Visual C++ How to: Convert Between Various String Types

Visual C++

How to: Convert Between Various String Types

This topic demonstrates how to convert various Visual C++ string types into other strings. The strings types that are covered include char *, wchar_t*, _bstr_t, CComBSTR, CString, basic_string, and System..::.String. In all cases, a copy of the string is made when converted to the new type. Any changes made to the new string will not affect the original string, and vice versa.

 Example

Description

This example demonstrates how to convert from a char * to the other string types listed above.

Code

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// convert_from_char.cpp
// compile with: /clr /link comsuppw.lib

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>

#include "atlbase.h"
#include "atlstr.h"
#include "comutil.h"

using namespace std;
using namespace System;

int main()
{
    char *orig = "Hello, World!";
    cout << orig << " (char *)" << endl;

    // Convert to a wchar_t*
    size_t origsize = strlen(orig) + 1;
    const size_t newsize = 100;
    size_t convertedChars = 0;
    wchar_t wcstring[newsize];
    mbstowcs_s(&convertedChars, wcstring, origsize, orig, _TRUNCATE);
    wcscat_s(wcstring, L" (wchar_t *)");
    wcout << wcstring << endl;

    // Convert to a _bstr_t
    _bstr_t bstrt(orig);
    bstrt += " (_bstr_t)";
    cout << bstrt << endl;

    // Convert to a CComBSTR
    CComBSTR ccombstr(orig);
    if (ccombstr.Append(L" (CComBSTR)") == S_OK)
    {
        CW2A printstr(ccombstr);
        cout << printstr << endl;
    }

    // Convert to a CString
    CString cstring(orig);
    cstring += " (CString)";
    cout << cstring << endl;

    // Convert to a basic_string
    string basicstring(orig);
    basicstring += " (basic_string)";
    cout << basicstring << endl;

    // Convert to a System::String
    String ^systemstring = gcnew String(orig);
    systemstring += " (System::String)";
    Console::WriteLine("{0}", systemstring);
    delete systemstring;
}

Output

Hello, World! (char *)
Hello, World! (wchar_t *)
Hello, World! (_bstr_t)
Hello, World! (CComBSTR)
Hello, World! (CString)
Hello, World! (basic_string)
Hello, World! (System::String)

 Example

Description

This example demonstrates how to convert from a wchar_t * to the other string types listed above.

Code

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// convert_from_wchar_t.cpp
// compile with: /clr /link comsuppw.lib

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>

#include "atlbase.h"
#include "atlstr.h"
#include "comutil.h"

using namespace std;
using namespace System;

int main()
{
    wchar_t *orig = L"Hello, World!";
    wcout << orig << L" (wchar_t *)" << endl;

    // Convert to a char*
    size_t origsize = wcslen(orig) + 1;
    const size_t newsize = 100;
    size_t convertedChars = 0;
    char nstring[newsize];
    wcstombs_s(&convertedChars, nstring, origsize, orig, _TRUNCATE);
    strcat_s(nstring, " (char *)");
    cout << nstring << endl;

    // Convert to a _bstr_t
    _bstr_t bstrt(orig);
    bstrt += " (_bstr_t)";
    cout << bstrt << endl;

    // Convert to a CComBSTR
    CComBSTR ccombstr(orig);
    if (ccombstr.Append(L" (CComBSTR)") == S_OK)
    {
        CW2A printstr(ccombstr);
        cout << printstr << endl;
    }

    // Convert to a CString
    CString cstring(orig);
    cstring += " (CString)";
    cout << cstring << endl;

    // Convert to a basic_string
    wstring basicstring(orig);
    basicstring += L" (basic_string)";
    wcout << basicstring << endl;

    // Convert to a System::String
    String ^systemstring = gcnew String(orig);
    systemstring += " (System::String)";
    Console::WriteLine("{0}", systemstring);
    delete systemstring;
}

Output

Hello, World! (wchar_t *)
Hello, World! (char *)
Hello, World! (_bstr_t)
Hello, World! (CComBSTR)
Hello, World! (CString)
Hello, World! (basic_string)
Hello, World! (System::String)

 Example

Description

This example demonstrates how to convert from a _bstr_t to the other string types listed above.

Code

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// convert_from_bstr_t.cpp
// compile with: /clr /link comsuppw.lib

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>

#include "atlbase.h"
#include "atlstr.h"
#include "comutil.h"

using namespace std;
using namespace System;

int main()
{
    _bstr_t orig("Hello, World!");
    wcout << orig << " (_bstr_t)" << endl;

    // Convert to a char*
    const size_t newsize = 100;
    char nstring[newsize];
    strcpy_s(nstring, (char *)orig);
    strcat_s(nstring, " (char *)");
    cout << nstring << endl;

    // Convert to a wchar_t*
    wchar_t wcstring[newsize];
    wcscpy_s(wcstring, (wchar_t *)orig);
    wcscat_s(wcstring, L" (wchar_t *)");
    wcout << wcstring << endl;

    // Convert to a CComBSTR
    CComBSTR ccombstr((char *)orig);
    if (ccombstr.Append(L" (CComBSTR)") == S_OK)
    {
        CW2A printstr(ccombstr);
        cout << printstr << endl;
    }

    // Convert to a CString
    CString cstring((char *)orig);
    cstring += " (CString)";
    cout << cstring << endl;

    // Convert to a basic_string
    string basicstring((char *)orig);
    basicstring += " (basic_string)";
    cout << basicstring << endl;

    // Convert to a System::String
    String ^systemstring = gcnew String((char *)orig);
    systemstring += " (System::String)";
    Console::WriteLine("{0}", systemstring);
    delete systemstring;
}

Output

Hello, World! (_bstr_t)
Hello, World! (char *)
Hello, World! (wchar_t *)
Hello, World! (CComBSTR)
Hello, World! (CString)
Hello, World! (basic_string)
Hello, World! (System::String)

 Example

Description

This example demonstrates how to convert from a CComBSTR to the other string types listed above.

Code

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// convert_from_ccombstr.cpp
// compile with: /clr /link comsuppw.lib

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>

#include "atlbase.h"
#include "atlstr.h"
#include "comutil.h"
#include "vcclr.h"

using namespace std;
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;

int main()
{
    CComBSTR orig("Hello, World!");
    CW2A printstr(orig);
    cout << printstr << " (CComBSTR)" << endl;

    // Convert to a char*
    const size_t newsize = 100;
    char nstring[newsize];
    CW2A tmpstr1(orig);
    strcpy_s(nstring, tmpstr1);
    strcat_s(nstring, " (char *)");
    cout << nstring << endl;

    // Convert to a wchar_t*
    wchar_t wcstring[newsize];
    wcscpy_s(wcstring, orig);
    wcscat_s(wcstring, L" (wchar_t *)");
    wcout << wcstring << endl;

    // Convert to a _bstr_t
    _bstr_t bstrt(orig);
    bstrt += " (_bstr_t)";
    cout << bstrt << endl;

    // Convert to a CString
    CString cstring(orig);
    cstring += " (CString)";
    cout << cstring << endl;

    // Convert to a basic_string
    wstring basicstring(orig);
    basicstring += L" (basic_string)";
    wcout << basicstring << endl;

    // Convert to a System::String
    String ^systemstring = gcnew String(orig);
    systemstring += " (System::String)";
    Console::WriteLine("{0}", systemstring);
    delete systemstring;
}

Output

Hello, World! (CComBSTR)
Hello, World! (char *)
Hello, World! (wchar_t *)
Hello, World! (_bstr_t)
Hello, World! (CString)
Hello, World! (basic_string)
Hello, World! (System::String)

 Example

Description

This example demonstrates how to convert from a CString to the other string types listed above.

Code

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// convert_from_cstring.cpp
// compile with: /clr /link comsuppw.lib

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>

#include "atlbase.h"
#include "atlstr.h"
#include "comutil.h"

using namespace std;
using namespace System;

int main()
{
    CString orig("Hello, World!");
    wcout << orig << " (CString)" << endl;

    // Convert to a char*
    const size_t newsize = 100;
    char nstring[newsize];
    strcpy_s(nstring, orig);
    strcat_s(nstring, " (char *)");
    cout << nstring << endl;

    // Convert to a wchar_t*
    // You must first convert to a char * for this to work.
    size_t origsize = strlen(orig) + 1;
    size_t convertedChars = 0;
    wchar_t wcstring[newsize];
    mbstowcs_s(&convertedChars, wcstring, origsize, orig, _TRUNCATE);
    wcscat_s(wcstring, L" (wchar_t *)");
    wcout << wcstring << endl;

    // Convert to a _bstr_t
    _bstr_t bstrt(orig);
    bstrt += " (_bstr_t)";
    cout << bstrt << endl;

    // Convert to a CComBSTR
    CComBSTR ccombstr(orig);
    if (ccombstr.Append(L" (CComBSTR)") == S_OK)
    {
        CW2A printstr(ccombstr);
        cout << printstr << endl;
    }

    // Convert to a basic_string
    string basicstring(orig);
    basicstring += " (basic_string)";
    cout << basicstring << endl;

    // Convert to a System::String
    String ^systemstring = gcnew String(orig);
    systemstring += " (System::String)";
    Console::WriteLine("{0}", systemstring);
    delete systemstring;
}

Output

Hello, World! (CString)
Hello, World! (char *)
Hello, World! (wchar_t *)
Hello, World! (_bstr_t)
Hello, World! (CComBSTR)
Hello, World! (basic_string)
Hello, World! (System::String)

 Example

Description

This example demonstrates how to convert from a basic_string to the other string types listed above.

Code

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// convert_from_basic_string.cpp
// compile with: /clr /link comsuppw.lib

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>

#include "atlbase.h"
#include "atlstr.h"
#include "comutil.h"

using namespace std;
using namespace System;

int main()
{
    string orig("Hello, World!");
    cout << orig << " (basic_string)" << endl;

    // Convert to a char*
    const size_t newsize = 100;
    char nstring[newsize];
    strcpy_s(nstring, orig.c_str());
    strcat_s(nstring, " (char *)");
    cout << nstring << endl;

    // Convert to a wchar_t*
    // You must first convert to a char * for this to work.
    size_t origsize = strlen(orig.c_str()) + 1;
    size_t convertedChars = 0;
    wchar_t wcstring[newsize];
    mbstowcs_s(&convertedChars, wcstring, origsize, orig.c_str(), _TRUNCATE);
    wcscat_s(wcstring, L" (wchar_t *)");
    wcout << wcstring << endl;

    // Convert to a _bstr_t
    _bstr_t bstrt(orig.c_str());
    bstrt += " (_bstr_t)";
    cout << bstrt << endl;

    // Convert to a CComBSTR
    CComBSTR ccombstr(orig.c_str());
    if (ccombstr.Append(L" (CComBSTR)") == S_OK)
    {
        CW2A printstr(ccombstr);
        cout << printstr << endl;
    }

    // Convert to a CString
    CString cstring(orig.c_str());
    cstring += " (CString)";
    cout << cstring << endl;

    // Convert to a System::String
    String ^systemstring = gcnew String(orig.c_str());
    systemstring += " (System::String)";
    Console::WriteLine("{0}", systemstring);
    delete systemstring;
}

Output

Hello, World! (basic_string)
Hello, World! (char *)
Hello, World! (wchar_t *)
Hello, World! (_bstr_t)
Hello, World! (CComBSTR)
Hello, World! (CString)
Hello, World! (System::String)

 Example

Description

This example demonstrates how to convert from a System..::.String to the other string types listed above.

Code

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// convert_from_system_string.cpp
// compile with: /clr /link comsuppw.lib

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>

#include "atlbase.h"
#include "atlstr.h"
#include "comutil.h"
#include "vcclr.h"

using namespace std;
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;

int main()
{
    String ^orig = gcnew String("Hello, World!");
    Console::WriteLine("{0} (System::String)", orig);

    pin_ptr<const wchar_t> wch = PtrToStringChars(orig);

    // Convert to a char*
    size_t origsize = wcslen(wch) + 1;
    const size_t newsize = 100;
    size_t convertedChars = 0;
    char nstring[newsize];
    wcstombs_s(&convertedChars, nstring, origsize, wch, _TRUNCATE);
    strcat_s(nstring, " (char *)");
    cout << nstring << endl;

    // Convert to a wchar_t*
    wchar_t wcstring[newsize];
    wcscpy_s(wcstring, wch);
    wcscat_s(wcstring, L" (wchar_t *)");
    wcout << wcstring << endl;

    // Convert to a _bstr_t
    _bstr_t bstrt(wch);
    bstrt += " (_bstr_t)";
    cout << bstrt << endl;

    // Convert to a CComBSTR
    CComBSTR ccombstr(wch);
    if (ccombstr.Append(L" (CComBSTR)") == S_OK)
    {
        CW2A printstr(ccombstr);
        cout << printstr << endl;
    }

    // Convert to a CString
    CString cstring(wch);
    cstring += " (CString)";
    cout << cstring << endl;

    // Convert to a basic_string
    wstring basicstring(wch);
    basicstring += L" (basic_string)";
    wcout << basicstring << endl;

    delete orig;
}

Output

Hello, World! (System::String)
Hello, World! (char *)
Hello, World! (wchar_t *)
Hello, World! (_bstr_t)
Hello, World! (CComBSTR)
Hello, World! (CString)
Hello, World! (basic_string)

 See Also

Concepts

Visual C++ Guided Tour

ATL and MFC String Conversion Macros

CString Operations Relating to C-Style Strings

How to: Convert Standard String to System::String

How to: Convert System::String to Standard String

How to: Convert System::String to wchar_t* or char*

Programming with CComBSTR

mbstowcs_s, _mbstowcs_s_l

wcstombs_s, _wcstombs_s_l

strcpy_s, wcscpy_s, _mbscpy_s

strcat_s, wcscat_s, _mbscat_s

pin_ptr