Re: [boost] [Serialization] Pointer to const

From: Robert Ramey (ramey_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-09-09 16:45:25

Loïc Joly wrote:
> Robert Ramey a écrit :
>
>>> Of course, if I replace B const *pc by B *pc, then the code works
>>> correctly.What can I do to serialize pointers to const data ?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Or you could replace this above with:
>>            ar & const_cast<B *>(pc);
>> (or maybe const_cast<B * &>(pc)
>>
>>
> I really do not understand why I would have to do that.
>
>> But that would override the normal meaning of "const" as applied to
>> a member variable.
>>
>
> In this case, the member variable is not const. It's not like in
> http://www.boost.org/libs/serialization/doc/serialization.html#const .
> It's just a non const pointer that refers to a non const class defined
> elsewhere, but that promise not to modify that class himself.

correct.  Its a non-const pointer to a const object. But if the object is 
const then it is prohibited from being modified.  Serialization has no 
special privleges in this regard.  So loading it traps at compile time - 
just as would anyother attempt to modify the object that B is pointing to.

>>  You really have to ask yourself what you want serialize to
>> include.

>>
>>
> Could you please explain this point ? I do not understand what you
> mean.

If you want the object pointed to by pc to be modifiable by serializaltion 
then it shouldn't be const.

Robert Ramey