how can I handle a buffer???

Hi there....\n\n

Suppose we have a pointer if void type which we use then to allocate memory and create a buffer....

the buffer ,lets say has at first a string of 10 chars then a float and then and integer....


How I can access and print the fields of it?

My thought was to use a second pointer and allocate memory to him so it can hold the proper field and then copy on him the data but it does not work....


Whats wrong?

I thank "apriori" anyone for his good mood of helping me....

Greetings,

You could use a union, for example:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

// This structure will hold a string/int/float element
struct element {
    int type              // This will allow us to know what we have
    union {
        char* str;
        int  i;
        float f;
    };
};

int main()
{
    element *elarray = new element [4];
    element e;

    // Im using 0=String; 1=Integer; 2=Float
    e.type = 0;
    e.str = new char [10];
    strcpy(e.str, "Testing");
    elarray[0] = e;                    // Set the 1st element

    e.type = 1;                          // This one is an int
    e.i = 1000;       
    elarray[1] = e;

    e.type = 2;                          // And this one a float
    e.f = 5.5f;
    elarray[2] = e;

    // Loop through the array displaying the type and value of
    // the element
    std::cout << "Type\t\tValue\n";
    for (int i=0;i<3;i++) {
        switch(elarray[i].type) {
            case 0:
                std::cout << "String\t\t" << elarray[i].str << std::endl;
                break;
            case 1:
                std::cout << "Integer\t\t" << elarray[i].i << std::endl;
                break;
            case 2:
                std::cout << "Float\t\t" << elarray[i].f << std::endl;
                break;
        }
    }
    delete [] elarray;
}

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This works, but if you want a much more elegant and functional solution you should take a look at www.boost.org look at the file "any.hpp".