say had array of pointers, each of points structs may once again have pointers other structs in them; possible handle serializing using protobuf? if so, how?
any appreciated.
the way you're thinking problem reverse of how need think if you're considering protobufs. protobufs don't take existing data structure , serialize them. take serialization protocol , create data structures you populate.
with said, nested serialization pretty simple:
// nested.proto message inner { required string value = 1; } message outer { required inner inner = 1; } message pointers { repeated outer outer = 1; } assuming you've correctly compiled this, can use protocol working outside in. is, start highest structure, pointers, , work way inner object:
pointers pointers; (int = 0; < 10; ++i) { auto outer = pointers.add_outer(); auto inner = outer->mutable_inner(); inner->set_value(std::to_string(i)); } std::stringstream stream; pointers.serializetoostream(&stream); ... pointers parsed_pointers; parsed_pointers.parsefromistream(&stream); (int = 0; < parsed_pointers.outer_size(); ++i) { std::cout << parsed_pointers.outer(i).inner().value() << std::endl; } // prints 0, 1, 2, ..., 9 on own lines it's possible start inner message, way pass ownership outer message not simple or obvious:
inner* inner = new inner(); inner->set_value("hello world"); outer outer; outer.set_allocated_inner(inner); calling method capture ownership of inner pointer shouldn't manually delete yourself.
