Thread: Maybe a weird question

  1. #1
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    Maybe a weird question

    Is it possible to have some sort of variable filled with code and then execute that variable?

    For example:
    (pseudo code)
    Code:
    executablevariable ev;
    
    ev="if(i=1";
    string.append(ev," && j=1");
    string.append(ev," && k=1);");
    
    //now we execute the "variable"
    execute(ev);
    //and this line is executed:
    // if(i=1 && j=1 && k=1);
    Maybe a better example would be the SQL language where you can build the SQL sentences and then execute them.

    Is something like this possible in C++?

  2. #2
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    Yes, you could use a function pointer.

    [edit]
    Here's an example:
    Code:
    void move_up() {}
    void move_down() {}
    
    void (*fp)();
    
    int main() {
        if(key == UP) fp = move_up;
        else fp = move_down;
    
        // ...
    
        fp();
    
        return 0;
    }
    [/edit]

    [edit=2] Here's a tutorial: http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial...-pointers.html [/edit]
    Last edited by dwks; 08-24-2006 at 02:41 PM.
    dwk

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  3. #3
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    I don't think a function pointer comes anywhere close to what the OP is asking. But it's the closest as it gets.
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  4. #4
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    Yeah, C++ doesn't have anything like Perl's eval or LISP and Ruby's code passing because it's a compiled language, not an interpreted language.

    Just out of curiousity, what are you trying to do?
    dwk

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  5. #5
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    >Is it possible to have some sort of variable filled with code and then execute that variable?
    Yes.

    >Is something like this possible in C++?
    Yes.

    Here's some advice. Don't ask a yes or no question when you really want to know how to do something. We're logical and sarcastic enough to give you exactly what you ask for. To answer your intended question, it's possible, but extremely difficult. You're basically looking at a full C++ interpreter.
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  6. #6
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    You can embed interpreters for scripting languages like Perl.
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  7. #7
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    In C++, you mean? Yes, you can. But it might be too involved for the OP's purposes.
    dwk

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  8. #8
    System Novice siavoshkc's Avatar
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    Is it possible to have some sort of variable filled with code and then execute that variable?
    There should be machine code in that variable to be executable directly, not C++ code.

    [edit]
    I think the variable should be sequential in memory. Like an array.
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  9. #9
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    I have a windows dialog app. There are 5 checkboxes and a button. When you press the button it reads which checkboxes were selected and there is a different procedure for each possible combination.

    So I thought building dynamic code would be the best thing to do. Otherwise it's "if else" mania.

  10. #10
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    You could have a vector of function pointers.

    [edit] Or, if all the functions do is print something, you could call them when the buttons are clicked on, concatenating the output into a string:
    Code:
    output += function();
    [/edit]
    dwk

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  11. #11
    System Novice siavoshkc's Avatar
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    For five checkbox there will be 32 combinations. What kind of work will be done for each one?
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  12. #12
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    do your functions that should be called in case the button is pressed all accept different arguments?
    or do the arguments (and also the return type of the functions youre calling) all match?

    edit: so thats the signature i'm talking about - not sure if you're familiar with that word, so i put it that way.

    edit2: so in case the signatures of all your functions are identical:
    e.g.
    Code:
    void my_error_func(int x, int y); // function to handle invalid combinations of buttons
    void my_func1(int x, float y);
    void my_func2(int x, float y);
    void my_func3(int x, float y);
    void my_func4(int x, float y);
    etc...

    you could do something like:
    Code:
    void *my_function_pointer_array[32](int, float) = { my_func1, my_error_func, my_func2, my_error_fun, my_func3, my_func4, ... }
    and when the button is clicked:

    Code:
    int pattern = (is_button_enabled(FIRST_BUTTON_ID) << 0) |
                               (is_button_enabled(SECOND_BUTTON_ID) << 1) |
                         ... | (is_button_enabled(FIFTH_BUTTON_ID) << 4);
    and invoke the appropriate function by:
    Code:
    my_function_pointer_array[pattern](my_first_argument, my_other_argument);
    Last edited by Raven Arkadon; 08-24-2006 at 04:55 PM.
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  13. #13
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    No I don't think that will work in my case. It's a simple problem and as always those are the hardest.

    I have a CListCtrl and the function of searching for records. The record has five columns and the checkboxes are for which column you want to search for (there are of course also five edit boxes to input what you are searching for).

    So basically I need to build a giant if sentence to compare different columns with the user input.

    But maybe I can solve this by putting something like "kaoghasergsjng" in the strings that the user has not checked and it will surely find no match. Then I check for hits with something like:
    Code:
    hits=0;
    if(edit1==column1)
    { hits++; }
    if(edit2==column2)
    { hits++; }
    if(edit3==column3)
    { hits++; }
    if(edit4==column4)
    { hits++; }
    if(edit5==column5
    { hits++; }
    // and then if the user has checked three checkboxes hits should equal 3 if there was a hit. Hmm...

  14. #14
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    Like this perhaps
    Code:
    // This you fill in from the dialog
    // set anyValue to true if you want to ignore a field
    // set anyValue to false if you want to compare a field
    struct {
      bool        anyValue;
      std::string search;
    } filter[5];
    
    // This is an example record containing 5 fields of strings
    // Fill this in with each row of your database
    std::string record[5];
    
    // Compare each record field with the filter
    // The loop will exit early if matching fails at some point
    matched = true;
    for ( i = 0 ; matched && i < 5 ; i++ ) {
      matched = matched && ( filter[i].anyValue || 
                             filter[i].search == record[i]
                           );
    }
    
    // if matched is true here, then
    // the record has passed the tests.
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  15. #15
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    Thanks but I already got it to work.

    Now I have another little problem. If the list is too long and the scroll bar appears it does not scroll down to the record that was found. How do I do that?

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