(use-vector-set-attributes)=

# Use C++ `std::vector` to set attributes

```{tags} audience:developers, lang:c++
```

This page contains examples on how to use the C++ vector class to set and get attribute
values on the server side.

:::{warning}
Tango does not create copies of data for optimization reasons and because of this all of the attribute
`set_value()` methods only take pointers as an input. If you are going to
use C++ vectors you should be aware of the fact that you are going to be
copying the data, which may slow down the execution time when working with
large amounts of data.
:::

The `std::vector` class takes care of the memory in its entries so it is mandatory to leave the optional
`release` parameter of `Attribute::set_value` set to the default of `false`.

Below are two examples of setting data for a read attribute using a vector of shorts and
a vector of strings:

```{code-block} cpp
:linenos: true

void MyClass::read_spectrum(Tango::Attribute &attr)
{
  DEBUG_STREAM << "MyClass::read_Spectrum(Tango::Attribute &attr) entering... "<< std::endl;
  /*----- PROTECTED REGION ID(MyClass::read_Spectrum) ENABLED START -----*/

  std::vector<Tango::DevShort> val;
  vec.emplace_back(1);
  vec.emplace_back(2);
  vec.emplace_back(3);

  attr.set_value(val.data(), val.size());

  /*----- PROTECTED REGION END -----*/ // MyClass::read_Spectrum
}
```

```{code-block} cpp
:linenos: true

void MyClass::read_string_spectrum(Tango::Attribute &attr)
{
  DEBUG_STREAM << "MyClass::read_StringSpectrum(Tango::Attribute &attr) entering... "<< std::endl;
  /*----- PROTECTED REGION ID(MyClass::read_StringSpectrum) ENABLED START -----*/

  std::vector<std::string> vec;
  vec.emplace_back("Hello");
  vec.emplace_back("foggy");
  vec.emplace_back("garden!");

  attr.set_value(vec.data(), vec.size());

  /*----- PROTECTED REGION END -----*/ // MyClass::read_StringSpectrum
}
```

Below is an example for a writeable attribute using a vector of doubles:


```{code-block} cpp
:linenos: true
void MyClass::write_double_spectrum(Tango::WAttribute &attr)
{
  DEBUG_STREAM << "MyClass::write_double_spectrum(Tango::WAttribute &attr) entering... " << std::endl;
  // Retrieve number of write values
  int w_length = attr.get_write_value_length();

  // Retrieve pointer on write values (Do not delete !)
  const Tango::DevDouble  *w_val;
  attr.get_write_value(w_val);
  /*----- PROTECTED REGION ID(MyClass::write_double_spectrum) ENABLED START -----*/

  // not strictly needed, but makes the code easier to grasp
  if(w_length == 0)
  {
    return;
  }

  std::vector<double> vec;
  vec.assign(w_val, w_val + w_length);

  /*----- PROTECTED REGION END -----*/ // MyClass::write_double_spectrum
}
```