The property .symbol produces a text string corresponding
to the identifier it's applied to:

   int foo = 3;

   printf( "%s = %d\n", foo.symbol, foo );  // print "foo = 3"

This is purely a compile time operation, generating string
representations only on demand.

This kind of thing is indispendable for debugging, and
valuable in general use as well. IMO, it offers a slight
improvement on the "Arrays that parallel an enum"
suggestion in:

 http://www.digitalmars.com/d/ctod.html#arrayenum

-RB

"Russell Borogove" <kaleja@estarcion.com> wrote in message news:3CE82DF2.70608@estarcion.com...
> The property .symbol produces a text string corresponding to the identifier it's applied to:
>
>     int foo = 3;
>
>     printf( "%s = %d\n", foo.symbol, foo );  // print "foo = 3"
>
> This is purely a compile time operation, generating string representations only on demand.

I might be missing something, but what is the advantage over:

   printf( "%s = %d\n", "foo", foo );  // print "foo = 3"

Walter wrote:

> "Russell Borogove" <kaleja@estarcion.com> wrote in message news:3CE82DF2.70608@estarcion.com...
> > The property .symbol produces a text string corresponding to the identifier it's applied to:
> >
> >     int foo = 3;
> >
> >     printf( "%s = %d\n", foo.symbol, foo );  // print "foo = 3"
> >
> > This is purely a compile time operation, generating string representations only on demand.
>
> I might be missing something, but what is the advantage over:
>
>    printf( "%s = %d\n", "foo", foo );  // print "foo = 3"

I suppose you could write a generic debug function i.e.

void debug(int var)
{
  printf("%s = %d\n", var.symbol, var);
}

debug(foo);

There are probably a lot of other uses, I agree that it doesn't look too
helpful at first, but there
are probably lots of other tricks you could do with it. (Just as long as
it's read only!!)
-Jon

"Jonathan Andrew" <jon@ece.arizona.edu> wrote in message news:3CE921D7.CE5E4334@ece.arizona.edu...

> I suppose you could write a generic debug function i.e.
>
> void debug(int var)
> {
>   printf("%s = %d\n", var.symbol, var);
> }
>
> debug(foo);

Being resolved at compile time, it'd write "var = 666" (since
var.symbol would probably give "var").

"Pavel Minayev" <evilone@omen.ru> wrote in message news:acbj3h$1263$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> "Jonathan Andrew" <jon@ece.arizona.edu> wrote in message news:3CE921D7.CE5E4334@ece.arizona.edu...
>
> > I suppose you could write a generic debug function i.e.
> >
> > void debug(int var)
> > {
> >   printf("%s = %d\n", var.symbol, var);
> > }
> >
> > debug(foo);
>
> Being resolved at compile time, it'd write "var = 666" (since
> var.symbol would probably give "var").
>


class Foo
{
  int i;
}

class Bar: public Foo
{
}

Foo obj = new Bar;
obj.i = 3;
printf( "%s == %d\n", obj.symbol, obj.i);

// prints "Bar == 3"


So maybe slightly more helpfull than you might think
at first...

--
Stijn
OddesE_XYZ@hotmail.com
http://OddesE.cjb.net
_________________________________________________
Remove _XYZ from my address when replying by mail

"OddesE" <OddesE_XYZ@hotmail.com> wrote in news:acboqg$17gb$1 @digitaldaemon.com:

> "Pavel Minayev" <evilone@omen.ru> wrote in message news:acbj3h$1263$1@digitaldaemon.com...
>> "Jonathan Andrew" <jon@ece.arizona.edu> wrote in message
> 
> Foo obj = new Bar;
> obj.i = 3;
> printf( "%s == %d\n", obj.symbol, obj.i);
> 
> // prints "Bar == 3"
> 
> 

obj.classinfo.name

"OddesE" <OddesE_XYZ@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:acboqg$17gb$1@digitaldaemon.com...

> class Foo
> {
>   int i;
> }
>
> class Bar: public Foo
> {
> }
>
> Foo obj = new Bar;
> obj.i = 3;
> printf( "%s == %d\n", obj.symbol, obj.i);
>
> // prints "Bar == 3"

Actually, it'd print "obj" (it's the name of the _symbol_,
and not its type).

For typename, use classinfo.name.

So does obj.symbol give its type name, or its value's name?  Variable name or type name?  Or perhaps both i.e. "Bar[]* foo"

Sean

"OddesE" <OddesE_XYZ@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:acboqg$17gb$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> "Pavel Minayev" <evilone@omen.ru> wrote in message news:acbj3h$1263$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> > "Jonathan Andrew" <jon@ece.arizona.edu> wrote in message news:3CE921D7.CE5E4334@ece.arizona.edu...
> >
> > > I suppose you could write a generic debug function i.e.
> > >
> > > void debug(int var)
> > > {
> > >   printf("%s = %d\n", var.symbol, var);
> > > }
> > >
> > > debug(foo);
> >
> > Being resolved at compile time, it'd write "var = 666" (since
> > var.symbol would probably give "var").
> >
>
>
> class Foo
> {
>   int i;
> }
>
> class Bar: public Foo
> {
> }
>
> Foo obj = new Bar;
> obj.i = 3;
> printf( "%s == %d\n", obj.symbol, obj.i);
>
> // prints "Bar == 3"
>
>
> So maybe slightly more helpfull than you might think
> at first...

"Pavel Minayev" <evilone@omen.ru> wrote in message news:accfor$1rop$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> "OddesE" <OddesE_XYZ@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:acboqg$17gb$1@digitaldaemon.com...
>
> > class Foo
> > {
> >   int i;
> > }
> >
> > class Bar: public Foo
> > {
> > }
> >
> > Foo obj = new Bar;
> > obj.i = 3;
> > printf( "%s == %d\n", obj.symbol, obj.i);
> >
> > // prints "Bar == 3"
>
> Actually, it'd print "obj" (it's the name of the _symbol_,
> and not its type).
>
> For typename, use classinfo.name.
>



You are right ofcourse!
Sorry I was confused.


--
Stijn
OddesE_XYZ@hotmail.com
http://OddesE.cjb.net
_________________________________________________
Remove _XYZ from my address when replying by mail

Pavel Minayev wrote:

> "Jonathan Andrew" <jon@ece.arizona.edu> wrote in message news:3CE921D7.CE5E4334@ece.arizona.edu...
>
> > I suppose you could write a generic debug function i.e.
> >
> > void debug(int var)
> > {
> >   printf("%s = %d\n", var.symbol, var);
> > }
> >
> > debug(foo);
>
> Being resolved at compile time, it'd write "var = 666" (since
> var.symbol would probably give "var").

Hmm, good point.
 -Jon