Alex Rivera | Logout

C++ Boost: what's the cause of this warning?

Asked 2009-08-19T17:02:42.470
46

I have a simple C++ with Boost like this:

#include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>

int main()
{
  std::string latlonStr = "hello,ergr()()rg(rg)";
  boost::find_format_all(latlonStr,boost::token_finder(boost::is_any_of("(,)")),boost::const_formatter(" "));

This works fine; it replaces every occurrence of ( ) , with a " "

However, I get this warning when compiling:

I'm using MSVC 2008, Boost 1.37.0.

1>Compiling...
1>mainTest.cpp
1>c:\work\minescout-feat-000\extlib\boost\algorithm\string\detail\classification.hpp(102) : warning C4996: 'std::copy': Function call with parameters that may be unsafe - this call relies on the caller to check that the passed values are correct. To disable this warning, use -D_SCL_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS. See documentation on how to use Visual C++ 'Checked Iterators'
1>        c:\program files (x86)\microsoft visual studio 9.0\vc\include\xutility(2576) : see declaration of 'std::copy'
1>        c:\work\minescout-feat-000\extlib\boost\algorithm\string\classification.hpp(206) : see reference to function template instantiation 'boost::algorithm::detail::is_any_ofF<CharT>::is_any_ofF<boost::iterator_range<IteratorT>>(const RangeT &)' being compiled
1>        with
1>        [
1>            CharT=char,
1>            IteratorT=const char *,
1>            RangeT=boost::iterator_range<const char *>
1>        ]
1>        c:\work\minescout-feat-000\minescouttest\maintest.cpp(257) : see reference to function template instantiation 'boost::algorithm::detail::is_any_ofF<CharT> boost::algorithm::is_any_of<const char[4]>(RangeT (&))' being compiled
1>        with
1>        [
1>            CharT=char,
1>            RangeT=const char [4]
1>        ]

I could certainly disable the warning using

-D_SCL_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS

but I'm a bit reluctant to do

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1 Answer

8

The warning comes from Visual Studio's non-standard "safe" library checks introduced starting with MSVC 8.0. Microsoft has identified "potentially dangerous" APIs and has injected warnings discouraging their use. While it is technically possible to call std::copy in an unsafe way, 1) receiving this warning does not mean you are doing so, and 2) using std::copy as you normally should is not dangerous.

answered 2009-08-19T17:14:14.600

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