boost::property_tree and xml config example

config.xml

<coupling>
  <P algorithm="serial">
      <M name="flow1" type="GROUNDWATER_FLOW" />
      <P algorithm="parallel">
        <M name="compoundA" type="MASS_TRANSPORT" />
        <M name="compoundB" type="MASS_TRANSPORT" />
      </P>
   </P>
</coupling>

console

# g++ --std=c++11 -I /usr/include/boost/ x.cpp && ./a.out
coupling

name
type

M
	compoundA
	MASS_TRANSPORT
M
	compoundB
	MASS_TRANSPORT

x.cpp

#include <tuple>
#include <boost/property_tree/ptree.hpp>
#include <boost/property_tree/xml_parser.hpp>

int main(void)
{
    const std::string filename = "config.xml";

    // Create an empty property tree object
    using boost::property_tree::ptree;
    ptree pt;

    read_xml(filename, pt);

    for(const ptree::value_type &v : pt)
    {
        std::cout << v.first << std::endl;
    }
    std::cout << std::endl;

    for(const ptree::value_type &v : pt.get_child("coupling.P.P.M.<xmlattr>"))
    {
        std::cout << v.first << std::endl;
    }
    std::cout << std::endl;

    for(const auto& i : pt.get_child("coupling.P.P"))
    {
        std::string name;
        ptree sub_pt;
        std::tie(name, sub_pt) = i;

        if (name != "M")
            continue;
        std::cout << name << std::endl;
        std::cout << "\t" << sub_pt.get<std::string>("<xmlattr>.name") << std::endl;
        std::cout << "\t" << sub_pt.get<std::string>("<xmlattr>.type") << std::endl;
    }
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

Hey man this is like the best boost C++ xml parser example I've come across.

pt.get_child("coupling.P.P.M.") this line tottaly explained everything to me.

Thanks so much!

I agree.