[Boost-users] Serialization: how to serialize c style strings?

15 Jun 2005

      I'm trying to understand how to go about serializing allocated c style
string buffers using the serialization library.

The example code below gives a compile error (see bottom)
"left of '.serialize' must have class/struct/union type"
and I don't see how to fix this. Could someone point me in the right
direction?

In the meantime I'm using std::string, but this doesn't meet my needs.

Many thanks for any help.  Tom

-----------------------------

#include <boost/serialization/string.hpp>
#include <fstream>
#include <boost/archive/text_oarchive.hpp>
#include <boost/archive/text_iarchive.hpp>

template<class T>
class test
{
public:

  template<class Archive>
  void serialize(Archive &ar, const unsigned int version)
  {
    ar & boost::serialization::make_nvp("p", p);
  }

  test()
  {
    p = 0;
  }
  ~test()
  {
    delete p;
  }
  explicit test(const T *t)
  {
    size_t len = std::char_traits<T>::length(t);
    p = new T[len+1];
    std::char_traits<T>::copy(p, t, len+1);
  }
  const T *get() const
  {
    return p;
  }
private:

  T *p;

};

void sertest()
{
  test<char> t("Hello");

  std::ofstream ofs("test.txt");
  boost::archive::text_oarchive oa(ofs);

  oa << t;
  ofs.close();

}

------------------------------

------ Build started: Project: test, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------

Compiling...
sertest.cpp
c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\access.hpp(106) :
error C2228: left of '.serialize' must have class/struct/union type
        type is 'type'

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\serialization.hpp(7
8) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::access::serialize<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const
unsigned int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=type
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\serialization.hpp(1
21) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::serialize<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const unsigned
int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=type
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(15
2) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::serialize_adl<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const
unsigned int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=type
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\extended_type_info_
typeid.hpp(100) : while compiling class-template member function 'void
boost::archive::detail::oserializer<Archive,T>::save_object_data(boost::
archive::detail::basic_oarchive &,const void *) const'
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=type
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(16
3) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::oserializer<Archive,T>' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=type
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(16
2) : while compiling class-template member function 'const
boost::archive::detail::basic_oserializer
&boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<T,Archive>::get_basic_seria
lizer(void) const'
        with
        [
            T=type,
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(53
0) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<T,Archive>' being compiled
        with
        [
            T=type,
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\interface_oarchive
.hpp(65) : see reference to function template instantiation 'const
boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer
&boost::archive::detail::instantiate_pointer_oserializer<Archive,T>(Arch
ive *,T *)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::ar
chive::text_oarchive,
            T=type
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(33
2) : see reference to function template instantiation 'const
boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer
*boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::register_type<T>(T
*)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=type
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(33
1) : while compiling class-template member function 'const
boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer
*boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive,TPtr>::non_abstract<T
...
::register_type(Archive &)'
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            TPtr=char *,
            T=type
        ]
c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(34
9) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive,TPtr>::non_abstract<T
...
' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            TPtr=char *,
            T=type
        ]
c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(47
5) : see reference to function template instantiation 'const
boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer
*boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive,TPtr>::register_type<
T>(Archive &,T &)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            TPtr=char *,
            T=char
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(46
2) : while compiling class-template member function 'void
boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive,TPtr>::invoke(Archive
&,const TPtr)'
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            TPtr=char *
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(55
1) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive,TPtr>' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            TPtr=char *
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\basic_text_oarchive.hpp(7
1) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::archive::save<Archive,T>(Archive &,const T & )' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=char *
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\interface_oarchive
.hpp(80) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::archive::basic_text_oarchive<Archive>::save_override<T>(const T &
,int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=char *
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\interface_oarchive
.hpp(110) : see reference to function template instantiation 'Archive
&boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::operator
<<<T>(const T & )' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=char *
        ]
        c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\nvp.hpp(58)
: see reference to function template instantiation 'Archive
&boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::operator &<T>(T &
)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=char *
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\access.hpp(106) :
see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::nvp<T>::serialize<Archive>(Archive &,const
unsigned int) const' being compiled
        with
        [
            T=char *,
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\serialization.hpp(7
8) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::access::serialize<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const
unsigned int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\serialization.hpp(1
21) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::serialize<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const unsigned
int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(22
7) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::serialize_adl<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const
unsigned int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(22
2) : while compiling class-template member function 'void
boost::archive::detail::save_non_pointer_type<Archive,T>::save_only::inv
okex(Archive &,const T &)'
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(30
9) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::save_non_pointer_type<Archive,T>::save_only'
being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(23
7) : while compiling class-template member function 'void
boost::archive::detail::save_non_pointer_type<Archive,T>::invoke(Archive
&,const T &)'
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(55
1) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::save_non_pointer_type<Archive,T>' being
compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\basic_text_oarchive.hpp(7
1) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::archive::save<Archive,T>(Archive &,const T &)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\interface_oarchive
.hpp(87) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::archive::basic_text_oarchive<Archive>::save_override<T>(const T
&,int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=boost::serialization::nvp<char *>
        ]
        c:\Proj\lnp\core\test\sertest.cpp(14) : see reference to
function template instantiation 'Archive
&boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::operator
&<boost::serialization::nvp<T>>(const boost::serialization::nvp<T> &)'
being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=char *
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\access.hpp(106) :
see reference to function template instantiation 'void
test<T>::serialize<Archive>(Archive &,const unsigned int)' being
compiled
        with
        [
            T=char,
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\serialization.hpp(7
8) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::access::serialize<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const
unsigned int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\serialization.hpp(1
21) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::serialize<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const unsigned
int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(15
2) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::serialization::serialize_adl<Archive,T>(Archive &,T &,const
unsigned int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\serialization\extended_type_info_
typeid.hpp(100) : while compiling class-template member function 'void
boost::archive::detail::oserializer<Archive,T>::save_object_data(boost::
archive::detail::basic_oarchive &,const void *) const'
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(23
4) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::oserializer<Archive,T>' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(23
3) : while compiling class-template member function 'void
boost::archive::detail::save_non_pointer_type<Archive,T>::save::invokex(
Archive &,const T &)'
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(30
9) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::save_non_pointer_type<Archive,T>::save' being
compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(23
7) : while compiling class-template member function 'void
boost::archive::detail::save_non_pointer_type<Archive,T>::invoke(Archive
&,const T &)'
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\oserializer.hpp(55
1) : see reference to class template instantiation
'boost::archive::detail::save_non_pointer_type<Archive,T>' being
compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\basic_text_oarchive.hpp(7
1) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::archive::save<Archive,T>(Archive &,const T &)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\interface_oarchive
.hpp(80) : see reference to function template instantiation 'void
boost::archive::basic_text_oarchive<Archive>::save_override<T>(const T
&,int)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=test<char>
        ]

c:\Proj\boost\include\boost-1_32\boost\archive\detail\interface_oarchive
.hpp(105) : see reference to function template instantiation 'Archive
&boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::operator
<<<test<T>>(const test<T> &)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=char
        ]
        c:\Proj\lnp\core\test\sertest.cpp(55) : see reference to
function template instantiation 'Archive
&boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::operator
<<<test<T>>(test<T> &)' being compiled
        with
        [
            Archive=boost::archive::text_oarchive,
            T=char
        ]

test - 1 error(s), 0 warning(s)

---------------------- Done ----------------------

    Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 skipped

[Boost-users] Serialization: how to serialize c style strings?

Tom Thorne