Getting a data structure

[Graham Fawcett]

Mike solem wrote:

>I need to pass a data structures from a C program, to a python program over RS232.  
>I'm not quite sure how to recreate a data structure from a string of serial data.
>In C I would do it like this:
>
>---------------------- This compiles under gcc ----------
>#include <stdio.h>
>
>typedef struct{
>    int  a;
>    char b;
>}myStruct;
>
>int main()
>{
>    char data[]= {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
>    myStruct* s1;
>   
>    s1 = (myStruct*)&data;
>    printf("%x %d\n", s1->a, s1->b);
>    return 0;
>}
>--------------------------------------------
>
>The 'data' array above would be a buffer which receives data from the serial link.
>So the questions are, what type of python data stucture to use, and how to 
>initialize it from the buffer.
>The struct I'm using is a lot more complex than the one I used here.  It's built up of a couple 
>of other structs.
>
>Thanks
>Mike
>
>  
>
Does the standard "struct" module not meet your requirements?

"This module performs conversions between Python values and C structs 
represented as Python strings. It uses /format strings/ (explained 
below) as compact descriptions of the lay-out of the C structs and the 
intended conversion to/from Python values. This can be used in handling 
binary data stored in files or from network connections, among other 
sources."

http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/module-struct.html

-- Graham