Functions for Setting and Retrieving Values from Variant Safe Arrays | CodeGuru

Functions for Setting and Retrieving Values from Variant Safe Arrays

Here are two very easy-to-use functions for setting (FillVariant) and retrieving (GetVariant) values from a variant safe array. All of the instructions that you’ll need to use these functions can be found in the comments below. Simply copy and paste the code from this article into your files and follow these instructions. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // Kishore:- […]

Written By
CodeGuru Staff
CodeGuru Staff
Jan 30, 2000
1 minute read
CodeGuru content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Here are two very easy-to-use functions for setting (FillVariant) and
retrieving (GetVariant) values
from a variant safe array. All of the instructions that you’ll need to use these
functions can be found in the comments below. Simply copy and paste the code
from this article into your files and follow these instructions.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Kishore:-
// include this pice of code in .h file.
// function for putting values to VARIANT->SAFEARRAY
// function for getting values from VARIANT->SAFEARRAY
//
// @1 Type of Array
// @2 Actual type contained in the variant
// @3 Variant to read or write
// @4 Actual array to read or write
// @5 VT_BSTR or VT_DATE ...  (FillVariant)
// Usage:-
// BSTRArray someThing; someThing.Add(bstr);
// FillVariant<BSTRArray,BSTR>(&toVariant,someThing,VT_BSTR);
//
// _BSTR_TArray someThing;
// GetVariant<_BSTR_TArray,BSTR>(fromVariant,someThing);
// _bstr_t _bstr=someThing.GetSize(),GetAt(),[n]
//
// GetVariant<DATEArray,DATE>(fromVariant,dt);
// GetVariant<OLEDATETIMEArray,DATE>(fromVariant,dt);
// OleDateTime x=dt.GetAt(n) ...GetSize(),[],.....
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

#include <afxtempl.h>

typedef CArray<BSTR,BSTR> BSTRArray;
typedef CArray<DATE,DATE> DATEArray;
typedef CArray<_bstr_t,_bstr_t> _BSTR_TArray;
typedef CArray<COleDateTime,COleDateTime> OLEDATETIMEArray;
typedef CArray<DWORD,DWORD> DWORDArray;

template <class T,class T1>
void FillVariant(VARIANT* pVariant, T& arrySrc,int iType)
{
 ASSERT(NULL!=pVariant);
 VariantInit(pVariant);
 int iMax = arrySrc.GetSize();

 SAFEARRAY * pSafeArray;
 SAFEARRAYBOUND aDim[1];
 aDim[0].lLbound = 0;
 aDim[0].cElements = iMax;

 pVariant->vt = VT_ARRAY | iType;

 pSafeArray = SafeArrayCreate(iType, 1, aDim);

 T1* dwArray = NULL;
 SafeArrayAccessData(pSafeArray, (void**)&dwArray);

 for(int nCount = 0; nCount < iMax ; nCount++)
 {
  dwArray[nCount] = (T1)arrySrc[nCount];
 }
 SafeArrayUnaccessData(pSafeArray);
 pVariant->parray = pSafeArray;
}

template <class T,class T1>
void GetVariant(VARIANT variant, T& arrySrc)
{
 long lStartBound = 0;
 long lEndBound = 0;

 SAFEARRAY* pSafeArray  = variant.parray;
 ASSERT(NULL!=pSafeArray);
 SafeArrayGetLBound(pSafeArray, 1, &lStartBound);
 SafeArrayGetUBound(pSafeArray, 1, &lEndBound);

 T1* arrayAccess = NULL;
 SafeArrayAccessData(pSafeArray, (void**)&arrayAccess);

 for(int iIndex = lStartBound; iIndex <= lEndBound; iIndex ++)
 {
  arrySrc.Add((T1)arrayAccess[iIndex]);
 }
 SafeArrayDestroy(pSafeArray);
 SafeArrayUnaccessData(pSafeArray);
}
CodeGuru Logo

CodeGuru covers topics related to Microsoft-related software development, mobile development, database management, and web application programming. In addition to tutorials and how-tos that teach programmers how to code in Microsoft-related languages and frameworks like C# and .Net, we also publish articles on software development tools, the latest in developer news, and advice for project managers. Cloud services such as Microsoft Azure and database options including SQL Server and MSSQL are also frequently covered.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.