cannot convert from 'std::string' to 'LPSTR'

Question

As I clould not pass LPCSTR from one function to another (Data get changed) I tried passing it as a string.

But later I need to again convert it back to LPSTR. While

Answer 1

If you need an LPSTR, that means the string will/may be modified. std::string::c_str() returns a const pointer, and you can't just const_cast it away and hope all is good in the world, because it isn't. The string may be changed in all sorts of nasty ways, and your original std::string will be oblivious to all of them.

Try this instead:

// myFunction takes an LPSTR
std::string cppString = "something";
LPSTR cString = strdup( cppString.c_str() );
try {
   myFunction( cString );
   cppString = cString;
} catch(...) {
   free( cString );
}

Wrap the string in a smart pointer and get rid of the try...catch for bonus points (don't forget the custom deleter).