ULLONG_MAX Question

[DSM]

I'm working on a project where the code uses unsigned long long int to tag what a certain variable represents (1 represents apples, 2 oranges, 4 bananas, 8 pineapples...). Now, we are limited to 64 different variable types because ULLONG_MAX is specified to be 2^64 in limit.h. What if I want to represent 200 different variable types? Is there a way to change ULLONG_MAX to be equal to 2^200? Can this be done inside the code so limit.h does not have to be changed on each machine we use? Is this even possible if we're only using a 64 bit OS (openSuse)?

My advisor claims that he has used our 64 bit unsigned long long int strategy on 32 bit machines, so theoretically we should be able to do more than 64 bit operations on 64 bit machines. Also, the way the code is set up would require outrageous changes to no longer use this unsigned long long int, so (at least for now) they are determined not to change how this works.

[laserlight]

Now, we are limited to 64 different variable types because ULLONG_MAX is specified to be 2^64 in limit.h. What if I want to represent 200 different variable types?

You may be able to #include <bitset> and use a std::bitset<200>.

By the way, at the moment, long long and unsigned long long are not part of standard C++, but may be available as a compiler extension.

[DSM]

You may be able to #include <bitset> and use a std::bitset<200>.

So does this mean there is no way to maintain the unsigned long long int format? Everything will have to be converted to bitsets?

Thanks for the reply

[vart]

write your own class that is wrapper for the bitset
overload all operators that are used in current code so they could be applied the same way to the variable of new type without rewriting the existing code (except the places where the variable is constructed)

[laserlight]

Luckily, std::bitset already overloads various operators and might even be an almost drop in replacement for what you already have.

[DSM]

Thanks for the help everyone!