[omniORB] Problems with method returning a complex structure

[Andy Weber]

Hi,

We are trying to develop an interface (recordData) which has a method
called refresh that *returns* a structure called updates.  updates is
composed of a sequence of sequences of data items - see japi.idl in the
enclosed ZIP file.

I have made various attempts to get the server (omniORB, tie-
implementation, C++, NT4, MSDEV version 6.0) to work, but none are
successful, no doubt because I am new to CORBA.

The refresh method does something like this:

updates * recordData_i::refresh()
{
        updates         *Result;        // has to be new'd!!
//      updates         *Ans;

        Result = new updates();
        Result->recordUpdates = recordSequence();
        
        recordSequence& rs = Result->recordUpdates;
        rs[0].recordName = (const char *) "JIM";
        rs[0].recordFields = fields();

        fields&  fs = rs[0].recordFields;
        fs.length( 2);
        fs[0].fieldName = (const char *) "NITTY GRITTY";
        fs[0].value = (const char *) "HO-HO";
        fs[1].fieldName = (const char *) "ARTHUR";
        fs[1].value = (const char *) "POOP-POOP";

//      Ans = new updates( *Result);            // blows up
//      delete Result;                          // blows up
//      return Ans;                             // blows up

        return new updates( *Result);   // has to be copied - why?? -
//                                      // Also leaks memory
}

This version 'works', but leaks memory, probably for the fairly obvious
reason that I return a *copy* of Result, but don't delete Result.  

However, if I attempt to delete Result, as in the commented-out lines
just above, the program crashes with a heap de-allocation error in some
unknown thread.

My original attempt was like this:

updates * recordData_i::refresh()
{
        updates         *Result;        // has to be new'd!!

        Result = new updates();
        ...
        return Result;
}

which I would have thought the most obvious way to write it, but it also
crashed with a similar heap error.

So basically the situation is that the best attempt eats up memory.
What am I doing wrong, and where can I get more info on the 'rules'?

The java client is also in the enclosed ZIP file.

Can anybody help?

Thanks,

Andy Weber

[demime 0.97b removed an attachment of type application/zip]
-- 
Andy Weber
Arcontech Ltd                           Phone +44 (0) 20 7405 2111
31-35 Kirby Street                      Fax   +44 (0) 20 7831 6667
London EC1N 8TE                         E-mail andy@arcontech.com

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