 1.

Define a function 'in' of 7 arguments, then write something like

   Number03 = in( Array01, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 );

Or, if you want a more general solution, under assumption that you cannot change
the type definitions for that structure:

SOLUTION 2.

<code>
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <stddef.h>

#ifdef _MSC_VER
# pragma warning( disable: 4503 ) // decorated name length exceeded
#endif

//----------------------------------- Silly 6-dimensional vector:

struct NumberHolder
{
     double number;
     NumberHolder( double x ): number( x ) {}
};

template< typename T >
struct VecPtrHolder
{
     T* array;
     VecPtrHolder( T& a ): array( &a ) {}
};

typedef std::vector< NumberHolder > Vec1D;
typedef std::vector< VecPtrHolder< Vec1D > > Vec2D;
typedef std::vector< VecPtrHolder< Vec2D > > Vec3D;
typedef std::vector< VecPtrHolder< Vec3D > > Vec4D;
typedef std::vector< VecPtrHolder< Vec4D > > Vec5D;
typedef std::vector< VecPtrHolder< Vec5D > > Vec6D;

//----------------------------------- Machinery to index the beast:

template< typename T > struct ElemTypeOf;
template< typename T, typename U > struct ElemTypeOf< std::vector<T, U> >
{
     typedef T Type;
};

template< typename V > struct In;
template< typename V > struct In< VecPtrHolder<V> >
{
     V* myArray;

     In( VecPtrHolder<V>& holder ): myArray( holder.array ) {}

     In< typename ElemTypeOf<V>::Type > operator[]( size_t i )
     {
         return (*myArray)[i];
     }
};

template<>
struct In< VecPtrHolder< std::vector< NumberHolder > > >
{
     typedef std::vector<NumberHolder> Vec;
     Vec* myVecPtr;

     In( VecPtrHolder<Vec>& v ): myVecPtr( v.array ) {}

     NumberHolder& operator[]( size_t i )
     {
         return (*myVecPtr)[i];
     }
};

template< typename V >
In< VecPtrHolder< V > > in( VecPtrHolder<V> h ) { return h; }

//----------------------------------- Example usage:

int main()
{
     using namespace std;

     Vec1D v1( 1, 3.14 );
     Vec2D v2( 1, v1 );
     Vec3D v3( 1, v2 );
     Vec4D v4( 1, v3 );
     Vec5D v5( 1, v4 );
     Vec6D v6( 1, v5 );
     VecPtrHolder< Vec6D > array01( v6 );

     cout << in( array01 )[0][0][0][0][0][0].number << endl;
}
</code>

For this latter solution it's probably a good idea to extend it to support
const-ness.

But the best of idea of all is perhaps

SOLUTION 3.

To check whether the program logic is sound. It's a common newbie mistake to end
up with huge and/or multi-dimensional arrays. Generally it reflects some failure
in understanding the problem domain.

Cheers & hth.,

- Alf

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