Serializing Enums

[Josh Mcfarlane]

What's the best way to serialize and unserialize an enumeration value?

Is there a defined size that an enumeration cannot exceed?

For example, int size may vary based on computers, so is there a set
size that I should use in a binary communication format?

Thanks,
Josh McFarlane

 

[Victor Bazarov]

What's the best way to serialize and unserialize an enumeration value?

Using your own symbolic designators.

Is there a defined size that an enumeration cannot exceed?

The largest integral type, which of course can vary on different systems.

For example, int size may vary based on computers, so is there a set
size that I should use in a binary communication format?

No.

V

 

[Josh Mcfarlane]

Using your own symbolic designators.


The largest integral type, which of course can vary on different systems.


No.

Dealing with a library that will only be used on our enumeration types,
no outside sources, would it be practical to just force enums to fit
within a long and transfer to and from the primitive type?

 

[Victor Bazarov]

Dealing with a library that will only be used on our enumeration
types, no outside sources, would it be practical to just force enums
to fit within a long and transfer to and from the primitive type?

You're still going to run into trouble if on two different systems the
size of 'long' is different, unless, of course, you're going to limit
yourself to the lower 32 bits of it.

V