[boost] Re: another program option feature request

From: Vladimir Prus (ghost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-06-09 00:08:37

Hi Pavol,

> I have a request regarding config file support in the program option
> library. Currently when the parser encounters an unknown option in the
> config file, parsing is stopped with an exception.
> Together with fixed option definition, this feature disables a possibility
> to have an arbitrary options in the config file, whose exact format is
> not know prior to parsing.
> 
> An example:
> 
> I'd like to have something like this in the config file
> 
> <conf-file>
> 
> [module]
> 
> file-count = 3
> 
> file-name1 = 001.aaa
> file-name2 = 002.aaa
> file-name3 = 003.aaa
> 
> </conf-file>
> 
> 
> where the number of file-name* lines is not know before parsing, and it is
> up to user to specify as many as she wants, or the format and number of
> options is dependant on some other option ( i.e. file-count )
> 
> I think, that it would be nice to be able to force the parser to accept
> also the options not described in the option_descriptions and have a way
> to work with them.

In fact, there's a (undocumented) feature which applies to your case:

  desc.add_options()
        ("file-name*", ....)

After this, every option starting with "file-name" will be accepted. Is this
appropriate for your use case?

- Volodya