4 /*****************************************************************************\
7 * Author : Chris Koeritz *
9 *******************************************************************************
10 * Copyright (c) 1992-$now By Author. This program is free software; you can *
11 * redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public *
12 * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of *
13 * the License or (at your option) any later version. This is online at: *
14 * http://www.fsf.org/copyleft/gpl.html *
15 * Please send any updates to: fred@gruntose.com *
16 \*****************************************************************************/
18 #include <basis/definitions.h>
23 class node_link_amorph;
25 //! An object representing the interstitial cell in most linked data structures.
27 The node is intended as an extensible base class that provides general
28 connectivity support. Nodes can be connected to each other in
29 arbitrary ways, but often a derived data type provides more structured
30 organization. When a node's link is zapped, only the connection is
31 cut; no destruction is performed.
33 Examples: A linked list can be represented as a node with one link that
34 connects to the succeeding item in the list. A doubly linked list can
35 be represented by a node with two links; one to the previous node and
36 the other to the next node. The most general structure might be an
37 arbitrary graph that can connect nodes to any number of other nodes.
40 class node : public virtual basis::root_object
43 node(int number_of_links = 0);
44 //!< the constructor provides for "number_of_links" links initially.
45 /*!< the table below gives some common numbers for links for a variety of
46 data structures: @code
48 Links Data Structure Purpose of Link(s)
49 ------ ------------------------- ----------------------------------
50 1 singly linked list points to next node in list
51 2 doubly linked list one to previous node, one to next
52 2 binary tree point to the two children
53 n n-ary tree point to the n children
54 n+1 n-ary doubly linked tree point to n children and 1 parent
55 m m-ary graph node point to m relatives.
59 //!< the destructor simply invalidates the node.
60 /*!< this does not rearrange the links as would be appropriate for a
61 data structure in which only the node to be destroyed is being eliminated.
62 policies regarding the correct management of the links must be made in
63 objects derived from node. */
66 //!< Returns the number of links the node currently holds.
68 void set_link(int link_number, node *new_link);
69 //!< Connects the node "new_link" to this node.
70 /*!< the previous link is lost, but not modified in any way. the address
71 of the new link is used directly--no copy of the node is made. setting a
72 link to a null node pointer clears that link. */
74 node *get_link(int link_number) const;
75 //!< Returns the node that is connected to the specified "link_number".
76 /*!< if the link is not set, then NULL_POINTER is returned. */
78 void zap_link(int link_number);
79 //!< the specified link is removed from the node.
81 void insert_link(int where, node *to_add = NULL_POINTER);
82 //!< adds a new link prior to the position specified in "where".
83 /*!< thus a "where" value of less than or equal to zero will add a new
84 link as the first element. a "where" value greater than or equal to
85 links() will add a new link after the last element. the node "to_add"
86 will be stored in the new link. */
88 int which(node *to_find) const;
89 //!< locates the index where "to_find" lives in our list of links.
90 /*!< returns the link number for a particular node that is supposedly
91 connected to this node or common::NOT_FOUND if the node is not one
95 node_link_amorph *_links; //!< the list of connections to other nodes.
97 void set_empty(int link_number);
98 //!< clears the link number specified.
102 node &operator =(const node &);
107 //! the basket class holds an object and supports connecting them as nodes.
109 the templated object is required to provide both a default constructor
110 and a copy constructor.
113 template <class contents>
114 class basket : public node
117 basket(int links, const contents &to_store = contents())
118 : node(links), _storage(to_store) {}
120 basket(const basket &to_copy) { *this = to_copy; }
122 basket &operator = (const contents &to_copy)
123 { if (&to_copy != this) _storage = to_copy; return *this; }
125 const contents &stored() const { return _storage; }
126 //!< allows a peek at the stored object.
127 contents &stored() { return _storage; }
128 //!< provides access to the stored object.