Re: boost::function map with different return types

3 Sep 2002

      Hi,
in compl.lang.c++ I got the following answer to my problem:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On Tue, 3 Sep 2002 17:21:00 +0200, "Julia Donawald"
<julia.donawald@gmx.de> wrote:
...
Hi,
I have the following code:
...
Calling the correct function with the entries in the map is no problem, but
how can I get the return value. I tried something like that:
"unsigned int i = functions["Function5"]();" but sadly it doesnt work,
maybe
cause in the map I declared for the return value "void"?
How can I have such a map where to have functions with different return
types in it and to get the return value after a call of the function
[snipped code]

through
...
the map?
Boost has another lovely library called "any". An "any" can hold any
time, with the unfortunate exception of void. Below is a partial
solution to your problem that will work with any function that returns
something other than void. (tested with gcc 3.2)

#include <boost/bind.hpp>
#include <boost/function.hpp>
#include <boost/any.hpp>
#include <map>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

class Foo {
public:
   void Function3() const
   {
    int i =2;
   };
   const std::string Function4() const
   {
    return "Function4";
   };
   unsigned int Function5() const
   {
    return 2;
   };
};

int main()
{
   std::map<std::string, boost::function<boost::any> > functions;

   Foo foo;
   //functions["Function3"] = boost::bind(&Foo::Function3, &foo);
   //void won't work :o(
   functions["Function4"] = boost::bind(&Foo::Function4, &foo);
   functions["Function5"] = boost::bind(&Foo::Function5, &foo);

   // call the functions
   std::string s;
   try
   {
      //any_cast throws if you attempt a cast that isn't to the
      //original type
      s = boost::any_cast<std::string
const>(functions["Function4"]());

     std::cout << s << '\n';
   }
   catch(std::exception const& ex)
   {
      std::cerr << "Wasn't a string!\n";
   }

   std::cin.ignore();
}

As a final point, there isn't really a good reason to return a
cv-qualified object by value. Your const string return could be a
non-const return without any break in const correctness.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Sadly it doesnt work. At this position:
  s = boost::any_cast<std::string const>(functions["Function4"]());
I always get an access violation..... any suggestions why?

Thanks in advance
Julia