Description

IsValid() -- returns true if the wrapper contains a non-NIL pointer, or false if it contains a NIL pointer.

Validate() -- throws an exception if the wrapper contains a NIL pointer.

operator ->(), operator *() -- support pointer-style syntax on a TPointerTo, so that the following statements are legal (assuming TA::f() exists):

  const TPointerTo<TA>& a = ...;
  a->f();
  (*a).f();

TPointerTo(AType*) -- copies the pointer into the wrapper.

operator=(AType* ) -- copies the pointer into the wrapper.

~TPointerTo() -- does nothing. It has no effect on the object it points to.

Orphan() -- returns a copy of the pointer contained in the wrapper, and changes the wrapper to contain NIL. GetAlias() will subsequently return NIL.

CopyPointer (const TPointerTo<AType>& from...) -- copies the object (if any) to which the wrapper points, and returns a pointer to the copy. Returns NIL if the wrapper contains NIL. This function won't compile unless AType is copyable; that is, unless CopyPointer(AType*) is available.

Flatten (const TPointerTo<AType>& from, TStream& into) -- flattens the object to which the wrapper points into the given stream. This function won't compile unless AType is flattenable; that is, unless Flatten(AType*, TStream&) is available.

StreamOutLengthAndFlatten (const TPointerTo<AType>& from, TStream& into) -- flattens the object to which the wrapper points into the given stream, preceded by the length (in the stream) of its flattened representation. This function won't compile unless AType is flattenable.