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Module globals - How to publish a global variable from a module

Synopsis

C
 gl_global_create("#Module name|module-name::variable-name", 
  PT_built-in_type,variable-address,
  PT_SIZE,array-size,
  PT_UNITS,units,
  PT_ACCESS,access-control-flags,
  PT_DESCRIPTION,brief-description,
  NULL);
C++
 class gld_global {
   gld_global(const char *name, PROPERTYTYPE t, void *p);
 }

Description

The naming convention for module globals requires that the module name precede the global variable name separated by a double colon, as in module--name::variable-name. This allows the core to associate the global with the module. If the variable name does not include the module name, it will be treated as a core global. There is nothing to prevent module programmers for doing this, and in some cases this may be useful.

Parameters

The follow parameter may be used to define a module or class global variable.

Access control flags

This identifies how the global may be accessed by other modules and object. See PT_ACCESS for details. If omitted, the variable is assumed to be public.

Array size

Identifies the array size, which is optional. If omitted it is assumed to be 1.

Brief description

This identifies a string constant that provide a brief synopsis of the variable. This description is displayed by --modhelp and XML output.

Built-in type

This identifies what built-in type the variable is. This option is required.

Module name

This identifies the module name. The module name is optional, and when omitted causes the variable to become a core global.

Units

This identifies the units for double and complex variables. The units are optional and if omitted, the variable is considered unitless.

Variable name

This identifies the variable name and is required.

Examples

Module globals

Module globals are created whenever a module is loaded. These must be placed in the module init function to ensure that they are always created when modules are loaded.

Note
Most module implementation is a callback function table to define gl_create_global. Therefore calls to this function cannot be completed until the callback table is built using the set_callback function. See source documentation on set_callback for details.
Example (main.cpp)
 #include "gridlabd.h"
 #include "my_class.h"
 char256 my_data = "initial value";
 EXPORT CLASS *init(CALLBACKS *fntable, MODULE *module, int argc, char *[])
 {
   if (set_callback(fntable)==NULL)
   {
     errno = EINVAL;
     return NULL;
   }
   if ( gl_global_create("my_module::my_data",PT_char256,my_data,
          PT_ACCESS,PA_PUBLIC,
          PT_DESCRIPTION,"my data example",NULL)==NULL )
     throw "unable to create module global char256 my_module::my_data";  
   new my_class(module);
   return my_class::oclass;
 }

Class globals

Class global are created whenever a class is referenced. These must be placed in the class constructor, which is called only when the class is first referenced.

Note
It is unusual to have class globals because they are only created when the class is referenced, but there are cases where this may be preferred to a module global. An example would be a situation in which all object of a given class must share a variable that may be altered by the user but would not be available to the user if the class when the class is not used.
Example (my_class.cpp)
 class my_class {
 public:  my_class(MODULE *);
 private: char256 my_variable;
 };
 static char256 my_class::my_variable = "initial value";
 my_class::my_class(MODULE *module)
 {
   if ( oclass==NULL )
   {
     oclass = gld_class::create(module,"my_class",sizeof(my_class),PC_AUTOLOCK);
     if ( oclass==NULL ) throw "unable to register my_class";
     else oclass->trl = TRL_UNKNOWN;
     defaults = this;
     if ( gl_publish_variables( oclass, 
           NULL ) < 1 ) throw "unable to publish my_class properties";
   }
   else throw "invalid attempt to define class more than once";
   gld_global my_global("my_module::my_variable",PT_char256,my_variable);
   if ( !my_global.isvalid() )
     throw "unable to create class global char256 my_module::my_variable";
   memset(this,0,sizeof(my_class));
   }
 }

See also