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📝 add documentation for macros
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nlohmann committed Jul 9, 2020
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37 changes: 37 additions & 0 deletions doc/mkdocs/docs/features/arbitrary_types.md
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Expand Up @@ -81,6 +81,43 @@ Some important things:
* You do not need to add serializers or deserializers for STL types like `std::vector`: the library already implements these.


## Simplify your life with macros

If you just want to serialize/deserialize some structs, the `to_json`/`from_json` functions can be a lot of boilerplate.

There are two macros to make your life easier as long as you (1) want to use a JSON object as serialization and (2) want to use the member variable names as object keys in that object:

- `NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(name, member1, member2, ...)` is to be defined inside of the namespace of the class/struct to create code for.
- `NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE(name, member1, member2, ...)` is to be defined inside of the class/struct to create code for. This macro can also access private members.

In both macros, the first parameter is the name of the class/struct, and all remaining parameters name the members.

??? example

The `to_json`/`from_json` functions for the `person` struct above can be created with:

```cpp
namespace ns {
NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(person, name, address, age)
}
```

Here is an example with private members, where `NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE` is needed:

```cpp
namespace ns {
class address {
private:
std::string street;
int housenumber;
int postcode;

public:
NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE(address, street, housenumber, postcode)
};
}
```

## How do I convert third-party types?

This requires a bit more advanced technique. But first, let's see how this conversion mechanism works:
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55 changes: 55 additions & 0 deletions doc/mkdocs/docs/features/macros.md
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# Supported Macros

Some aspects of the library can be configured by defining preprocessor macros before including the `json.hpp` header.

## `JSON_CATCH_USER(exception)`

This macro overrides `#!cpp catch` calls inside the library. The argument is the type of the exception to catch. As of version 3.8.0, the library only catches `std::out_of_range` exceptions internally to rethrow them as [`json::out_of_range`](../home/exceptions.md#out-of-range) exceptions. The macro is always followed by a scope.

See [Switch off exceptions](../home/exceptions.md#switch-off-exceptions) for an example.

## `JSON_NOEXCEPTION`

Exceptions can be switched off by defining the symbol `JSON_NOEXCEPTION`.
When defining `JSON_NOEXCEPTION`, `#!cpp try` is replaced by `#!cpp if (true)`,
`#!cpp catch` is replaced by `#!cpp if (false)`, and `#!cpp throw` is replaced by `#!cpp std::abort()`.

The same effect is achieved by setting the compiler flag `-fno-exceptions`.

## `JSON_SKIP_UNSUPPORTED_COMPILER_CHECK`

When defined, the library will not create a compile error when a known unsupported compiler is detected. This allows to use the library with compilers that do not fully support C++11 and may only work if unsupported features are not used.

## `JSON_THROW_USER(exception)`

This macro overrides `#!cpp throw` calls inside the library. The argument is the exception to be thrown. Note that `JSON_THROW_USER` should leave the current scope (e.g., by throwing or aborting), as continuing after it may yield undefined behavior.

See [Switch off exceptions](../home/exceptions.md#switch-off-exceptions) for an example.

## `JSON_TRY_USER`

This macro overrides `#!cpp try` calls inside the library. It has no arguments and is always followed by a scope.

See [Switch off exceptions](../home/exceptions.md#switch-off-exceptions) for an example.

## `NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE(type, member...)`

This macro can be used to simplify the serialization/deserialization of types if (1) want to use a JSON object as serialization and (2) want to use the member variable names as object keys in that object.

The macro is to be defined inside of the class/struct to create code for. Unlike [`NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE`](#nlohmann_define_type_non_intrusivetype-member), it can access private members.
The first parameter is the name of the class/struct, and all remaining parameters name the members.

See [Simplify your life with macros](arbitrary_types.md#simplify-your-life-with-macros) for an example.

## `NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(type, member...)`

This macro can be used to simplify the serialization/deserialization of types if (1) want to use a JSON object as serialization and (2) want to use the member variable names as object keys in that object.

The macro is to be defined inside of the namespace of the class/struct to create code for. Private members cannot be accessed. Use [`NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE`](#nlohmann_define_type_intrusivetype-member) in these scenarios.
The first parameter is the name of the class/struct, and all remaining parameters name the members.

See [Simplify your life with macros](arbitrary_types.md#simplify-your-life-with-macros) for an example.

## `NLOHMANN_JSON_SERIALIZE_ENUM(type, ...)`

This macro simplifies the serialization/deserialization of enum types. See [Specializing enum conversion](enum_conversion.md) for more information.
18 changes: 18 additions & 0 deletions doc/mkdocs/docs/home/exceptions.md
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Expand Up @@ -32,6 +32,24 @@ Exceptions are used widely within the library. They can, however, be switched of

Note that `JSON_THROW_USER` should leave the current scope (e.g., by throwing or aborting), as continuing after it may yield undefined behavior.

??? example

The code below switches off exceptions and creates a log entry with a detailed error message in case of errors.

```cpp
#include <iostream>

#define JSON_TRY_USER if(true)
#define JSON_CATCH_USER(exception) if(false)
#define JSON_THROW_USER(exception) \
{std::clog << "Error in " << __FILE__ << ":" << __LINE__ \
<< " (function " << __FUNCTION__ << ") - " \
<< (exception).what() << std::endl; \
std::abort();}

#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
```

## Parse errors

This exception is thrown by the library when a parse error occurs. Parse errors
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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions doc/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml
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Expand Up @@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ nav:
- features/json_patch.md
- features/merge_patch.md
- features/enum_conversion.md
- features/macros.md
- Parsing:
- features/parsing/index.md
- features/parsing/parse_exceptions.md
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