anyoption.cpp

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/*
 * AnyOption 1.3  
 *
 * kishan at hackorama dot com  www.hackorama.com JULY 2001 
 *
 * + Acts as a common facade class for reading 
 *   commandline options as well as options from
 *   an optionfile with delimited type value pairs 
 *
 * + Handles the POSIX style single character options ( -w )
 *   as well as the newer GNU long options ( --width )
 * 
 * + The option file assumes the traditional format of
 *   first character based comment lines and type value
 *   pairs with a delimiter , and flags which are not pairs
 * 
 *      # this is a coment
 *      # next line is an option value pair
 *      width : 100
 *      # next line is a flag 
 *      noimages   
 * 
 * + Supports printing out Help and Usage  
 * 
 * + Why not just use getopt() ? 
 *
 *   getopt() Its a POSIX standard not part of ANSI-C. 
 *   So it may not be available on platforms like Windows.
 *
 * + Why it is so long ?
 *
 *   The actual code which does command line parsing 
 *   and option file parsing are done in  few methods. 
 *   Most of the extra code are for providing a flexible
 *   common public interface to both a resourcefile and
 *   and command line supporting POSIX style and  
 *   GNU long option as well as mixing of both. 
 * 
 * + Please see "anyoption.h" for public method descriptions 
 *   
 */

/* Updated Auguest 2004 
 * Fix from  Michael D Peters (mpeters at sandia.gov) 
 * to remove static local variables, allowing multiple instantiations 
 * of the reader (for using multiple configuration files).  There is
 * an error in the destructor when using multiple instances, so you
 * cannot delete your objects (it will crash), but not calling the 
 * destructor only introduces a small memory leak, so I
 * have not bothered tracking it down.
 *
 * Also updated to use modern C++ style headers, rather than
 * depricated iostream.h (it was causing my compiler problems)
*/

/* 
 * Updated September 2006  
 * Fix from Boyan Asenov for a bug in mixing up option indexes 
 * leading to exception when mixing different options types
 */

#include "anyoption.h"
#include <cstring>

AnyOption::AnyOption()
{
    init();
}

AnyOption::AnyOption(int maxopt)
{
    init( maxopt , maxopt );
}

AnyOption::AnyOption(int maxopt, int maxcharopt)
{
    init( maxopt , maxcharopt );
}

AnyOption::~AnyOption()
{
    if( mem_allocated )
        cleanup();
}

void
AnyOption::init()
{
    init( DEFAULT_MAXOPTS , DEFAULT_MAXOPTS );
}

void
AnyOption::init(int maxopt, int maxcharopt )
{

    max_options     = maxopt;
    max_char_options = maxcharopt;
    max_usage_lines = DEFAULT_MAXUSAGE;
    usage_lines = 0 ;
    argc        = 0;
    argv        = NULL;
    posix_style = true;
    verbose     = false;
    filename    = NULL;
    appname     = NULL; 
    option_counter  = 0;
    optchar_counter = 0;
    new_argv    = NULL;
    new_argc    = 0 ;
    max_legal_args  = 0 ;
    command_set     = false;
    file_set    = false;
    values      = NULL; 
    g_value_counter = 0;
    mem_allocated   = false;
    command_set     = false;
    file_set    = false;
    opt_prefix_char     = '-';
    file_delimiter_char = ':';
    file_comment_char   = '#';
    equalsign   = '=';
    comment       = '#' ;
    delimiter     = ':' ;
    endofline     = '\n';
    whitespace    = ' ' ;
    nullterminate = '\0';
    set = false;
    once = true;
    hasoptions = false;
    autousage = false;

    strcpy( long_opt_prefix , "--" );

    if( alloc() == false ){
        cout << endl << "OPTIONS ERROR : Failed allocating memory" ;
        cout << endl ;
        cout << "Exiting." << endl ;
        exit (0);
    }
}

bool
AnyOption::alloc()
{
    int i = 0 ;
    int size = 0 ;

    if( mem_allocated )
        return true;

    size = (max_options+1) * sizeof(const char*);
    options = (const char**)malloc( size ); 
    optiontype = (int*) malloc( (max_options+1)*sizeof(int) );  
    optionindex = (int*) malloc( (max_options+1)*sizeof(int) ); 
    if( options == NULL || optiontype == NULL || optionindex == NULL )
        return false;
    else
        mem_allocated  = true;
    for( i = 0 ; i < max_options ; i++ ){
        options[i] = NULL;
        optiontype[i] = 0 ;
        optionindex[i] = -1 ;
    }
    optionchars = (char*) malloc( (max_char_options+1)*sizeof(char) );
    optchartype = (int*) malloc( (max_char_options+1)*sizeof(int) );    
    optcharindex = (int*) malloc( (max_char_options+1)*sizeof(int) );   
    if( optionchars == NULL || 
            optchartype == NULL || 
            optcharindex == NULL )
        {
        mem_allocated = false;
        return false;
    }
    for( i = 0 ; i < max_char_options ; i++ ){
        optionchars[i] = '0';
        optchartype[i] = 0 ;
        optcharindex[i] = -1 ;
    }

    size = (max_usage_lines+1) * sizeof(const char*) ;
    usage = (const char**) malloc( size );

    if( usage == NULL  ){
        mem_allocated = false;
        return false;
    }
    for( i = 0 ; i < max_usage_lines ; i++ )
        usage[i] = NULL;

    return true;
}

bool
AnyOption::doubleOptStorage()
{
    options = (const char**)realloc( options,  
            ((2*max_options)+1) * sizeof( const char*) );
    optiontype = (int*) realloc(  optiontype ,  
            ((2 * max_options)+1)* sizeof(int) );   
    optionindex = (int*) realloc(  optionindex,  
            ((2 * max_options)+1) * sizeof(int) );  
    if( options == NULL || optiontype == NULL || optionindex == NULL )
        return false;
    /* init new storage */
    for( int i = max_options ; i < 2*max_options ; i++ ){
        options[i] = NULL;
        optiontype[i] = 0 ;
        optionindex[i] = -1 ;
    }
    max_options = 2 * max_options ;
    return true;
}

bool
AnyOption::doubleCharStorage()
{
    optionchars = (char*) realloc( optionchars,  
            ((2*max_char_options)+1)*sizeof(char) );
    optchartype = (int*) realloc( optchartype,  
            ((2*max_char_options)+1)*sizeof(int) ); 
    optcharindex = (int*) realloc( optcharindex,  
            ((2*max_char_options)+1)*sizeof(int) ); 
    if( optionchars == NULL || 
        optchartype == NULL || 
        optcharindex == NULL )
        return false;
    /* init new storage */
    for( int i = max_char_options ; i < 2*max_char_options ; i++ ){
        optionchars[i] = '0';
        optchartype[i] = 0 ;
        optcharindex[i] = -1 ;
    }
    max_char_options = 2 * max_char_options;    
    return true;
}

bool
AnyOption::doubleUsageStorage()
{
    usage = (const char**)realloc( usage,  
            ((2*max_usage_lines)+1) * sizeof( const char*) );
    if ( usage == NULL )
        return false;
    for( int i = max_usage_lines ; i < 2*max_usage_lines ; i++ )
        usage[i] = NULL;
    max_usage_lines = 2 * max_usage_lines ;
    return true;

}


void
AnyOption::cleanup()
{
    free (options);
    free (optiontype);
    free (optionindex); 
    free (optionchars);
    free (optchartype);
    free (optcharindex);
    free (usage);
    if( values != NULL )
        free (values);
    if( new_argv != NULL )
        free (new_argv);
}

void
AnyOption::setCommandPrefixChar( char _prefix )
{
    opt_prefix_char = _prefix;
}

void
AnyOption::setCommandLongPrefix( char *_prefix )
{
    if( strlen( _prefix ) > MAX_LONG_PREFIX_LENGTH ){
        *( _prefix + MAX_LONG_PREFIX_LENGTH ) = '\0'; 
    }

    strcpy (long_opt_prefix,  _prefix);
}

void
AnyOption::setFileCommentChar( char _comment )
{
    file_delimiter_char = _comment;
}


void
AnyOption::setFileDelimiterChar( char _delimiter )
{
    file_comment_char = _delimiter ;
}

bool
AnyOption::CommandSet()
{
    return( command_set );
}

bool
AnyOption::FileSet()
{
    return( file_set );
}

void
AnyOption::noPOSIX()
{
    posix_style = false;
}

bool
AnyOption::POSIX()
{
    return posix_style;
}


void
AnyOption::setVerbose()
{
    verbose = true ;
}

void
AnyOption::printVerbose()
{
    if( verbose )
        cout << endl  ;
}
void
AnyOption::printVerbose( const char *msg )
{
    if( verbose )
        cout << msg  ;
}

void
AnyOption::printVerbose( char *msg )
{
    if( verbose )
        cout << msg  ;
}

void
AnyOption::printVerbose( char ch )
{
    if( verbose )
        cout << ch ;
}

bool
AnyOption::hasOptions()
{
    return hasoptions;
}

void
AnyOption::autoUsagePrint(bool _autousage)
{
    autousage = _autousage;
}

void
AnyOption::useCommandArgs( int _argc, char **_argv )
{
    argc = _argc;
    argv = _argv;
    command_set = true;
    appname = argv[0];
    if(argc > 1) hasoptions = true;
}

void
AnyOption::useFiileName( const char *_filename )
{
    filename = _filename;
    file_set = true;
}

/*
 * set methods for options 
 */

void
AnyOption::setCommandOption( const char *opt )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMAND_OPT );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setCommandOption( char opt )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMAND_OPT );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setCommandOption( const char *opt , char optchar )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMAND_OPT );
    addOption( optchar , COMMAND_OPT );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setCommandFlag( const char *opt )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMAND_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setCommandFlag( char opt )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMAND_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setCommandFlag( const char *opt , char optchar )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMAND_FLAG );
    addOption( optchar , COMMAND_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFileOption( const char *opt )
{
    addOption( opt , FILE_OPT );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFileOption( char opt )
{
    addOption( opt , FILE_OPT );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFileOption( const char *opt , char optchar )
{
    addOption( opt , FILE_OPT );
    addOption( optchar, FILE_OPT  );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFileFlag( const char *opt )
{
    addOption( opt , FILE_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFileFlag( char opt )
{
    addOption( opt , FILE_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFileFlag( const char *opt , char optchar )
{
    addOption( opt , FILE_FLAG );
    addOption( optchar , FILE_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setOption( const char *opt )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMON_OPT );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setOption( char opt )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMON_OPT );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setOption( const char *opt , char optchar )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMON_OPT );
    addOption( optchar , COMMON_OPT );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFlag( const char *opt )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMON_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFlag( const char opt )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMON_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::setFlag( const char *opt , char optchar )
{
    addOption( opt , COMMON_FLAG );
    addOption( optchar , COMMON_FLAG );
    g_value_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::addOption( const char *opt, int type )
{
    if( option_counter >= max_options ){
        if( doubleOptStorage() == false ){
            addOptionError( opt );
            return;
        }
    }
    options[ option_counter ] = opt ;
    optiontype[ option_counter ] =  type ;
    optionindex[ option_counter ] = g_value_counter; 
    option_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::addOption( char opt, int type )
{
    if( !POSIX() ){
        printVerbose("Ignoring the option character \"");
        printVerbose(  opt );
        printVerbose( "\" ( POSIX options are turned off )" );
        printVerbose();
        return;
    }


    if( optchar_counter >= max_char_options ){
        if( doubleCharStorage() == false ){
            addOptionError( opt );
            return;
        }
    }
    optionchars[ optchar_counter ] =  opt ;
    optchartype[ optchar_counter ] =  type ;
    optcharindex[ optchar_counter ] = g_value_counter; 
    optchar_counter++;
}

void
AnyOption::addOptionError( const char *opt )
{
    cout << endl ;
    cout << "OPTIONS ERROR : Failed allocating extra memory " << endl ;
    cout << "While adding the option : \""<< opt << "\"" << endl;
    cout << "Exiting." << endl ;
    cout << endl ;
    exit(0);
}

void
AnyOption::addOptionError( char opt )
{
    cout << endl ;
    cout << "OPTIONS ERROR : Failed allocating extra memory " << endl ;
    cout << "While adding the option: \""<< opt << "\"" << endl;
    cout << "Exiting." << endl ;
    cout << endl ;
    exit(0);
}

void
AnyOption::processOptions()
{
    if( ! valueStoreOK() )
        return;
}

void 
AnyOption::processCommandArgs(int max_args)
{
    max_legal_args = max_args;
    processCommandArgs();
}
 
void
AnyOption::processCommandArgs( int _argc, char **_argv, int max_args )
{
    max_legal_args = max_args;
    processCommandArgs(  _argc, _argv );
}

void
AnyOption::processCommandArgs( int _argc, char **_argv )
{
    useCommandArgs( _argc, _argv );
    processCommandArgs();
}

void
AnyOption::processCommandArgs()
{
    if( ! ( valueStoreOK() && CommandSet() )  )
       return;
       
    if( max_legal_args == 0 )
        max_legal_args = argc;
    new_argv = (int*) malloc( (max_legal_args+1) * sizeof(int) );
    for( int i = 1 ; i < argc ; i++ ){/* ignore first argv */
        if(  argv[i][0] == long_opt_prefix[0] && 
                     argv[i][1] == long_opt_prefix[1] ) { /* long GNU option */
            int match_at = parseGNU( argv[i]+2 ); /* skip -- */
            if( match_at >= 0 && i < argc-1 ) /* found match */
                setValue( options[match_at] , argv[++i] );
        }else if(  argv[i][0] ==  opt_prefix_char ) { /* POSIX char */
            if( POSIX() ){ 
                char ch =  parsePOSIX( argv[i]+1 );/* skip - */ 
                if( ch != '0' && i < argc-1 ) /* matching char */
                    setValue( ch ,  argv[++i] );
            } else { /* treat it as GNU option with a - */
                int match_at = parseGNU( argv[i]+1 ); /* skip - */
                if( match_at >= 0 && i < argc-1 ) /* found match */
                    setValue( options[match_at] , argv[++i] );
            }
        }else { /* not option but an argument keep index */
            if( new_argc < max_legal_args ){
                                new_argv[ new_argc ] = i ;
                                new_argc++;
                        }else{ /* ignore extra arguments */
                                printVerbose( "Ignoring extra argument: " );
                printVerbose( argv[i] );
                printVerbose( );
                printAutoUsage();
                        }
            printVerbose( "Unknown command argument option : " );
            printVerbose( argv[i] );
            printVerbose( );
            printAutoUsage();
        }
    }
}

char 
AnyOption::parsePOSIX( char* arg )
{

    for( unsigned int i = 0 ; i < strlen(arg) ; i++ ){ 
        char ch = arg[i] ;
        if( matchChar(ch) ) { /* keep matching flags till an option */
            /*if last char argv[++i] is the value */
            if( i == strlen(arg)-1 ){ 
                return ch;
            }else{/* else the rest of arg is the value */
                i++; /* skip any '=' and ' ' */
                while( arg[i] == whitespace 
                        || arg[i] == equalsign )
                    i++;    
                setValue( ch , arg+i );
                return '0';
            }
        }
    }
    printVerbose( "Unknown command argument option : " );
    printVerbose( arg );
    printVerbose( );
    printAutoUsage();
    return '0';
}

int
AnyOption::parseGNU( char *arg )
{
    int split_at = 0;
    /* if has a '=' sign get value */
    for( unsigned int i = 0 ; i < strlen(arg) ; i++ ){
        if(arg[i] ==  equalsign ){
            split_at = i ; /* store index */
            i = strlen(arg); /* get out of loop */
        }
    }
    if( split_at > 0 ){ /* it is an option value pair */
        char* tmp = (char*) malloc(  (split_at+1)*sizeof(char) );
        for( int i = 0 ; i < split_at ; i++ )
            tmp[i] = arg[i];
        tmp[split_at] = '\0';

        if ( matchOpt( tmp ) >= 0 ){
            setValue( options[matchOpt(tmp)] , arg+split_at+1 );
            free (tmp);
        }else{
            printVerbose( "Unknown command argument option : " );
            printVerbose( arg );
            printVerbose( );
            printAutoUsage();
            free (tmp);
            return -1;
        }
    }else{ /* regular options with no '=' sign  */
        return  matchOpt(arg);
    }
    return -1;
}


int 
AnyOption::matchOpt( char *opt )
{
    for( int i = 0 ; i < option_counter ; i++ ){
        if( strcmp( options[i], opt ) == 0 ){
            if( optiontype[i] ==  COMMON_OPT ||
                optiontype[i] ==  COMMAND_OPT ) 
            { /* found option return index */
                return i;
            }else if( optiontype[i] == COMMON_FLAG ||
                   optiontype[i] == COMMAND_FLAG )
            { /* found flag, set it */ 
                setFlagOn( opt );
                return -1;
            }
        }
    }
    printVerbose( "Unknown command argument option : " );
    printVerbose( opt  ) ;
    printVerbose( );
    printAutoUsage();
    return  -1; 
}
bool
AnyOption::matchChar( char c )
{
    for( int i = 0 ; i < optchar_counter ; i++ ){
        if( optionchars[i] == c ) { /* found match */
            if(optchartype[i] == COMMON_OPT ||
                 optchartype[i] == COMMAND_OPT )
            { /* an option store and stop scanning */
                return true;    
            }else if( optchartype[i] == COMMON_FLAG || 
                  optchartype[i] == COMMAND_FLAG ) { /* a flag store and keep scanning */
                setFlagOn( c );
                return false;
            }
        }
    }
    printVerbose( "Unknown command argument option : " );
    printVerbose( c ) ;
    printVerbose( );
    printAutoUsage();
    return false;
}

bool
AnyOption::valueStoreOK( )
{
    int size= 0;
    if( !set ){
        if( g_value_counter > 0 ){
            size = g_value_counter * sizeof(char*);
            values = (char**)malloc( size );    
            for( int i = 0 ; i < g_value_counter ; i++)
                values[i] = NULL;
            set = true;
        }
    }
    return  set;
}

/*
 * public get methods 
 */
char*
AnyOption::getValue( const char *option )
{
    if( !valueStoreOK() )
        return NULL;

    for( int i = 0 ; i < option_counter ; i++ ){
        if( strcmp( options[i], option ) == 0 )
            return values[ optionindex[i] ];
    }
    return NULL;
}

bool
AnyOption::getFlag( const char *option )
{
    if( !valueStoreOK() )
        return false;
    for( int i = 0 ; i < option_counter ; i++ ){
        if( strcmp( options[i], option ) == 0 )
            return findFlag( values[ optionindex[i] ] );
    }
    return false;
}

char*
AnyOption::getValue( char option )
{
    if( !valueStoreOK() )
        return NULL;
    for( int i = 0 ; i < optchar_counter ; i++ ){
        if( optionchars[i] == option )
            return values[ optcharindex[i] ];
    }
    return NULL;
}

bool
AnyOption::getFlag( char option )
{
    if( !valueStoreOK() )
        return false;
    for( int i = 0 ; i < optchar_counter ; i++ ){
        if( optionchars[i] == option )
            return findFlag( values[ optcharindex[i] ] ) ;
    }
    return false;
}

bool
AnyOption::findFlag( char* val )
{
    if( val == NULL )
        return false;

    if( strcmp( TRUE_FLAG , val ) == 0 )
        return true;

    return false;
}

/*
 * private set methods 
 */
bool
AnyOption::setValue( const char *option , char *value )
{
    if( !valueStoreOK() )
        return false;
        for( int i = 0 ; i < option_counter ; i++ ){
                if( strcmp( options[i], option ) == 0 ){
                        values[ optionindex[i] ] = (char*) malloc((strlen(value)+1)*sizeof(char));
                        strcpy( values[ optionindex[i] ], value );
            return true;
        }
        }
        return false;
}

bool
AnyOption::setFlagOn( const char *option )
{
    if( !valueStoreOK() )
        return false;
        for( int i = 0 ; i < option_counter ; i++ ){
                if( strcmp( options[i], option ) == 0 ){
                        values[ optionindex[i] ] = (char*) malloc((strlen(TRUE_FLAG)+1)*sizeof(char));
                        strcpy( values[ optionindex[i] ]  ,  TRUE_FLAG );
            return true;
        }
        }
        return false;
}

bool
AnyOption::setValue( char option , char *value )
{
    if( !valueStoreOK() )
        return false;
        for( int i = 0 ; i < optchar_counter ; i++ ){
                if( optionchars[i] == option ){
                        values[ optcharindex[i] ] = (char*) malloc((strlen(value)+1)*sizeof(char));
                        strcpy( values[ optcharindex[i] ],  value );
            return true;
        }
        }
        return false;
}

bool
AnyOption::setFlagOn( char option )
{
    if( !valueStoreOK() )
        return false;
        for( int i = 0 ; i < optchar_counter ; i++ ){
                if( optionchars[i] == option ){
                        values[ optcharindex[i] ] = (char*) malloc((strlen(TRUE_FLAG)+1)*sizeof(char));
            strcpy( values[ optcharindex[i] ] , TRUE_FLAG );
            return true;
        }
        }
        return false;
}


int
AnyOption::getArgc( )
{
    return new_argc;
}

char* 
AnyOption::getArgv( int index )
{
    if( index < new_argc ){
        return ( argv[ new_argv[ index ] ] );
    }
    return NULL;
}

/* dotfile sub routines */

bool
AnyOption::processFile()
{
    if( ! (valueStoreOK() && FileSet())  )
        return false;
    return  ( consumeFile(readFile()) );
}

bool
AnyOption::processFile( const char *filename )
{
    useFiileName(filename );
    return ( processFile() );
}

char*
AnyOption::readFile()
{
    return ( readFile(filename) );
}

/*
 * read the file contents to a character buffer 
 */

char*
AnyOption::readFile( const char* fname )
{
        int length;
        char *buffer;
        ifstream is;
        is.open ( fname , ifstream::in );
        if( ! is.good() ){
                is.close();
                return NULL;
        }
        is.seekg (0, ios::end);
        length = is.tellg();
        is.seekg (0, ios::beg);
        buffer = (char*) malloc(length*sizeof(char));
        is.read (buffer,length);
        is.close();
        return buffer;
}

/*
 * scans a char* buffer for lines that does not 
 * start with the specified comment character.
 */
bool
AnyOption::consumeFile( char *buffer )
{

        if( buffer == NULL ) 
        return false;

        char *cursor = buffer;/* preserve the ptr */
        char *pline = NULL ;
        int linelength = 0;
        bool newline = true;
        for( unsigned int i = 0 ; i < strlen( buffer ) ; i++ ){
        if( *cursor == endofline ) { /* end of line */
            if( pline != NULL ) /* valid line */
                    processLine( pline, linelength );
                    pline = NULL;
                    newline = true;
            }else if( newline ){ /* start of line */
                    newline = false;
                    if( (*cursor != comment ) ){ /* not a comment */
                    pline = cursor ;
                            linelength = 0 ;
                    }
                }
                cursor++; /* keep moving */
                linelength++;
        }
        free (buffer);
    return true;
}


/*
 *  find a valid type value pair separated by a delimiter 
 *  character and pass it to valuePairs()
 *  any line which is not valid will be considered a value
 *  and will get passed on to justValue()
 *
 *  assuming delimiter is ':' the behaviour will be,
 *
 *  width:10    - valid pair valuePairs( width, 10 );
 *  width : 10  - valid pair valuepairs( width, 10 );
 *
 *  ::::        - not valid 
 *  width       - not valid
 *  :10         - not valid 
 *  width:      - not valid  
 *  ::          - not valid 
 *  :           - not valid 
 *  
 */

void
AnyOption::processLine( char *theline, int length  )
{
        bool found = false;
        char *pline = (char*) malloc( (length+1)*sizeof(char) );
        for( int i = 0 ; i < length ; i ++ )
                pline[i]= *(theline++);
        pline[length] = nullterminate;
        char *cursor = pline ; /* preserve the ptr */
        if( *cursor == delimiter || *(cursor+length-1) == delimiter ){
                justValue( pline );/* line with start/end delimiter */
        }else{
                for( int i = 1 ; i < length-1 && !found ; i++){/* delimiter */
                        if( *cursor == delimiter ){
                                *(cursor-1) = nullterminate; /* two strings */
                                found = true;
                                valuePairs( pline , cursor+1 );
                        }
                        cursor++;
                }
                cursor++;
                if( !found ) /* not a pair */
                        justValue( pline );
        }
        free (pline);
}

/*
 * removes trailing and preceeding whitespaces from a string
 */
char*
AnyOption::chomp( char *str )
{
        while( *str == whitespace )
                str++;
        char *end = str+strlen(str)-1;
        while( *end == whitespace )
                end--;
        *(end+1) = nullterminate;
        return str;
}

void
AnyOption::valuePairs( char *type, char *value )
{
    if ( strlen(chomp(type)) == 1  ){ /* this is a char option */
        for( int i = 0 ; i < optchar_counter ; i++ ){
            if(  optionchars[i] == type[0]  ){ /* match */
                if( optchartype[i] == COMMON_OPT ||
                    optchartype[i] == FILE_OPT )
                {
                    setValue( type[0] , chomp(value) );
                    return;
                }
            }
        }
    }   
    /* if no char options matched */
    for( int i = 0 ; i < option_counter ; i++ ){
        if( strcmp( options[i], type ) == 0 ){ /* match */
            if( optiontype[i] == COMMON_OPT ||
                optiontype[i] == FILE_OPT )
            {
                setValue( type , chomp(value) );
                return;
            }
        }
    }
        printVerbose( "Unknown option in resourcefile : " );
    printVerbose( type );
    printVerbose( );
}

void
AnyOption::justValue( char *type )
{

    if ( strlen(chomp(type)) == 1  ){ /* this is a char option */
        for( int i = 0 ; i < optchar_counter ; i++ ){
            if(  optionchars[i] == type[0]  ){ /* match */
                if( optchartype[i] == COMMON_FLAG ||
                    optchartype[i] == FILE_FLAG )
                {
                    setFlagOn( type[0] );
                    return;
                }
            }
        }
    }   
    /* if no char options matched */
    for( int i = 0 ; i < option_counter ; i++ ){
        if( strcmp( options[i], type ) == 0 ){ /* match */
            if( optiontype[i] == COMMON_FLAG ||
                optiontype[i] == FILE_FLAG )
            {
                setFlagOn( type );
                return;
            }
        }
    }
        printVerbose( "Unknown option in resourcefile : " );
    printVerbose( type  );
    printVerbose( );
}

/*
 * usage and help 
 */


void
AnyOption::printAutoUsage()
{
    if( autousage ) printUsage();
}

void
AnyOption::printUsage()
{
    
    if( once ) {
        once = false ;
        cout << endl ;
        for( int i = 0 ; i < usage_lines ; i++ )
            cout << usage[i] << endl ;  
        cout << endl ;
    }
}
    
    
void
AnyOption::addUsage( const char *line )
{
    if( usage_lines >= max_usage_lines ){
        if( doubleUsageStorage() == false ){
            addUsageError( line );
            exit(1);
        }
    }
    usage[ usage_lines ] = line ;   
    usage_lines++;
}

void
AnyOption::addUsageError( const char *line )
{
    cout << endl ;
    cout << "OPTIONS ERROR : Failed allocating extra memory " << endl ;
    cout << "While adding the usage/help  : \""<< line << "\"" << endl;
    cout << "Exiting." << endl ;
    cout << endl ;
    exit(0);

}