source: trunk/SRC/ToBeReviewed/STRING/string2struct.pro

;+
;
; @file_comments
; This is a really, really cool way to turn keywords into a structure.
;
; @categories
;
; @keyword _EXTRA
; Used to pass keywords
;
; @returns
;
; @restrictions
;
; @examples
;
; @history
;
; @version
; $Id$
;
;-
FUNCTION too_cool, _EXTRA=extra
;
  compile_opt idl2, strictarrsubs
;
return,extra
end

;+
;
; @file_comments
; Takes an input string set up as keywords and returns an anonymous structure.
; This is particularly useful for taking keywords entered by a user in a text
; field and passing then to other routines.
;
; @categories
; Utilities
;
; @param STRVAL {IN}{REQUIRED}
; String set up as keywords. Keywords require a little special treatment.
; Such as
;
; plot,findgen(100),_extra=string2struct('title="testing"')
;
; @returns
; This function returns the string as an anonymous structure. If an
; error was found then this function returns a structure with a null field.
;
; @examples
;       The code below creates a widget that uses this routine.
;       pro tPlot,event
;       widget_control,event.top,get_uvalue=field
;       widget_control,field,get_value=strval
;       extra = string2struct(strval)
;       plot,findgen(100),_extra=extra
;       wshow
;       return
;       end
;
;       pro testWid
;       ;enter any keyword to plot and see how it works
;       base = widget_base(/col)
;       field = cw_field(base,title='test',value='ax=0',/string)
;       void = widget_button(base,value='plot',event_pro='tPlot')
;       widget_control,base,/realize,set_uvalue=field
;       xmanager,'testWid',base,/no_block
;       return
;       end
;
; @history
;       Written by:
;       RLK, Ronn Kling Consulting.
;       ronn\@rlkling.com
;       www.rlkling.com
;               May, 1999
;
; @version
; $Id$
;
;-
FUNCTION string2struct,strval
;
  compile_opt idl2, strictarrsubs
;
r = execute('extra = too_cool(' + strval[0] +')')
;if r = 0 then user did not enter keywords correctly so
;return a structure with a null field.
if r eq 0 then begin
  print,'Error in input string'
  return,{null:0}
endif
return,extra
end