boost::program_options - how to handle multiple sections with the same name in INI file

c++ configuration-files ini boost-program-options
ϹοδεMεδιϲ picture ϹοδεMεδιϲ · Dec 22, 2010 · Viewed 7.1k times · Source

In a config like below; is there a way to handle individual sections.

I am looking for a way to validate individual "server" sections below, in a reliable manner.

[basic]
number_of_servers=3

[server]
ip=10.20.30.40
password=sdfslkhf    

[server]
ip=10.20.30.41
password=sdfslkhf

[server]
ip=10.20.30.42
password=sdfslkhf

[server]
password=sdfslkhf

[server]
ip=10.20.30.42

Answer

icecrime picture icecrime · Dec 22, 2010

When using boost::program_options to parse a INI file, the option names must be prefixed by their enclosing section names.

In other words, sections are part of the option 'identifier', but I don't think you have a way to identify to which section a given server.ip variable belongs (and thus, which is the associated server.password).

I think you should consider Boost.PropertyTree (which also supports INI file parsing) for this task.

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