c++ - Need help recursively creating a directory tree using the Boost Property Tree library and XML -

i've created xml file represents directory layout project. looks this:

<folder>     <folder>         <name>src</name>         <file>             <name>main.cpp</name>         </file>     </folder>     <file>         <name>makefile</name>     </file>     <file>         <name>readme.md</name>     </file> </folder> 

i'm using boost property tree (boost::property_tree::ptree) parse, represent, , create directory (the program i'm trying write command line tool generates empty c++ projects). i'm trying write function create directory recursively, i've never used library before, running few mental blocks, , feel i'm going wrong. if has used library before , can give me few pointers code, i'd appreciate it. here's have far:

static void create_directory_tree(std::string &root_name,     boost::property_tree::ptree &directory_tree) {     // create root folder.     boost::filesystem::create_directory(root_name);      (auto &tree_value : directory_tree.get_child("folder"))     {         // if child file, create empty file         // name attribute.         if (tree_value.first == "file")         {             std::ofstream file(tree_value.second.get<std::string>("name"));             file << std::flush;             file.close();         }          // if child folder, call function again         // folder root. don't understand data         // structure enough know how access         // second parameter.         else if (tree_value.first == "folder")         {             create_directory_tree(tree_value.second.get<std::string>("name"), /* ??? */)         }          // if it's not file or folder, something's wrong xml file.         else         {             throw std::runtime_error("");         }     } } 

it's not clear me you're asking.

i hope take on helps:

live on coliru

#include <boost/property_tree/ptree.hpp> #include <boost/property_tree/xml_parser.hpp> #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>  #include <iostream>  using namespace boost::property_tree; namespace fs = boost::filesystem;  namespace project_definition {     void apply(ptree const& def, fs::path const& rootfolder) {         (auto node : def) {             if ("folder" == node.first) {                 fs::path = rootfolder / node.second.get<std::string>("name");                 fs::create_directories(where);                  apply(node.second, where);             }             if ("file" == node.first) {                 std::ofstream((rootfolder / node.second.get<std::string>("name")).native(), std::ios::trunc);             }         }     } }  int main() {     ptree projdef;     read_xml("input.txt", projdef);      try {         project_definition::apply(projdef, "./rootfolder/");     } catch(std::exception const& e)     {         std::cerr << e.what() << "\n";     } } 

with input.txt of

<folder>     <name>project</name>     <folder>         <name>src</name>         <file><name>main.cpp</name></file>     </folder>     <file><name>makefile</name></file>     <file><name>readme.md</name></file> </folder> 

creates structure:

./rootfolder ./rootfolder/project ./rootfolder/project/readme.md ./rootfolder/project/src ./rootfolder/project/src/main.cpp ./rootfolder/project/makefile