Expandable, Data Type-Neutral Buffer Class
Posted
by Abrar Ahmad
on February 11th, 2000
CBuffer is an expandable buffer class which can expand when needed and allows insertion of data and many operation on buffer
Using the CBuffer Class
In order to use the class, simply do the following. (Remember that if any of this is unclear, I have included a demo application that will hopefully clear up any misunderstandings.- Instantiate the CBuffer object
- Call the CBuffer Init method
- Insert data into the buffer by using any of the following mechanisms:
int CBuffer::PutData(BYTE *pBuff)
void CBuffer::operator+=(BYTE *pBuff)
int CBuffer::InserData(BYTE * pBuff,int nOffset)
- Retrieve data from the buffer by calling any of the following methods:
int CBuffer::GetData(BYTE * pBuff,int nIndex)
BYTE *CBuffer::GetPointer(int nIndex) const
- Use any of the following helper methods
m_Buffer.GetSize();
m_Buffer.GetTotalElements();
m_Buffer.GetStructureSize();
m_Buffer.GetFreeSp();
m_Buffer.GetFreeStSp();
CBuffer:Init(int nSizeOfBuffer, int nNbrOfElements, int nIncrementalGrowthValue)
Header File (lists available CBuffer methods)
#pragma once
class CBuffer
{
public:
CBuffer();
virtual ~CBuffer();
int Init(int,int,int);
int PutData(BYTE*);
void operator+=(BYTE *);
int InserData(BYTE*,int);
int GetData(BYTE*,int);
int ExpandBuff(int);
int GetSize();
int GetTotalElements();
int GetStructureSize();
int GetFreeSp();
int GetFreeStSp();
BYTE *GetPointer(int nIndex)const;
BYTE *CBuffer::operator[](int nIndex)const;
private:
BYTE *m_pBuff;
int m_nStructSize;
int m_nTotal;
int m_nOffset;
int m_nSize;
int m_nStructOffset;
int m_nIncerment;
};

Comments
stl vector
Posted by Legacy on 01/28/2002 12:00amOriginally posted by: stuart
Why not use an STL vector<BYTE> and be done with it? What advantage does CBuffer add?
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CByteArray alternative
Posted by Legacy on 02/14/2000 12:00amOriginally posted by: Adrian Stanley
I can't see that this offers much more than the existing MFC class CByteArray, which also automatically grows, and has an Append method for adding new data to the end.
For 32 bit programs not using MFC, I'd suggest using the STL containers.
Where CBuffer would be useful is in non MFC 16 bit code, but you'd have to remove all the dependencies on MFC first. This won't be that difficult, as it is mainly the TRACE and ASSERT macros. You might also consider replacing Win32 APIs (e.g., ZeroMemory) with the CRT equivalents (e.g., memset), then you'd have a truly portable class.
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