[mapserver-users] MS_MAXSYMBOLS

[Jan Hartmann]

> Not exactly of hotbed of advanced programming techniques, but then again


> Layers and
> such are dynamically allocated but based upon a limit. Haven't had time
> to go back and monkey with that. The limits become an issue  for maybe
> one user a year, there is a workaround and there are always more
> pressing needs. If someone would like to help in converting arrays to
> lists (layers/symbols/styles and so on) it would be welcomed.
> 


Steve, does it really have to be that complex? Couldn't you just 
reallocate a bigger bunch of memory when the maximum is reached? 
Something like


extern int MS_MAXSYMBOLS;   // in the header files
symbolObj *symbol;

int MS_MAXSYMBOLS = 64;     // in the c-file where you initialize things
symbol = malloc(MS_MAXSYMBOLS * sizeof (symbolObj));

if (numsymbols == MS_MAXSYMBOLS) { // in mapsymbol.c
     MS_MAXSYMBOLS += 64;
     symbol = realloc(symbol,MS_MAXSYMBOLS*sizeof(symbolObj));
      .... nothing to be changed further on ...
}

Realloc allocates a new block of memory and copies the contents of the 
old one to it.

Same would go for all MS_MAX... defines in map.h. Wouldn't this solve a 
lot of problems without extensive rewriting? I hate doing lists in C.

Jan

Jan Hartmann
Department of Geography
University of Amsterdam
jhart at frw.uva.nl