Protocol Buffer: Enum issue

Question

I have the following .proto file :

enum Enum1{
    X=0;
    Y=1;    
}
message SomeClass{
    required  Enum1 enum1=1;
    required Enum2 enum2=2;
}
enum Enum2{
    X=0;
    Z=1;    
}

When I try to comile it using protoc , I get the following error :

proto.proto:19:5: "X" is already defined proto.proto:19:5: Note that enum values use C++ scoping rules, meaning that enum values are siblings of their type, not children of it. Therefore, "X" must be unique , not just within "Enum2".

I there any way I could overcome this issue !

You mean rename X @ Enum2 !! if ys , I cann't right now as there dependency over it on the application, — Echo, Oct 31 '11 at 11:09

score 37 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 11 '12 at 16:48

37

You could include your enum inside another message so the visibility will not conflict.

Exemple :

message Enum1{
 enum Enum{
     X=0;
     Y=1;    
 }
}

message Enum2{
 enum Enum{
     X=0;
     Y=1;    
 }
}

message SomeClass{
    required  Enum1.Enum enum1=1;
    required Enum2.Enum enum2=0;
}

You could also prefix your enum value with something. If you don't change the number after the name of your value, it should stay compatible with your old version : ex:

enum Enum1{
    E1_X=0;
    E1_Y=1;    
}
enum Enum2{
    E2_X=0;
    E2_Z=1;    
}
message SomeClass{
    required  Enum1 enum1=1;
    required Enum2 enum2=2;
}

answered Dec 11 '12 at 16:48

Mike

2,354
3
23
37

required is removed from proto3 – Akshay Jun 06 '19 at 07:17
5

This question is 8 years old. It would work with proto3 if used without required. – Mike Jun 06 '19 at 12:27
It's amazing. Thanks a lot – andreykyz Jun 05 '23 at 10:45

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 04 '20 at 08:39

1

You can use prefix in enumeration then

enum Enum1{
    E1_X=0;
    E1_Y=1;    
}
message SomeClass{
    required Enum1 enum1=1;
    required Enum2 enum2=2;
}
enum Enum2{
    E2_X=0;
    E2_Z=1;    
}

answered Feb 04 '20 at 08:39

Jiancong

67
1
7

RagnaRock · Answer 3 · 2011-11-04T11:27:19.677

0

instead of

message SomeClass{
required  Enum1 enum1=1;
required Enum2 enum2=2; }

i think you should have something like

message SomeClass{
    required  Enum1 enum1.Y;
    required Enum2 enum2.Z;
}

edit: you tagged this as Java, but in the question you refer to c++, witch one it is?

edit2: After googling a bit I found this http://www.mail-archive.com/protobuf@googlegroups.com/msg04986.html

you need to rename enum1.X or enum2.x to some other name so that they don't conflict.

enum Enum1{
    W=0;
    Y=1;    
}
message SomeClass{
    required  Enum1 enum1=1;
    required Enum2 enum2=0;
}
enum Enum2{
    X=0;
    Z=1;    
}

if you really cant because of application dependencies i guess you need to redesign your program somehow..

edited Nov 04 '11 at 11:27

answered Oct 31 '11 at 10:57

RagnaRock

2,432
7
34
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I use Java but when I compile my .proto file using the protoc compiler , I get the error I mentioned . – Echo Oct 31 '11 at 11:04
But in this way u mentioned , Enum1 will always have the value of enum1.Y .... is there other suggestions !! – Echo Oct 31 '11 at 11:06

Protocol Buffer: Enum issue

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