Boost + Python C/API: Mixing python return types with boost return types

[Steve Knight]

Hello,

I'm new to Boost & Python and I'm diving straight in by trying to
write an extension module to a third party library. Foolishness
probably, but I don't have much choice!

My question is how can I write a C++ method that will either return a
boost wrapped C++ class or a Python object type depending on some
internal value?

So I want to do something like:

PyObject* Variant::getValue() {

switch (type) {
case INT:
return Py_BuildValue("i", union.int);
break;
case SOMECLASS:
??????
}
}

But I can't work out how to get my switch to construct and return my
boost C++ wrapped object in this scheme. I'm getting round it by:

SomeClass Variant::getSomeClass() {
SomeClass s(*reinterpret_cast<SomeClass*>(union.p_void));
return s;
}

But it seems a bit nasty. Any ideas?

[Mike Rovner]

Steve Knight wrote:

It's better ask boost.python related questions in comp.lang.python.c++
group/list.

I'm new to Boost & Python and I'm diving straight in by trying to
write an extension module to a third party library. Foolishness
probably, but I don't have much choice!
Why, it's usually fun and rewarding.
My question is how can I write a C++ method that will either return a
boost wrapped C++ class or a Python object type depending on some
internal value?
In either case you return a python object, that is what matters.
So I want to do something like:

PyObject* Variant::getValue() {
python::object Variant::getValue() {

switch (type) {
case INT:
return Py_BuildValue("i", union.int);
return python::object(union.int);
break;
case SOMECLASS:
return python::object(*union.p_someclass);
??????
}
}

But I can't work out how to get my switch to construct and return my
boost C++ wrapped object in this scheme. I'm getting round it by:

SomeClass Variant::getSomeClass() {
SomeClass s(*reinterpret_cast<SomeClass*>(union.p_void));
return s;
}

But it seems a bit nasty. Any ideas?

In case you keep void pointer in union you'll need that nastiness anyway.
Why can't you keep a pointer to someclass in the union instead?

BTW, more complete example of the code (better working one) will definitely
clarify communications.

HTH,
Mike

[Steve Knight]

"Mike Rovner" <mi**@nospam.com> wrote in message news:<ma*********************************@python.o rg>...

Steve Knight wrote:

It's better ask boost.python related questions in comp.lang.python.c++
group/list.
Ahh, yes. I'll remember to do that next time.

I'm new to Boost & Python and I'm diving straight in by trying to
write an extension module to a third party library. Foolishness
probably, but I don't have much choice!

Why, it's usually fun and rewarding.

Oh, it's fun alright it's just a tricky place to start when you've
never really written a line of Python before!!

Your suggestions work a treat this is what I was looking for but I
couldn't really see how to do it from the tutorials and Wikis.
Must've missed something somewhere.

Thanks alot for your help,

Steve