TITLE: Simple symbol table mapping

PROBLEM: mikec@plaza.ds.adp.com (Mike Cavalle)

enum Symbols  {
  Mothership,
  Spacesuit
};
  
static const char* symbol_table [] = {
  "Mothership",
  "Spacesuit"
};

I've been trying to find a method for specifying the mappings more
naturally as ordered pairs. Assuming that the mappings will be done
at compile time is there a way to specify the mappings as pairs and
have the compiler/preprocessor generate the enum{} and the 
string_table{}?


RESPONSE: fjh@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fergus Henderson), 1 Mar 94

Yes, you can do it with the preprocessor.
In one file `symbols.map', put the following:

[...]

	mapping(Mothership)
	mapping(Spacesuit)
	/* etc. */

[...]

In the other file:

	#define stringize(a) #a

	enum Symbols {
		#define mapping(a) a,
		#include "symbols.map"
		#undef mapping
		LAST_SYMBOL	/* terminator */
	};

	static const char* symbol_table [] = {
		#define mapping(a) stringize(a),
		#include "symbols.map"
		#undef mapping
		NULL		/* terminator */
	};