Table of contents when using ::Serialize()?

[rmirani]

Is it possible to set up a table of contents when working with ::Serialize()?

For example, I have a savefile that contains 10.000 objects.
The savefile is rather large, and if possible, I would only like to load specific objects from it.
For example, I only want to load object #651 from the 10.000 objects in the file.

Is there some way of specifying the location of each object in a savefile, and instructing Serialize to move to that location, and load only that specific object?

[VictorN]

I have no idea what (global) ::Serialize() function you meant, however you may want to have a look at the An Introduction to Object Serialization in C++ and this microsoft topic: Serialization: Making a Serializable Class

[rmirani]

My apologies, I probably didn't explain myself clearly.
Let's say that I have 1000 objects.
I want to store these objects in a savefile, using Serialize.

The code for this will roughly be:

void MyDoc::Serialize(CArchive& ar)
{
	if (ar.IsStoring())
	{
             for(int i = 0; i < 1000; i++)m_MyObject[i].Serialize(ar);
        }
        else
       {
             for(int i = 0; i < 1000; i++)m_MyObject[i].Serialize(ar);
       }
}

However, in the case that I'm looking at, these savefiles can become huge.
They can be several GB.

Because of this, I was wondering if it was possible to load a specific object from a savefile?

So, let's say that I only want object target_nr = 365.

The code for this would roughly be:

void MyDoc::Serialize(CArchive& ar, const int & target_nr)
{
	if (ar.IsStoring())
	{
             for(int i = 0; i < 1000; i++)m_MyObject[i].Serialize(ar);
        }
        else
       {
             ar.MoveToLocation(365);
             m_MyObject[target_nr].Serialize(ar);
       }
}

So, my question is, is it possible to instruct the CArchive to move to a specific location in the savefile, and only load a specific object?

[GCDEF]

That's what databases are for

[VictorN]

I agree with GCDEF! Just use a database.

[MIa White]

Database, should solve your issue.