The .hg and .ccg files
| Appendix G. Wrapping C Libraries with gmmproc |

## The .hg and .ccg files

The .hg and .ccg source files are very much like .h and .cc C++ source files, but they contain extra macros, such as `_CLASS_GOBJECT()` and `_WRAP_METHOD()`, from which gmmproc generates appropriate C++ source code, usually at the same position in the header. Any additional C++ source code will be copied verbatim into the corresponding .h or .cc file.

A .hg file will typically include some headers and then declare a class, using some macros to add API or behaviour to this class. For instance, gtkmm's `button.hg` looks roughly like this:

    #include <gtkmm/bin.h>
    #include <gtkmm/activatable.h>
    #include <gtkmm/stockid.h>
    _DEFS(gtkmm,gtk)
    _PINCLUDE(gtkmm/private/bin_p.h)

    namespace Gtk
    {

    class Button
      : public Bin,
        public Activatable
    {
      _CLASS_GTKOBJECT(Button,GtkButton,GTK_BUTTON,Gtk::Bin,GtkBin)
      _IMPLEMENTS_INTERFACE(Activatable)
    public:

      _CTOR_DEFAULT
      explicit Button(const Glib::ustring& label, bool mnemonic = false);
      explicit Button(const StockID& stock_id);

      _WRAP_METHOD(void set_label(const Glib::ustring& label), gtk_button_set_label)

      ...

      _WRAP_SIGNAL(void clicked(), "clicked")

      ...

      _WRAP_PROPERTY("label", Glib::ustring)
    };

    } // namespace Gtk

The macros in this example do the following:

`_DEFS()`

  Specifies the destination directory for generated sources, and the name of the main .defs file that gmmproc should parse.

`_PINCLUDE()`

  Tells gmmproc to include a header from the generated private/button_p.h file.

`_CLASS_GTKOBJECT()`

  Tells gmmproc to add some typedefs, constructors, and standard methods to this class, as appropriate when wrapping a widget.

`_IMPLEMENTS_INTERFACE()`

  Tells gmmproc to add initialization code for the interface.

`_CTOR_DEFAULT`

  Add a default constructor.

`_WRAP_METHOD()`, `_WRAP_SIGNAL()`, and `_WRAP_PROPERTY()`

  Add methods to wrap parts of the C API.

The .h and .cc files will be generated from the .hg and .ccg files by processing them with gmmproc like so, though this happens automatically when using the above build structure:

    $ cd gtk/src
    $ /usr/lib/glibmm-2.4/proc/gmmproc -I ../../tools/m4 --defs . button . ./../gtkmm

Notice that we provided gmmproc with the path to the .m4 convert files, the path to the .defs file, the name of a .hg file, the source directory, and the destination directory.

You should avoid including the C header from your C++ header, to avoid polluting the global namespace, and to avoid exporting unnecessary public API. But you will need to include the necessary C headers from your .ccg file.

The macros are explained in more detail in the following sections.

### m4 Conversions

The macros that you use in the .hg and .ccg files often need to know how to convert a C++ type to a C type, or vice-versa. gmmproc takes this information from an .m4 file in your `tools/m4/` directory. This allows it to call a C function in the implementation of your C++ method, passing the appropriate parameters to that C functon. For instance, this tells gmmproc how to convert a GtkTreeView pointer to a Gtk::TreeView pointer:

    _CONVERSION(`GtkTreeView*',`TreeView*',`Glib::wrap($3)')

`$3` will be replaced by the parameter name when this conversion is used by gmmproc.

Some extra macros make this easier and consistent. Look in gtkmm's .m4 files for examples. For instance:

    _CONVERSION(`PrintSettings&',`GtkPrintSettings*',__FR2P)
    _CONVERSION(`const PrintSettings&',`GtkPrintSettings*',__FCR2P)
    _CONVERSION(`const Glib::RefPtr<Printer>&',`GtkPrinter*',__CONVERT_REFPTR_TO_P($3))

### m4 Initializations

Often when wrapping methods, it is desirable to store the return of the C function in what is called an output parameter. In this case, the C++ method returns void but an output parameter in which to store the value of the C function is included in the argument list of the C++ method. gmmproc allows such functionality, but appropriate inizialization macros must be included to tell gmmproc how to initialize the C++ parameter from the return of the C function.

For example, if there was a C function that returned a GtkWidget* and for some reason, instead of having the C++ method also return the widget, it was desirable to have the C++ method place the widget in a specified output parameter, an initialization macro such as the following would be necessary:

    _INITIALIZATION(`Gtk::Widget&',`GtkWidget*',`$3 = Glib::wrap($4)')

`$3` will be replaced by the output parameter name of the C++ method and `$4` will be replaced by the return of the C function when this initialization is used by gmmproc. For convenience, `$1` will also be replaced by the C++ type without the ampersand (&) and `$2` will be replaced by the C type.

### Class macros

The class macro declares the class itself and its relationship with the underlying C type. It generates some internal constructors, the member `gobject_`, typedefs, the `gobj()` accessors, type registration, and the `Glib::wrap()` method, among other things.

Other macros, such as `_WRAP_METHOD()` and `_WRAP_SIGNAL()` may only be used after a call to a `_CLASS_*` macro.

#### _CLASS_GOBJECT

This macro declares a wrapper for a type that is derived from `GObject`, but whose wrapper is not derived from `Gtk::Object`.

`_CLASS_GOBJECT( C++ class, C class, C casting macro, C++ base class, C base class )`

For instance, from `accelgroup.hg`:

    _CLASS_GOBJECT(AccelGroup, GtkAccelGroup, GTK_ACCEL_GROUP, Glib::Object, GObject)

#### _CLASS_GTKOBJECT

This macro declares a wrapper for a type whose wrapper is derived from `Gtk::Object`, such as a widget or dialog.

`_CLASS_GTKOBJECT( C++ class, C class, C casting macro, C++ base class, C base class )`

For instance, from `button.hg`:

    _CLASS_GTKOBJECT(Button, GtkButton, GTK_BUTTON, Gtk::Bin, GtkBin)

You will typically use this macro when the class already derives from Gtk::Object. For instance, you will use it when wrapping a GTK+ Widget, because Gtk::Widget derives from Gtk::Object.

You might also derive non-widget classes from Gtk::Object so they can be used without `Glib::RefPtr`. For isntance, they could then be instantiated with `Gtk::manage()` or on the stack as a member variable. This is convenient, but you should use this only when you are sure that true reference-counting is not needed. We consider it useful for widgets.

#### _CLASS_BOXEDTYPE

This macro declares a wrapper for a non-`GObject` struct, registered with `g_boxed_type_register_static()`.

`_CLASS_BOXEDTYPE( C++ class, C class, new function, copy function, free function )`

For instance, for `Gdk::Color`:

    _CLASS_BOXEDTYPE(Color, GdkColor, NONE, gdk_color_copy, gdk_color_free)

#### _CLASS_BOXEDTYPE_STATIC

This macro declares a wrapper for a simple assignable struct such as `GdkRectangle`. It is similar to `_CLASS_BOXEDTYPE`, but the C struct is not allocated dynamically.

`_CLASS_BOXEDTYPE_STATIC( C++ class, C class )`

For instance, for `Gdk::Rectangle`:

    _CLASS_BOXEDTYPE_STATIC(Rectangle, GdkRectangle)

#### _CLASS_OPAQUE_COPYABLE

This macro declares a wrapper for an opaque struct that has copy and free functions. The new, copy and free functions will be used to instantiate the default constructor, copy constructor and destructor.

`_CLASS_OPAQUE_COPYABLE( C++ class, C class, new function, copy function, free function )`

For instance, from `stockitem.hg`:

    _CLASS_OPAQUE_COPYABLE(StockItem, GtkStockItem, NONE, gtk_stock_item_copy, gtk_stock_item_free)

#### _CLASS_OPAQUE_REFCOUNTED

This macro declares a wrapper for a reference-counted opaque struct. The C++ wrapper cannot be directly instantiated and can only be used with `Glib::RefPtr`.

`_CLASS_OPAQUE_REFCOUNTED( C++ class, C class, new function, ref function, unref function )`

For instance, for `Pango::Coverage`:

    _CLASS_OPAQUE_REFCOUNTED(Coverage, PangoCoverage, pango_coverage_new, pango_coverage_ref, pango_coverage_unref)

#### _CLASS_GENERIC

This macro can be used to wrap structs which don't fit into any specialized category.

`_CLASS_GENERIC( C++ class, C class )`

For instance, for `Pango::AttrIter`:

    _CLASS_GENERIC(AttrIter, PangoAttrIterator)

#### _CLASS_INTERFACE

This macro declares a wrapper for a type that is derived from `GTypeInterface`.

`_CLASS_INTERFACE( C++ class, C class, C casting macro, C interface struct, Base C++ class (optional), Base C class (optional) )`

For instance, from `celleditable.hg`:

    _CLASS_INTERFACE(CellEditable, GtkCellEditable, GTK_CELL_EDITABLE, GtkCellEditableIface)

Two extra parameters are optional, for the case that the interface derives from another interface, which should be the case when the GInterface has another GInterface as a prerequisitite. For instance, from `loadableicon.hg`:

    _CLASS_INTERFACE(LoadableIcon, GLoadableIcon, G_LOADABLE_ICON, GLoadableIconIface, Icon, GIcon)

### Constructor macros

The `_CTOR_DEFAULT()` and `_WRAP_CTOR()` macros add constructors, wrapping the specified `*_new()` C functions. These macros assume that the C object has properties with the same names as the function parameters, as is usually the case, so that it can supply the parameters directly to a `g_object_new()` call. These constructors never actually call the `*_new()` C functions, because gtkmm must actually instantiate derived GTypes, and the `*_new()` C functions are meant only as convenience functions for C programmers.

When using `_CLASS_GOBJECT()`, the constructors should be protected (rather than public) and each constructor should have a corresponding `_WRAP_CREATE()` in the public section. This prevents the class from being instantiated without using a `RefPtr`. For instance:

    class ActionGroup : public Glib::Object
    {
      _CLASS_GOBJECT(ActionGroup, GtkActionGroup, GTK_ACTION_GROUP, Glib::Object, GObject)

    protected:
      _WRAP_CTOR(ActionGroup(const Glib::ustring& name = Glib::ustring()), gtk_action_group_new)

    public:
      _WRAP_CREATE(const Glib::ustring& name = Glib::ustring())

#### _CTOR_DEFAULT

This macro creates a default constructor with no arguments.

#### _WRAP_CTOR

This macro creates a constructor with arguments, equivalent to a `*_new()` C function. It won't actually call the `*_new()` function, but will simply create an equivalent constructor with the same argument types. It takes a C++ constructor signature, and a C function name.

When wrapping constructors, it is possible for gmmproc to generate convenience overloads of the wrapped constructors if the C function has parameters that are optional (ie. the C API allows null for those parameters). For instance, to specify if a parameter is optional, the `_WRAP_CTOR()` macro would look something like the following:

    _WRAP_CTOR(ToolButton(Widget& icon_widget, const Glib::ustring& label{?}), gtk_tool_button_new)

The `{?}` following the name of the `label` parameter means that that parameter is optional. In this case, gmmproc will generate an extra constructor without that parameter.

It is also possible to have the order of the parameters of the constructor different from that of the C function by using gmmproc's C++ to C parameter mapping functionality. Using this functionality, it is possible to map a C++ parameter to a C parameter by specifying the C parameter name. For instance, assuming that the declaration of the `gtk_tool_button_new()` function is the following:

    GtkToolItem* gtk_tool_button_new(GtkWidget* icon_widget, const gchar* label);

The parameters of the wrapped constructor could be reordered using the following:

    _WRAP_CTOR(ToolButton(const Glib::ustring& label{label}, Widget& icon_widget{icon_widget}), gtk_tool_button_new)

The `{param_name}` following each of the names of the parameters tells gmmproc to map those C++ parameters to the C parameters with the given names. Since the C++ parameter names correspond to the C ones, the above could be re-written as:

    _WRAP_CTOR(ToolButton(const Glib::ustring& label{.}, Widget& icon_widget{.}), gtk_tool_button_new)

This same optional parameter syntax and parameter reordering is available for `_WRAP_CREATE()`. Additional `create()` overloads would be generated by gmmproc without the specified optional parameters.

#### Hand-coding constructors

When a constructor must be partly hand written because, for instance, the `*_new()` C function's parameters do not correspond directly to object properties, or because the `*_new()` C function does more than call `g_object_new()`, the `_CONSTRUCT()` macro may be used in the .ccg file to save some work. The `_CONSTRUCT` macro takes a series of property names and values. For instance, from `button.ccg`:

    Button::Button(const Glib::ustring& label, bool mnemonic)
    :
      _CONSTRUCT("label", label.c_str(), "use_underline", gboolean(mnemonic))
    {}

### Method macros

#### _WRAP_METHOD

This macro generates the C++ method to wrap a C function.

`_WRAP_METHOD( C++ method signature, C function name)`

For instance, from `entry.hg`:

    _WRAP_METHOD(void set_text(const Glib::ustring& text), gtk_entry_set_text)

The C function (e.g. `gtk_entry_set_text`) is described more fully in the .defs file, and the `convert*.m4` files contain the necessary conversion from the C++ parameter type to the C parameter type. This macro also generates doxygen documentation comments based on the `*_docs.xml` and `*_docs_override.xml` files.

There are some optional extra arguments:

refreturn

  Do an extra `reference()` on the return value, in case the C function does not provide a reference.

errthrow

  Use the last GError* parameter of the C function to throw an exception.

deprecated

  Puts the generated code in #ifdef blocks. Text about the deprecation can be specified as an optional parameter.

constversion

  Just call the non-const version of the same function, instead of generating almost duplicate code.

ifdef

  Puts the generated code in #ifdef blocks.

As with `_WRAP_CTOR()` it is possible to specify if there are any optional parameters. If that is the case, gmmproc will generate convenience overload methods without those parameters. For example:

    _WRAP_METHOD(void get_preferred_size(Requisition& minimum_size, Requisition& natural_size{?}) const, gtk_widget_get_preferred_size)

Would indicate that the `natural_size` parameter is optional because its name ends with `{?}`. In this case, gmmproc would generate a method overload without that parameter.

Also, as with `_WRAP_CTOR()`, it is possible to reorder the parameters of the C++ method by using gmmproc's C++ to C parameter mapping functionality. Using this functionality, it is possible to map a C++ parameter to a C parameter by specifying the C parameter name. For example, if the `gtk_widget_set_device_events()` declaration is the following:

    void gtk_widget_set_device_events(GtkWidget* widget, GdkDevice* device, GdkEventMask events);

Something like the following would change the order of the parameters in the C++ method:

    _WRAP_METHOD(void set_device_events(Gdk::EventMask events{events}, const Glib::RefPtr<const Gdk::Device>& device{device}), gtk_widget_set_device_events)

The `{param_name}` following each of the names of the parameters tells gmmproc to map those C++ parameters to the C parameters with the given names. Since the C++ parameter names correspond to the C ones, the above could be re-written as:

    _WRAP_METHOD(void set_device_events(Gdk::EventMask events{.}, const Glib::RefPtr<const Gdk::Device>& device{.}), gtk_widget_set_device_events)

With `_WRAP_METHOD()` it is also possible to include an output parameter in the C++ method declaration in which the return of the C function would be placed and to have the C++ method return void. To do that, simply include the output parameter declaration in the C++ method declaration appending a `{OUT}` to the output parameter name. For example, if `gtk_widget_get_request_mode()` is declared as the following:

    GtkSizeRequestMode gtk_widget_get_request_mode(GtkWidget* widget);

And having the C++ method set an output parameter is desired instead of returning a SizeRequestMode, something like the following could be used:

    _WRAP_METHOD(void get_request_mode(SizeRequestMode& mode{OUT}) const, gtk_widget_get_request_mode)

the `{OUT}` appended to the name of the `mode` output parameter tells gmmproc to place the return of the C function in that output parameter. In this case, however, a necessary initialization macro like the following would also have to be specified:

    _INITIALIZATION(`SizeRequestMode&',`GtkSizeRequestMode',`$3 = (SizeRequestMode)($4)')

Which could also be written as:

    _INITIALIZATION(`SizeRequestMode&',`GtkSizeRequestMode',`$3 = ($1)($4)')

Though it's usually obvious what C++ types should be used in the C++ method, here are some hints:

- Objects used via `RefPtr`: Pass the `RefPtr` as a const reference. For instance, `const Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::Action>& action`.

- Const Objects used via `RefPtr`: If the object should not be changed by the function, then make sure that the object is const, even if the `RefPtr` is already const. For instance, `const Glib::RefPtr<const Gtk::Action>& action`.

- Wrapping `GList*` and `GSList*` parameters: First, you need to discover what objects are contained in the list's data field for each item, usually by reading the documentation for the C function. The list can then be wrapped by a `std::vector` type. For instance, `std::vector< Glib::RefPtr<Action> >`. You may need to define a Traits type to specify how the C and C++ types should be converted.

- Wrapping `GList*` and `GSList*` return types: You must discover whether the caller should free the list and whether it should release the items in the list, again by reading the documentation of the C function. With this information you can choose the ownership (none, shallow or deep) for the m4 conversion rule, which you should probably put directly into the .hg file because the ownership depends on the function rather than the type. For instance:

      #m4 _CONVERSION(`GSList*',`std::vector<Widget*>',`Glib::SListHandler<Widget*>::slist_to_vector($3, Glib::OWNERSHIP_SHALLOW)')

#### _WRAP_METHOD_DOCS_ONLY

This macro is like `_WRAP_METHOD()`, but it generates only the documentation for a C++ method that wraps a C function. Use this when you must hand-code the method, but you want to use the documentation that would be generated if the method was generated.

`_WRAP_METHOD_DOCS_ONLY(C function name)`

For instance, from `container.hg`:

    _WRAP_METHOD_DOCS_ONLY(gtk_container_remove)

#### _IGNORE / _IGNORE_SIGNAL

gmmproc will warn you on stdout about functions and signals that you have forgotten to wrap, helping to ensure that you are wrapping the complete API. But if you don't want to wrap some functions or signals, or if you chose to hand-code some methods then you can use the _IGNORE() or _IGNORE_SIGNAL() macro to make gmmproc stop complaining.

`_IGNORE(C function name 1, C function name2, etc)`

`_IGNORE_SIGNAL(C signal name 1, C signal name2, etc)`

For instance, from `buttonbox.hg`:

    _IGNORE(gtk_button_box_set_spacing, gtk_button_box_get_spacing)

#### _WRAP_SIGNAL

This macro generates the C++ libsigc++-style signal to wrap a C GObject signal. It actually generates a public accessor method, such as `signal_clicked()`, which returns a proxy object. gmmproc uses the .defs file to discover the C parameter types and the .m4 convert files to discover appropriate type conversions.

`_WRAP_SIGNAL( C++ signal handler signature, C signal name)`

For instance, from `button.hg`:

    _WRAP_SIGNAL(void clicked(),"clicked")

Signals usually have function pointers in the GTK struct, with a corresponding enum value. and a `g_signal_new()` in the .c file.

There are some optional extra arguments:

no_default_handler

  Do not generate an `on_something()` virtual method to allow easy overriding of the default signal handler. Use this when adding a signal with a default signal handler would break the ABI by increasing the size of the class's virtual function table.

custom_default_handler

  Generate a declaration of the `on_something()` virtual method in the `.h` file, but do not generate a definition in the `.cc` file. Use this when you must generate the definition by hand.

custom_c_callback

  Do not generate a C callback function for the signal. Use this when you must generate the callback function by hand.

refreturn

  Do an extra `reference()` on the return value of the `on_something()` virtual method, in case the C function does not provide a reference.

ifdef

  Puts the generated code in #ifdef blocks.

#### _WRAP_PROPERTY

This macro generates the C++ method to wrap a C GObject property. You must specify the property name and the wanted C++ type for the property. gmmproc uses the .defs file to discover the C type and the .m4 convert files to discover appropriate type conversions.

`_WRAP_PROPERTY(C property name, C++ type)`

For instance, from `button.hg`:

    _WRAP_PROPERTY("label", Glib::ustring)

#### _WRAP_VFUNC

This macro generates the C++ method to wrap a virtual C function.

`_WRAP_VFUNC( C++ method signature, C function name)`

For instance, from `widget.hg`:

    _WRAP_VFUNC(SizeRequestMode get_request_mode() const, get_request_mode)

The C function (e.g. `get_request_mode`) is described more fully in the `*_vfuncs.defs` file, and the `convert*.m4` files contain the necessary conversion from the C++ parameter type to the C parameter type.

There are some optional extra arguments:

refreturn

  Do an extra `reference()` on the return value of the `something_vfunc()` function, in case the virtual C function does not provide a reference.

refreturn_ctype

  Do an extra `reference()` on the return value of an overridden `something_vfunc()` function in the C callback function, in case the calling C function expects it to provide a reference.

custom_vfunc

  Do not generate a definition of the vfunc in the `.cc` file. Use this when you must generate the vfunc by hand.

custom_vfunc_callback

  Do not generate a C callback function for the vfunc. Use this when you must generate the callback function by hand.

ifdef

  Puts the generated code in #ifdef blocks.

A rule to which there may be exceptions: If the virtual C function returns a pointer to an object derived from `GObject`, i.e. a reference-counted object, then the virtual C++ function shall return a `Glib::RefPtr<>` object. One of the extra arguments `refreturn` or `refreturn_ctype` is required.

### Other macros

#### _IMPLEMENTS_INTERFACE

This macro generates initialization code for the interface.

`_IMPLEMENTS_INTERFACE(C++ interface name)`

For instance, from `button.hg`:

    _IMPLEMENTS_INTERFACE(Activatable)

There is one optional extra argument:

ifdef

  Puts the generated code in #ifdef blocks.

#### _WRAP_ENUM

This macro generates a C++ enum to wrap a C enum. You must specify the desired C++ name and the name of the underlying C enum.

For instance, from `widget.hg`:

    _WRAP_ENUM(WindowType, GdkWindowType)

If the enum is not a `GType`, you must pass a third parameter NO_GTYPE. This is the case when there is no `*_get_type()` function for the C enum, but be careful that you don't just need to include an extra header for that function. You should also file a bug against the C API, because all enums should be registered as GTypes.

For example, from `icontheme.hg`:

    _WRAP_ENUM(IconLookupFlags, GtkIconLookupFlags, NO_GTYPE)

#### _WRAP_GERROR

This macro generates a C++ exception class, derived from Glib::Error, with a Code enum and a code() method. You must specify the desired C++ name, the name of the corresponding C enum, and the prefix for the C enum values.

This exception can then be thrown by methods which are generated from _WRAP_METHOD() with the errthrow option.

For instance, from `pixbuf.hg`:

    _WRAP_GERROR(PixbufError, GdkPixbufError, GDK_PIXBUF_ERROR)

#### _MEMBER_GET / _MEMBER_SET

Use these macros if you're wrapping a simple struct or boxed type that provides direct access to its data members, to create getters and setters for the data members.

`_MEMBER_GET(C++ name, C name, C++ type, C type)`

`_MEMBER_SET(C++ name, C name, C++ type, C type)`

For example, in `rectangle.hg`:

    _MEMBER_GET(x, x, int, int)

#### _MEMBER_GET_PTR / _MEMBER_SET_PTR

Use these macros to automatically provide getters and setters for a data member that is a pointer type. For the getter function, it will create two methods, one const and one non-const.

`_MEMBER_GET_PTR(C++ name, C name, C++ type, C type)`

`_MEMBER_SET_PTR(C++ name, C name, C++ type, C type)`

For example, for `Pango::Analysis` in `item.hg`:

    // _MEMBER_GET_PTR(engine_lang, lang_engine, EngineLang*, PangoEngineLang*)
    // It's just a comment. It's difficult to find a real-world example.

#### _MEMBER_GET_GOBJECT / _MEMBER_SET_GOBJECT

Use these macros to provide getters and setters for a data member that is a `GObject` type that must be referenced before being returned.

`_MEMBER_GET_GOBJECT(C++ name, C name, C++ type, C type)`

`_MEMBER_SET_GOBJECT(C++ name, C name, C++ type, C type)`

For example, in Pangomm, `layoutline.hg`:

    _MEMBER_GET_GOBJECT(layout, layout, Pango::Layout, PangoLayout*)

### Basic Types

Some of the basic types that are used in C APIs have better alternatives in C++. For example, there's no need for a gboolean type since C++ has bool. The following list shows some commonly-used types in C APIs and what you might convert them to in a C++ wrapper library.

Basic Type equivalents

C type | C++ type
--- | ---
gboolean | bool
gint | int
guint | guint
gdouble | double
gunichar | gunichar
gchar* | `Glib::ustring` (or `std::string` for filenames)

Generating the .defs files. |  | Hand-coded source files