Complex Object Collections in C++

C++ Example

In C++, vectors act as dynamic arrays, with the ability to resize themselves as elements are inserted or deleted.

To make them available:

#include <vector>

Most vector examples show simple data elements, e.g., to create a vector of int values:

// Initialize
vector<int> numberList;
 
// Add new elements to the vector:
vector.push_back(1);
vector.push_back(2);
vector.push_back(3);

But, how to add complex objects, when you need something like a dataset? It’s actually pretty straightforward. This example will use planetary data.

First, create a class to hold an individual data element:

class PlanetData {
public:
  string planetName;
  double tp_PeriodOrbit;
  double long_LongitudeEpoch;
  double peri_LongitudePerihelion;
  double ecc_EccentricityOrbit;
  double axis_AxisOrbit;
  double incl_OrbitalInclination;
  double node_LongitudeAscendingNode;
  double theta0_AngularDiameter;
  double v0_VisualMagnitude;
 
  PlanetData() {}
 
  PlanetData(string planetName, double tp_PeriodOrbit,
             double long_LongitudeEpoch, double peri_LongitudePerihelion,
             double ecc_EccentricityOrbit, double axis_AxisOrbit,
             double incl_OrbitalInclination, double node_LongitudeAscendingNode,
             double theta0_AngularDiameter, double v0_VisualMagnitude) {
    this->planetName = planetName;
    this->tp_PeriodOrbit = tp_PeriodOrbit;
    this->long_LongitudeEpoch = long_LongitudeEpoch;
    this->peri_LongitudePerihelion = peri_LongitudePerihelion;
    this->ecc_EccentricityOrbit = ecc_EccentricityOrbit;
    this->axis_AxisOrbit = axis_AxisOrbit;
    this->incl_OrbitalInclination = incl_OrbitalInclination;
    this->node_LongitudeAscendingNode = node_LongitudeAscendingNode;
    this->theta0_AngularDiameter = theta0_AngularDiameter;
    this->v0_VisualMagnitude = v0_VisualMagnitude;
  }
};

Create a vector object, using the class as the vector type:

vector<PlanetData> planetData;

Add elements to the vector using instances of the class:

planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Mercury", 0.24085, 75.5671, 77.612, 0.205627, 0.387098, 7.0051, 48.449, 6.74, -0.42));

Then, you can loop through the vector, looking for an individual element:

// This example assumes it's being called inside a
// function, and returning an instance of the
// found element.
 
for (int i = 0; i < planetData.size(); i++)
  if (planetData[i].planetName == planetName)
    return planetData[i];

Complete Example

example.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
    
using namespace std;
    
class PlanetData {
public:
    string planetName;
    double tp_PeriodOrbit;
    double long_LongitudeEpoch;
    double peri_LongitudePerihelion;
    double ecc_EccentricityOrbit;
    double axis_AxisOrbit;
    double incl_OrbitalInclination;
    double node_LongitudeAscendingNode;
    double theta0_AngularDiameter;
    double v0_VisualMagnitude;
    
    PlanetData() {}
    
    PlanetData(string planetName, double tp_PeriodOrbit,
    double long_LongitudeEpoch, double peri_LongitudePerihelion,
    double ecc_EccentricityOrbit, double axis_AxisOrbit,
    double incl_OrbitalInclination, double node_LongitudeAscendingNode,
    double theta0_AngularDiameter, double v0_VisualMagnitude) {
    this->planetName = planetName;
    this->tp_PeriodOrbit = tp_PeriodOrbit;
    this->long_LongitudeEpoch = long_LongitudeEpoch;
    this->peri_LongitudePerihelion = peri_LongitudePerihelion;
    this->ecc_EccentricityOrbit = ecc_EccentricityOrbit;
    this->axis_AxisOrbit = axis_AxisOrbit;
    this->incl_OrbitalInclination = incl_OrbitalInclination;
    this->node_LongitudeAscendingNode = node_LongitudeAscendingNode;
    this->theta0_AngularDiameter = theta0_AngularDiameter;
    this->v0_VisualMagnitude = v0_VisualMagnitude;
    }
};
    
PlanetData planetLookup(string planetName) {
    vector<PlanetData> planetData;
    
    planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Mercury", 0.24085, 75.5671, 77.612, 0.205627, 0.387098, 7.0051, 48.449, 6.74, -0.42));
    planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Venus", 0.615207, 272.30044, 131.54, 0.006812, 0.723329, 3.3947, 76.769, 16.92, -4.4));
    planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Earth", 0.999996, 99.556772, 103.2055, 0.016671, 0.999985, -99.0, -99.0, -99.0, -99.0));
    planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Mars", 1.880765, 109.09646, 336.217, 0.093348, 1.523689, 1.8497, 49.632, 9.36, -1.52));
    planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Jupiter", 11.857911, 337.917132, 14.6633, 0.048907, 5.20278, 1.3035, 100.595, 196.74, -9.4));
    planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Saturn", 29.310579, 172.398316, 89.567, 0.053853, 9.51134, 2.4873, 113.752, 165.6, -8.88));
    planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Uranus", 84.039492, 356.135400, 172.884833, 0.046321, 19.21814, 0.773059, 73.926961, 65.8, -7.19));
    planetData.push_back(PlanetData("Neptune", 165.845392, 326.895127, 23.07, 0.010483, 30.1985, 1.7673, 131.879, 62.2, -6.87));
    
    for (int i = 0; i < planetData.size(); i++)
    if (planetData[i].planetName == planetName)
        return planetData[i];
    
    return PlanetData("NoMatch", 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0);
}
    
void printDetails(PlanetData planetDetails) {
    cout << planetDetails.planetName << " " << planetDetails.tp_PeriodOrbit << " "
    << planetDetails.long_LongitudeEpoch << " "
    << planetDetails.peri_LongitudePerihelion << " "
    << planetDetails.ecc_EccentricityOrbit << " "
    << planetDetails.axis_AxisOrbit << " "
    << planetDetails.incl_OrbitalInclination << " "
    << planetDetails.node_LongitudeAscendingNode << " "
    << planetDetails.theta0_AngularDiameter << " "
    << planetDetails.v0_VisualMagnitude << endl;
}
    
int main() {
    printDetails(planetLookup("Mercury"));
    printDetails(planetLookup("Venus"));
    printDetails(planetLookup("Earth"));
    printDetails(planetLookup("Mars"));
    printDetails(planetLookup("Jupiter"));
    printDetails(planetLookup("Saturn"));
    printDetails(planetLookup("Uranus"));
    printDetails(planetLookup("Neptune"));
    printDetails(planetLookup("Pluto")); // won't be found -> not in the dataset
    
    return (0);
}