Mapping Data types

[dchinom]

Hi,

Is there a way to map a data type (e.g. int, float, ...) to an arbitrary value, such as an enuermation.

Idealy, what I am going for is a method by which I can supply an enumeration value (or an int) and get back a typename for a particular data type which can be used to create a variable of that type.

For example:
TYPE_MAP(CORBA::tk_float):ataType MyLocalVariable;
MyLocalVariable = 3.4;

Is this, or anything like this possible in C++? (Maybe with macros?)


Regards,
Doug M.

 

[cpjust]

I don't think a macro would work since it would have to know the DataType at compile-time.

It might be possible with class templates... but I'm too sick to think straight right now.

I think there should be a better solution than either of these methods though.

 

[uolj]

You could probably do this using a function that takes your enumeration or int or string or whatever the key is, then returns a boost::any or boost::variant holding the appropriate type of data.

If there is a specific set of types that you will be using, then you could use an enumeration and a simple switch statement, setting the boost::variant to the appropriate value.

If you don't know what types will be possible, you might have to use typeid to get the correct type, and boost::any to store it.

It really dependson the details of how you plan on using it.