libdar-dev 2.4.8-1ubuntu1 / usr / include / dar / tools.hpp

/*********************************************************************/
// dar - disk archive - a backup/restoration program
// Copyright (C) 2002-2052 Denis Corbin
//
// This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
// modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
// as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
// of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
//
// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
// GNU General Public License for more details.
//
// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
// along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
//
// to contact the author : http://dar.linux.free.fr/email.html
/*********************************************************************/

    /// \defgroup Tools Tools
    /// \brief a set of tool routine
    ///
    /// these routines are available from libdar for historical
    /// reason, but are not part of the API.
    /// They are shared and used by dar, dar_slave, dar_xform,
    /// and dar_manager command. You should avoid using them in
    /// external program as they may be removed or changed without
    /// backward compatibility support.

    /// \file tools.hpp
    /// \brief a set of general purpose routines
    /// \ingroup Tools


#ifndef TOOLS_HPP
#define TOOLS_HPP

#include "/usr/include/dar/libdar_my_config.h"

extern "C"
{
#if LIBDAR_STDC_HEADERS
#include <stdarg.h>
#endif
#if LIBDAR_HAS_SIGNAL_H
#include <signal.h>
#endif
}

#include <string>
#include <vector>
#include <map>
#include "/usr/include/dar/path.hpp"
#include "/usr/include/dar/infinint.hpp"
#include "/usr/include/dar/generic_file.hpp"
#include "/usr/include/dar/tuyau.hpp"
#include "/usr/include/dar/integers.hpp"
#include "/usr/include/dar/tlv_list.hpp"

#define TOOLS_SI_SUFFIX 1000
#define TOOLS_BIN_SUFFIX 1024

namespace libdar
{

	/// \addtogroup Tools
	/// @{


	/// libdar internal use only: it is launched from get_version() and initializes tools internal variables
    extern void tools_init();
	/// libdar internal use only: it is launched from close_and_clean() and releases tools internal variables
    extern void tools_end();

	/// convert a string to a char *

	/// \param[in] x is the string to convert
	/// \return the address of newly allocated memory containing the equivalent string as the argument
	/// \exception Ememory is thrown if the memory allocation failed, this call never return NULL
	/// \note Do not use this function, use std::string::c_str(). The allocated memory must be released by the caller thanks to the "delete []" operator
    extern char *tools_str2charptr(const std::string &x);

        /// write a string to a file with a '\\0' at then end

        /// \param[in] f the file to write to
        /// \param[in] s the string to write to file
    extern void tools_write_string(generic_file & f, const std::string & s);

        /// read a string from a file expecting it to terminate by '\\0'

        /// \param f the file to read from
        /// \param s the string to put the data to (except the ending '\\0')
    extern void tools_read_string(generic_file & f, std::string & s);

        /// write a string to a file, '\\0' has no special meaning nor is added at the end

        /// \param[in] f the file to write to
        /// \param[in] s the string to write to file
    extern void tools_write_string_all(generic_file & f, const std::string & s);

        /// read a string if given size from a file '\\0' has no special meaning

        /// \param[in] f is the file to read from
        /// \param[in] s is the string to put read data in
        /// \param[in] taille is the size in byte to read
    extern void tools_read_string_size(generic_file & f, std::string & s, infinint taille);

        /// retrieve the size in byte of a file

        /// \param[in] p is the path to the file which size is to get
        /// \return the size of the file in byte
    extern infinint tools_get_filesize(const path &p);

        /// convert the given string to infinint taking care of multiplication suffixes like k, M, T, etc.

        /// \param[in] s is the string to read
        /// \param[in] base is the multiplication factor (base = 1000 for SI, base = 1024 for computer science use)
        /// \return the value encoded in the given string
    extern infinint tools_get_extended_size(std::string s, U_I base);

        /// extracts the basename of a file (removing path part)

	/// \param[in] command_name is the full path of the file
	/// \param[out] basename the basename of the file
	/// \exception Ememory can be thrown if memory allocation failed
    extern void tools_extract_basename(const char *command_name, std::string & basename);


	/// give a pointer to the last character of the given value in the given string

	/// \param[in] s is the given string
	/// \param[in] v is the given char value
	/// \return a interator on s, pointing on the last char of s equal to v or a pointing to s.end() if no such char could be found is "s"
	/// \note the arguments are not modified neither the data they are pointing to. However the const statement has not been used to
	/// be able to return a iterator on the string (and not a const_interator). There is probably other ways to do that (using const_cast) for example
    extern std::string::iterator tools_find_last_char_of(std::string &s, unsigned char v);

	/// give a pointer to the last character of the given value in the given string

	/// \param[in] s is the given string
	/// \param[in] v is the given char value
	/// \return a interator on s, pointing on the first char of s equal to v or a pointing to s.end() if no such char could be found is "s"
	/// \note the arguments are not modified neither the data they are pointing to. However the const statement has not been used to
	/// be able to return a iterator on the string (and not a const_interator). There is probably other ways to do that (using const_cast) for example
    extern std::string::iterator tools_find_first_char_of(std::string &s, unsigned char v);

        /// split a given full path in path part and basename part

        /// \param[in] all is the path to split
        /// \param[out] chemin is the resulting path part, it points to a newly allocated path object
        /// \param[out] base is the resulting basename
        /// \note chemin argument must be release by the caller thanks to the "delete" operator.
    extern void tools_split_path_basename(const char *all, path * &chemin, std::string & base);

        /// split a given full path in path part and basename part

        /// \param[in] all is the path to split
        /// \param[out] chemin is the resulting path part, it points to a newly allocated path object
        /// \param[out] base is the resulting basename
        /// \note chemin argument must be release by the caller thanks to the "delete" operator.
    extern void tools_split_path_basename(const std::string &all, std::string & chemin, std::string & base);

        /// open a pair of tuyau objects encapsulating two named pipes.

        /// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
        /// \param[in] input path to the input named pipe
        /// \param[in] output path to the output named pipe
        /// \param[out] in resulting tuyau object for input
        /// \param[out] out resulting tuyau object for output
        /// \note in and out parameters must be released by the caller thanks to the "delete" operator
    extern void tools_open_pipes(user_interaction & dialog, const std::string &input, const std::string & output,
                                 tuyau *&in, tuyau *&out);

        /// set blocking/not blocking mode for reading on a file descriptor

        /// \param[in] fd file descriptor to read on
        /// \param[in] mode set to true for a blocking read and to false for non blocking read
    extern void tools_blocking_read(int fd, bool mode);

        /// convert uid to name in regards to the current system's configuration

        /// \param[in] uid the User ID number
        /// \return the name of the corresponding user or the uid if none corresponds
    extern std::string tools_name_of_uid(const infinint & uid);

        /// convert gid to name in regards of the current system's configuration

        /// \param[in] gid the Group ID number
        /// \return the name of the corresponding group or the gid if none corresponds
    extern std::string tools_name_of_gid(const infinint & gid);

        /// convert unsigned word to string

        /// \param[in] x the unsigned word to convert
        /// \return the decimal representation of the given integer
    extern std::string tools_uword2str(U_16 x);

        /// convert integer to string

        /// \param[in] x the integer to convert
        /// \return the decimal representation of the given integer
    extern std::string tools_int2str(S_I x);

        /// convert an integer written in decimal notation to the corresponding value

        /// \param[in] x the decimal representation of the integer
        /// \return the value corresponding to the decimal representation given
    extern U_I tools_str2int(const std::string & x);

        /// convert a signed integer written in decimal notation to the corresponding value

        /// \param[in] x the decimal representation of the integer
        /// \return the value corresponding to the decimal representation given
    extern S_I tools_str2signed_int(const std::string & x);

        /// ascii to integer conversion

        /// \param[in] a is the ascii string to convert
        /// \param[out] val is the resulting value
        /// \return true if the conversion could be done false if the given string does not
        /// correspond to the decimal representation of an unsigned integer
	/// \note this call is now a warapper around tools_str2int
    extern bool tools_my_atoi(const char *a, U_I & val);

        /// prepend spaces before the given string

        /// \param[in] s the string to append spaces to
        /// \param[in] expected_size the minimum size of the resulting string
        /// \return a string at least as much long as expected_size with prepended leading spaces if necessary
    extern std::string tools_addspacebefore(std::string s, U_I expected_size);

        /// convert a date in second to its human readable representation

        /// \param[in] date the date in second
        /// \return the human representation corresponding to the argument
    extern std::string tools_display_date(infinint date);

	/// convert a human readable date representation in number of second since the system reference date

	/// \param[in] repres the date's human representation
	/// \return the corresponding number of seconds (computer time)
	/// \note the string expected format is "[[[year/]month/]day-]hour:minute[:second]"
    extern infinint tools_convert_date(const std::string & repres);

        /// wrapper to the "system" system call.

        /// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
        /// \param[in] argvector the equivalent to the argv[] vector
    extern void tools_system(user_interaction & dialog, const std::vector<std::string> & argvector);

	/// wrapper to the "system" system call using anonymous pipe to tranmit arguments to the child process

	/// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
	/// \param[in] dar_cmd the path to the executable to run
	/// \param[in] argvpipe the list of arguments to pass through anonymous pipe
	/// \note the command to execute must understand the --pipe-fd option that
	/// gives the filedescriptor to read from the command-line options
    extern void tools_system_with_pipe(user_interaction & dialog, const std::string & dar_cmd, const std::vector<std::string> & argvpipe);

        /// write a list of string to file

        /// \param[in] f the file to write to
        /// \param[in] x the list of string to write
    extern void tools_write_vector(generic_file & f, const std::vector<std::string> & x);

        /// read a list of string from a file

        /// \param[in] f the file to read from
        /// \param[out] x the list to fill from file
    extern void tools_read_vector(generic_file & f, std::vector<std::string> & x);

        /// concatenate a vectors of strings in a single string

        /// \param[in] separator string to insert between two elements
        /// \param[in] x the list string
        /// \return the result of the concatenation of the members of the list with separtor between two consecutive members
    extern std::string tools_concat_vector(const std::string & separator,
                                           const std::vector<std::string> & x);

        /// concatenate two vectors

        /// \param[in] a the first vector
        /// \param[in] b the second vector
        /// \return a vector containing the elements of a and the element of b
    std::vector<std::string> operator + (std::vector<std::string> a, std::vector<std::string> b);

        /// test the presence of a value in a list

        /// \param[in] val is the value to look for
        /// \param[in] liste is the list to look in
        /// \return true if val has been found as a member of the list
    extern bool tools_is_member(const std::string & val, const std::vector<std::string> & liste);

        /// display the compilation time features of libdar

        /// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
        /// \param[in] ea whether Extended Attribute support is available
        /// \param[in] largefile whether large file support is available
        /// \param[in] nodump whether nodump flag support is available
        /// \param[in] special_alloc whether special allocation is activated
        /// \param[in] bits infinint version used
        /// \param[in] thread_safe whether thread safe support is available
        /// \param[in] libz whether libz compression is available
        /// \param[in] libbz2 whether libbz2 compression is available
	/// \param[in] liblzo2 whether lzo compression is available
        /// \param[in] libcrypto whether strong encryption is available
	/// \param[in] furtive_read whether furtive read access is available
	/// \note this routine is deprecated, as it needs a change in its interface
	/// upon each new feature addition, use the other tools_display_features()
	/// routing, with a single argument (see below).
    extern void tools_display_features(user_interaction & dialog,
                                       bool ea,
				       bool largefile,
				       bool nodump,
				       bool special_alloc,
				       U_I bits,
				       bool thread_safe,
                                       bool libz,
                                       bool libbz2,
				       bool liblzo2,
                                       bool libcrypto,
				       bool furtive_read);

        /// display the compilation time features of libdar

        /// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
	/// \note this call uses the compile_time:: routines, and will
	/// not change its interface upon new feature addition
    extern void tools_display_features(user_interaction & dialog);


        /// test if two dates are equal taking care of a integer hour of difference

        /// \param[in] hourshift is the number of integer hour more or less two date can be considered equal
        /// \param[in] date1 first date to compare
        /// \param[in] date2 second date to compare to
        /// \return whether dates are equal or not
    extern bool tools_is_equal_with_hourshift(const infinint & hourshift, const infinint & date1, const infinint & date2);

        /// template function to add two vectors

    template <class T> std::vector<T> operator +=(std::vector<T> & a, const std::vector<T> & b)
    {
        a = a + b;
        return a;
    }


        /// isolate the value of a given variable from the environment vector

        /// \param[in] env the environment vector as retreived from the third argument of the main() function
        /// \param[in] clef the key or variable name too look for
        /// \return NULL if the key could not be find or a pointer to the env data giving the value of the requested key
        /// \note the returned value must not be released by any mean as it is just a pointer to an system allocated memory (the env vector).
    extern const char *tools_get_from_env(const char **env, const char *clef);

        /// does sanity checks on a slice name, check presence and detect whether the given basename is not rather a filename

        /// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
        /// \param[in] loc the path where resides the slice
        /// \param[in,out] base the basename of the slice
        /// \param[in] extension the extension of dar's slices
        /// \note if user accepted the change of slice name proposed by libdar through dialog the base argument is changed
    extern void tools_check_basename(user_interaction & dialog,
                                     const path & loc, std::string & base, const std::string & extension);

        /// get current working directory

    extern std::string tools_getcwd();

        /// returns the file pointed to by a symbolic link (or transparent if the file is not a symlink).

        /// \param root the path to the file to read
        /// \return the file pointed to by the symlink or the value given in argument if it is not a symlink
        /// \note an exception can occur if lack of memory or invalid argument given (NULL or empty string), system call error...
    extern std::string tools_readlink(const char *root);

        /// test the presence of an argument

        /// \param[in] argument is the command line argument to look for
        /// \param[in] argc is the number of argument on the command line
        /// \param[in] argv is the list of argument on the command line
        /// \return true if the argument is present in the list
    extern bool tools_look_for(const char *argument, S_I argc, char *const argv[]);


        /// set dates of a given file, no exception thrown

        /// \param[in] chem the path to the file to set
        /// \param[in] last_acc last access date to use
        /// \param[in] last_mod last modification date to use
    extern void tools_noexcept_make_date(const std::string & chem, const infinint & last_acc, const infinint & last_mod);

        /// set dates of a given file, may throw exception

        /// \param[in] chemin the path to the file to set
        /// \param[in] access last access date to use
        /// \param[in] modif last modification date to use
    extern void tools_make_date(const std::string & chemin, infinint access, infinint modif);

        /// compare two string in case insensitive manner

        /// \param[in] a first string to compare
        /// \param[in] b second string to compare
        /// \return whether the two string given in argument are equal in case insensitive comparison
    extern bool tools_is_case_insensitive_equal(const std::string & a, const std::string & b);

        /// \brief convert a string to upper case
        ///
        /// \param[in,out] nts a NULL terminated string to convert
    extern void tools_to_upper(char *nts);

        /// \brief convert a string to upper case
        ///
        /// \param[in,out] r to convert
    extern void tools_to_upper(std::string & r);

        /// remove last character of a string is it equal to a given value

        /// \param[in] c the given value to compare the last char with
        /// \param[in,out] s the string to modify
    extern void tools_remove_last_char_if_equal_to(char c, std::string & s);

        /// from a string with a range notation (min-max) extract the range values

        /// \param[in] s the string to parse
        /// \param[out] min the minimum value of the range
        /// \param[out] max the maximum value of the range
        /// \exception Erange is thrown is the string to parse is incorrect
	/// \note: either a single number (positive or negative) is returned in min
	/// (max is set to min if min is positive or to zero if min is negative)
	/// or a range of positive numbers.
    extern void tools_read_range(const std::string & s, S_I & min, U_I & max);


        /// make printf-like formating to a std::string

        /// \param[in] format the format string
        /// \param[in] ... list of argument to use against the format string
        /// \return the resulting string
        /// \note the supported masks for the format are:
        /// - \%s \%c \%d \%\%  (normal behavior)
        /// - \%i (matches infinint *)
        /// - \%S (matches std::string *)
        /// .
    extern std::string tools_printf(const char *format, ...);

        /// make printf-like formating to a std::string

        /// \param[in] format the format string
        /// \param[in] ap list of argument to use against the format string
        /// \return the resulting string
        /// \note the supported masks for the format are:
        /// - \%s \%c \%d \%\%  (normal behavior)
        /// - \%i (matches infinint *)
        /// - \%S (matches std::string *)
        /// .
    extern std::string tools_vprintf(const char *format, va_list ap);

        /// test the presence of files corresponding to a given mask in a directory (regex mask)

        /// \param[in,out] ui for user interaction
        /// \param[in] c_chemin directory where file have to be looked for
        /// \param[in] file_mask regex expression which designates the files to look for
        /// \return true if some files have found matching the file_mask
    extern bool tools_do_some_files_match_mask_regex(user_interaction & ui, const std::string & c_chemin, const std::string & file_mask);


        /// remove files from a given directory

        /// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
        /// \param[in] c_chemin directory where files have to be removed
        /// \param[in] file_mask regex expression which designates the files to remove
        /// \param[in] info_details whether user must be displayed details of the operation
        /// \note This is equivalent to the 'rm' command with regex expression in place of glob one
    extern void tools_unlink_file_mask_regex(user_interaction & dialog, const std::string & c_chemin, const std::string & file_mask, bool info_details);


        /// prevents slice overwriting: check the presence of slice and if necessary ask the user if they can be removed

	/// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
	/// \param[in] chemin where slice is about to be created
	/// \param[in] x_file_mask mask corresponding to slices that will be generated (regex)
	/// \param[in] info_details whether user must be displayed details of the operation
	/// \param[in] allow_overwriting whether overwriting is allowed by the user
	/// \param[in] warn_overwriting whether a warning must be issued before overwriting (if allowed)
	/// \param[in] dry_run do a dry-run exection (no filesystem modification is performed)
	/// \note may thow exceptions.
    extern void tools_avoid_slice_overwriting_regex(user_interaction & dialog,
						    const path & chemin,
						    const std::string & x_file_mask,
						    bool info_details,
						    bool allow_overwriting,
						    bool warn_overwriting,
						    bool dry_run);

        /// append an elastic buffer of given size to the file

        /// \param[in,out] f file to append elastic buffer to
        /// \param[in] max_size size of the elastic buffer to add
    extern void tools_add_elastic_buffer(generic_file & f, U_32 max_size);


        /// tells whether two files are on the same mounted filesystem

        /// \param[in] file1 first file
        /// \param[in] file2 second file
        /// \return true if the two file are located under the same mounting point
        /// \note if one of the file is not present or if the filesystem information
        ///   is not possible to be read an exception is throw (Erange)
    extern bool tools_are_on_same_filesystem(const std::string & file1, const std::string & file2);


        /// transform a relative path to an absolute one given the current directory value

        /// \param[in] src the relative path to transform
        /// \param[in] cwd the value to take for the current directory
        /// \return the corresponding absolute path
    extern path tools_relative2absolute_path(const path & src, const path & cwd);

	/// block all signals (based on POSIX sigprocmask)

	/// \param[out] old_mask is set to the old mask value (for later unmasking signals)
	/// \exception Erange is thrown if system call failed for some reason
    extern void tools_block_all_signals(sigset_t &old_mask);

	/// unblock signals according to given mask

	/// \param[in] old_mask value to set to blocked signal mask
	/// \exception Erange is thrown if system call failed for some reason
    extern void tools_set_back_blocked_signals(sigset_t old_mask);

	/// counts the number of a given char in a given string

	/// \param[in] s string to look inside of
	/// \param[in] a char to look for
	/// \return the number of char found
    extern U_I tools_count_in_string(const std::string & s, const char a);

	/// returns the last modification date of the given file

	/// \param[in] s path of the file to get the last mtime
	/// \return the mtime of the given file
    extern infinint tools_get_mtime(const std::string & s);

	/// returns the size of the given plain file

	/// \param[in] s path of the file to get the size
	/// \return the size if the file in byte
    extern infinint tools_get_size(const std::string & s);

	/// returns the last change date of the given file

	/// \param[in] s path of the file to get the last ctime
	/// \return the ctime of the given file
    extern infinint tools_get_ctime(const std::string & s);

	/// read a file and split its contents in words

	/// \param[in,out] f is the file to read
	/// \return the list of words found in this order in the file
	/// \note The different quotes are taken into account
    extern std::vector<std::string> tools_split_in_words(generic_file & f);

	/// look next char in string out of parenthesis

	/// \param[in] data is the string to look into
	/// \param[in] what is the char to look for
	/// \param[in] start is the index in string to start from, assuming at given position we are out of parenthesis
	/// \param[out] found the position of the next char equal to what
	/// \return true if a char equal to 'what' has been found and set the 'found' argument to its position or returns false if
	/// no such character has been found out of parenthesis
	/// \note the 'found' argument is assigned only if the call returns true, its value is not to be used when false is returned from the call
	/// \note second point, the start data should point to a character that is out of any parenthesis, behavior is undefined else.
    extern bool tools_find_next_char_out_of_parenthesis(const std::string & data, const char what,  U_32 start, U_32 & found);


	/// produce the string resulting from the substition of % macro defined in the map

	/// \param[in] hook is the user's expression in which to proceed to substitution
	/// \param[in] corres is a map telling which char following a % sign to replace by which string
	/// \return the resulting string of the substitution
    extern std::string tools_substitute(const std::string & hook,
					const std::map<char, std::string> & corres);


	/// produces the string resulting from the substitution of %... macro

	/// \param[in] hook the string in which to substitute
	/// \param[in] path is by what %p will be replaced
	/// \param[in] basename is by what %b will be replaced
	/// \param[in] num is by what %n will be replaced
	/// \param[in] padded_num is by what %N will be replaced
	/// \param[in] ext is by what %e will be replaced
	/// \param[in] context is by what %c will be replaced
	/// \return the substitued resulting string
	/// \note it now relies on tools_substitue
    extern std::string tools_hook_substitute(const std::string & hook,
					     const std::string & path,
					     const std::string & basename,
					     const std::string & num,
					     const std::string & padded_num,
					     const std::string & ext,
					     const std::string & context);


	/// execute and retries at user will a given command line

	/// \param[in] ui which way to ask the user whether to continue upon command line error
	/// \param[in] cmd_line the command line to execute
    extern void tools_hook_execute(user_interaction & ui,
				   const std::string & cmd_line);


	/// subsititue and execute command line

	/// \param[in,out] ui this is the way to contact the user
	/// \param[in] hook the string in which to substitute
	/// \param[in] path is by what %p will be replaced
	/// \param[in] basename is by what %b will be replaced
	/// \param[in] num is by what %n will be replaced
	/// \param[in] padded_num is by what %N will be replaced
	/// \param[in] ext is by what %e will be replaced
	/// \param[in] context is by what %c will be replaced
    extern void tools_hook_substitute_and_execute(user_interaction & ui,
						  const std::string & hook,
						  const std::string & path,
						  const std::string & basename,
						  const std::string & num,
						  const std::string & padded_num,
						  const std::string & ext,
						  const std::string & context);

	/// builds a regex from root directory and user provided regex to be applied to the relative path


	/// \param[in] prefix is the root portion of the path
	/// \param[in] relative_part is the user provided regex to be applied to the relative path
	/// \return the corresponding regex to be applied to full absolute path
    extern std::string tools_build_regex_for_exclude_mask(const std::string & prefix,
							  const std::string & relative_part);

	/// convert string for xml output

	/// \note any < > & quote and double quote are replaced by adequate sequence for unicode
	/// \note second point, nothing is done here to replace system native strings to unicode
    extern std::string tools_output2xml(const std::string & src);

	/// convert octal string to integer

	/// \param perm is a string representing a number in octal (string must have a leading zero)
	/// \return the corresponding value as an integer
    extern U_I tools_octal2int(const std::string & perm);


	/// convert a number to a string corresponding to its octal representation

	/// \param perm is the octal number
	/// \return the corresponding octal string
    extern std::string tools_int2octal(const U_I & perm);

	/// change the permission of the file which descriptor is given

	/// \param[in] fd file's descriptor
	/// \param[in] perm file permission to set the file to
    extern void tools_set_permission(S_I fd, U_I perm);

	/// change ownership of the file which descriptor is given

	/// \param[in] fd file's descriptor
	/// \param[in] slice_user the user to set the file to. For empty string, no attempts to change the user ownership is done
	/// \param[in] slice_group the group to set the file to. For empty string, no attempts to change the group ownership is done
	/// \note this call may throw Erange exception upon system error
    extern void tools_set_ownership(S_I fd, const std::string & slice_user, const std::string & slice_group);

	/// Produces in "dest" the XORed value of "dest" and "src"

	/// \param[in,out] dest is the area where to write down the result
	/// \param[in] src points to vector or array of values to convert
	/// \param[in] n is the number of byte to convert from src to dest
	/// \note dest *must* be a valid pointer to an allocated memory area of at least n bytes
    extern void tools_memxor(void *dest, const void *src, U_I n);

	/// Produces a list of TLV from a constant type and a list of string

	/// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
	/// \param[in] type is the type each TLV will have
	/// \param[in] data is the list of string to convert into a list of TLV
	/// \return a tlv_list object. Each TLV in the list correspond to a string in the given list
    extern tlv_list tools_string2tlv_list(user_interaction & dialog, const U_16 & type, const std::vector<std::string> & data);



	/// Extract from anonymous pipe a tlv_list

	/// \param[in,out] dialog for user interaction
	/// \param[in] fd the filedescriptor for the anonymous pipe's read extremity
	/// \param[out] result the resulting tlv_list
    extern void tools_read_from_pipe(user_interaction & dialog, S_I fd, tlv_list & result);



	/// Produces a pseudo random number x, where 0 <= x < max

	/// \param[in] max defines the range of the random number to return
	/// \return the returned value ranges from 0 (zero) to max - 1. max
	/// is never retured, max - 1 can be returned.
    extern U_I tools_pseudo_random(U_I max);


	/// Template for the decomposition of any number in any base (decimal, octal, hexa, etc.)

	/// \param[in] number is the number to decompose
	/// \param[in] base is the base to decompose the number into
	/// \return a vector of 'digit' int the specified base, the first beeing the less significative
	/// \note this template does not take care of the possibily existing optimized euclide division to speed up the operation
	/// like what exists for infinint. A specific overriden fonction for this type would be better.
	/// \note, the name "big_endian" is erroneous, it gives a little endian vector

    template <class N, class B> std::vector<B> tools_number_base_decomposition_in_big_endian(N number, const B & base)
    {
	std::vector<B> ret;

	if(base <= 0)
	    throw Erange("tools_number_decoupe_in_big_endian", "base must be strictly positive");

	while(number != 0)
	{
	    ret.push_back(number % base);
	    number /= base;
	}

	return ret;
    }

	/// convert a unsigned char into its hexa decima representation

	/// \param[in] x is the byte to convert
	/// \return the string representing the value of x written in hexadecimal
    std::string tools_unsigned_char_to_hexa(unsigned char x);

	/// convert a string into its hexadecima representation

	/// \param[in] input input string to convert
	/// \return a string containing an hexadecimal number corresponding to the bytes of the input string

    std::string tools_string_to_hexa(const std::string & input);

	/// Defines the CRC size to use for a given filesize

	/// \param[in] size is the size of the file to protect by CRC
	/// \return crc_size is the size of the crc to use
    extern infinint tools_file_size_to_crc_size(const infinint & size);

	/// return a string containing the Effective UID

    extern std::string tools_get_euid();


	/// return a string containing the Effective UID

    extern std::string tools_get_egid();

	/// return a string containing the hostname of the current host

    extern std::string tools_get_hostname();

	/// return a string containing the current time (UTC)

    extern std::string tools_get_date_utc();

} /// end of namespace

#endif