Specifying ContentFilteredTopics in an XML file

As far I know, you cannot create ContentFilteredTopic in an XML file, you have to do it programmatically.

In the User's Manual section '5.4.3 Creating ContentFilteredTopics' is explained how to create and manage it. You have two options when creating the filter: 'STRINGMATCH Filter Expression Notation' and 'SQL Filter Expression Notation'. Both of them are explained in the User's Manual as well. Also, you have an example where the SQL filter use case is explained: http://community.rti.com/examples/content-filtered-topic.

We are working on improving that example to add the other use case. I will add a comment in the thread once it is ready.

Angel.

Hello Brendan,

     To set the filter expression parameters dynamically, you would use the following wihtin your code:

   DDS_ReturnCode_t set_expression_parameters
                            (const struct DDS_StringSeq & parameters)

Hi Brendan,

In addition to Bert's comment, note that you can define the parameters in the XML file using the following syntax:

<datareader name="FooDataReader" topic_ref="FooTopic">  
   <filter name="FooFilter" kind="builtin.sql">
        <parameter_list> 
            <param>a</param>
        </parameter_list> 
        <expression> a > 5 </expression> 
   </filter>
</datareader>

Hi Brendan,

Just to clarify, when using the syntax Fernando is mentioning, you have to use the XML Application Creation functionality to access your ContentFilteredTopic. As far as I know, I don't think it can be done in XML for an application not using XML App Creation.

Thanks,

Juanlu

Bert, Fernando & Brendan

I'm using XML App Creation and have included a filter on my subscriber (as per Fernando's example) in the XML, but how do I specify the parameter values in my C++ application?

If I use create_participant_from_config, how do I then get to the point where I use set_expression_params to specify the actual value?

Thanks,

Julie

Hello Julie,

To specify the parameter values in C++ you will need to lookup the Content Filtered Topic (CFT) created via XML and perform operations on it just like you would do with a CFT created using the regular C++ API. Here's what you need to do.

// First lookup the geneneric "topic" data type, i.e., Topic Description
DDSTopicDescription * topic_description = participant->lookup_topicdescription(cft_name);
// Then narrow the Topic Description to get the actual Content Filtered Topic 
DDSContentFilteredTopic * cft = DDSContentFilteredTopic::narrow(topic_description);
// (Here you would set the value of the different parameters in the "parameters" sequence)
// Once you have set the parameters, just call set_expression_parameters() on the CFT
retcode = cft->set_expression_parameters(parameters);

We have a complete example on how to set expression parameters in our examples section, please take a look at it to understand how to initialize the parameters sequence.

Let me know if this works for you,
Fernando.