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digitalmars.D.learn - Std.boxer toString() w/ Objects or Structs.

reply AJG <AJG_member pathlink.com> writes:
Hi,

I'm using boxes with relative ease and everything seems to be working properly.
I have a problem with the Box.toString() method, though. Is there a way to make
it work with objects or structs? 

Thanks,
--AJG.
Aug 16 2005
parent reply "Ben Hinkle" <bhinkle mathworks.com> writes:
"AJG" <AJG_member pathlink.com> wrote in message 
news:ddubsm$1llp$1 digitaldaemon.com...

 Hi,

 I'm using boxes with relative ease and everything seems to be working 
 properly.
 I have a problem with the Box.toString() method, though. Is there a way to 
 make
 it work with objects or structs?

 Thanks,
 --AJG.



I can't reproduce any problem with objects - perhaps you mean interfaces? 
With structs there's no default toString. Note when boxing an interface I 
think you need to explicitly cast it to Object before boxing but I'm not 
sure.
Aug 17 2005
parent reply AJG <AJG_member pathlink.com> writes:
Hi,

So for example, what do you get here:

# class Test {
#     real m_Real; 
#     this(real r) { m_Real = r; }
#     char[] toString() {
#          return (std.string.toString(m_Real));
#     }
# }

# import std.boxer;
#
# void main() {
#     Box b = box(new Test(4.2));
#     std.stdio.writefln("Test=" ~ b.toString());
# }

I get:
Test=nan

Or something like that. (Don't have a compiler available; please excuse any
typos in there).

I would like to get:
Test=4.2

------

Also, what does casting a struct to an Object do? Seems kinda weird, going from
value to reference?

Thanks,
--AJG.


In article <ddviv4$2u8f$1 digitaldaemon.com>, Ben Hinkle says...

"AJG" <AJG_member pathlink.com> wrote in message 
news:ddubsm$1llp$1 digitaldaemon.com...

 Hi,

 I'm using boxes with relative ease and everything seems to be working 
 properly.
 I have a problem with the Box.toString() method, though. Is there a way to 
 make
 it work with objects or structs?

 Thanks,
 --AJG.



I can't reproduce any problem with objects - perhaps you mean interfaces? 
With structs there's no default toString. Note when boxing an interface I 
think you need to explicitly cast it to Object before boxing but I'm not 
sure.
Aug 17 2005
parent reply "Ben Hinkle" <bhinkle mathworks.com> writes:
 Or something like that. (Don't have a compiler available; please excuse 
 any
 typos in there).

 I would like to get:
 Test=4.2



I get Test=4.2 on Windows using dmd.129


 ------

 Also, what does casting a struct to an Object do? Seems kinda weird, going 
 from
 value to reference?



If you are referring to my reply I said cast an interface to Object - not 
struct to Object. You can't cast a struct to Object as you probably guessed.
Aug 17 2005
parent reply AJG <AJG_member pathlink.com> writes:
Hi,


 Or something like that. (Don't have a compiler available; please excuse 
 any typos in there).
 I would like to get:
 Test=4.2






Will have to try that again soon. Thanks.


 Also, what does casting a struct to an Object do? Seems kinda weird, going 
 from
 value to reference?



If you are referring to my reply I said cast an interface to Object - not 
struct to Object. You can't cast a struct to Object as you probably guessed.



Whoops. Misread that sentence a little bit ;)

Though I was kind of interested in the struct to object casting, hypothetically.
Could be a way to automagically pass from the stack to the GC heap.

Ok, anyway, then what is the expected result when you toString() a box with a
struct? Is there a defined behaviour?

Thanks again,
--AJG.
Aug 17 2005
parent reply "Ben Hinkle" <ben.hinkle gmail.com> writes:
 Though I was kind of interested in the struct to object casting, 
 hypothetically.
 Could be a way to automagically pass from the stack to the GC heap.

 Ok, anyway, then what is the expected result when you toString() a box 
 with a
 struct? Is there a defined behaviour?



I think it does whatever std.format.doFormat does with a struct - probably 
throw a FormatError exception.

ps - I wish Walter would do something about the Error vs Exception naming 
"convention"...
Aug 17 2005
parent AJG <AJG_member pathlink.com> writes:
Hi,

First- you were right about Objects. There was a ridiculously diabolical bug in
my code.


 Ok, anyway, then what is the expected result when you toString() a box 
 with a
 struct? Is there a defined behaviour?



I think it does whatever std.format.doFormat does with a struct - probably 
throw a FormatError exception.



Hm... I even tried a toString() method in my struct and it still crashed and
burnt. It would seem logical to me to call this method for a struct too.


ps - I wish Walter would do something about the Error vs Exception naming 
"convention"... 



Yes. This is entirely misleading.

Thanks,
--AJG.
Aug 17 2005