error: invalid use of 'Config::testMap' - c++

Question

Here is the code:
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <map>
#include <stdexcept>
#include <boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp>
struct TestStruct
{
std::string str1;
int var1;
};
struct Config
{
// Map
typedef std::map< std::string, boost::ptr_vector<struct TestStruct> > testMap;
};
void foo(Config& config)
{
if (config.testMap.empty())
{
std::cout << "It worked!" << std::endl;
}
else
{
std::cout << "It didn't work!" << std::endl;
}
return;
}
int testMain(void)
{
Config config;
foo(config);
return;
}
int main(void)
{
try
{
return testMain(/*argc, argv*/);
}
catch(std::exception& err)
{
std::cerr << "Error running program: " << err.what() << std::endl;
return 1;
}
catch(...)
{
std::cerr << "Program failed with an unknown exception." << std::endl;
return 1;
}
}
I'm new to maps - never used one before. I've found many examples of how to use them online. Unfortunately I can't seem to makes sense of more advanced examples of them.
What I'd like to do is create a map with a key (std::string) and a value (boost::ptr_vector<struct>).
I was going to start by just declaring and passing it around successfully. Then I wanted try and figure out how to fill it up.
I ran into an error that is just vague enough I don't know how to interpret it.
Any suggestions on what I've done wrong in the "use" of testMap?
Also, can someone provide some simple example of how I can populate the map up.
Say I want a key of a and a value of str1 = "hello", var1 = 10. How would I do this?
FOLLOW UP QUESTION:
In regards to the answer left below by Kerrek SB.
If I do the following...
std::string key = "a";
TestStruct value = {"hello", 10};
config.testMap[key] = value;
I get the following error:
error: no match for 'operator=' in 'config->Config::testMap.std::map<_Key, _Tp, _Compare, _Alloc>::operator[] [with _Key = std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, _Tp = boost::ptr_vector<TestStruct, boost::heap_clone_allocator, std::allocator<void*> >, _Compare = std::less<std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> > >, _Alloc = std::allocator<std::pair<const std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, boost::ptr_vector<TestStruct, boost::heap_clone_allocator, std::allocator<void*> > > >](((const std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >&)((const std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >*)(& key)))) = value'
/usr/local/boost/boost_1_38_0_gcc4/include/boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp:45: note: candidates are: boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>& boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>::operator=(std::auto_ptr<boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator> >) [with T = TestStruct, CloneAllocator = boost::heap_clone_allocator, Allocator = std::allocator<void*>]
/usr/local/boost/boost_1_38_0_gcc4/include/boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp:45: note: boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>& boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>::operator=(boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>) [with T = TestStruct, CloneAllocator = boost::heap_clone_allocator, Allocator = std::allocator<void*>]
If instead I do the .insert() method I get the following error:
instantiated from here
/opt/csw/gcc4/lib/gcc/sparc-sun-solaris2.8/4.3.2/../../../../include/c++/4.3.2/bits/stl_pair.h:106: error: no matching function for call to 'boost::ptr_vector<TestStruct, boost::heap_clone_allocator, std::allocator<void*> >::ptr_vector(const TestStruct&)'
/usr/local/boost/boost_1_38_0_gcc4/include/boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp:50: note: candidates are: boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>::ptr_vector(typename boost::ptr_sequence_adapter<T, std::vector<void*, Allocator>, CloneAllocator>::size_type, const typename boost::ptr_sequence_adapter<T, std::vector<void*, Allocator>, CloneAllocator>::allocator_type&) [with T = TestStruct, CloneAllocator = boost::heap_clone_allocator, Allocator = std::allocator<void*>]
/usr/local/boost/boost_1_38_0_gcc4/include/boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp:45: note: boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>::ptr_vector(std::auto_ptr<boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator> >) [with T = TestStruct, CloneAllocator = boost::heap_clone_allocator, Allocator = std::allocator<void*>]
/usr/local/boost/boost_1_38_0_gcc4/include/boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp:45: note: boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>::ptr_vector(const typename boost::ptr_sequence_adapter<T, std::vector<void*, Allocator>, CloneAllocator>::allocator_type&) [with T = TestStruct, CloneAllocator = boost::heap_clone_allocator, Allocator = std::allocator<void*>]
/usr/local/boost/boost_1_38_0_gcc4/include/boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp:45: note: boost::ptr_vector<T, CloneAllocator, Allocator>::ptr_vector() [with T = TestStruct, CloneAllocator = boost::heap_clone_allocator, Allocator = std::allocator<void*>]
/usr/local/boost/boost_1_38_0_gcc4/include/boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp:35: note: boost::ptr_vector<TestStruct, boost::heap_clone_allocator, std::allocator<void*> >::ptr_vector(const boost::ptr_vector<TestStruct, boost::heap_clone_allocator, std::allocator<void*> >&)
FOLLOW UP:
From what I've researched this is not possible.
You cannot use a ptr_vector in a map. (so I've been told) Due to ownership/copy issues?
"What happens when you attempt to copy a ptr_vector, which is bound to happen inside a map? The pointer containers model exclusive ownership of pointers.
You can do this with C++0x and std::move, but that won’t help you here."
Can anyone provide a counter example?

Answer 1

Your class Config doesn't contain any members! (Just a typedef.) Define a member, too:
struct Config
{
typedef std::map<std::string, boost::ptr_vector<TestStruct> > testMap_type;
testMap_type testMap; // member
};
Also, in C++ there is no need to say struct TestStruct, just say TestStruct.
To add an element:
std::string key = "xxx";
TestStruct val = { "hello", 10 };
// Insert with []-operator
config.testMap[key] = val;
// Insert with insert():
config.testMap.insert(std::pair<std::string, TestStruct>(key, val)); // alternative
Edit: Sorry, I misrepresented your actual data structure. Here's an example with a std::vector:
typedef std::map<std::string, std::vector<int>> MyMap;
MyMap m;
m["hello"].push_back(1);
m["hello"].push_back(2);
m["world"].push_back(3);
In your case, you could say config.testMap[key].push_back(val), or you could make a new vector:
boost::ptr_vector<TestStruct> new_v;
// populate new_v;
config.testMap.insert(std::pair<std::string, boost::ptr_vector<TestStruct>>(key, new_v);

Answer 2

From what I've researched this is not possible.
You cannot use a ptr_vector in a map. (so I've been told) Due to ownership/copy issues?
"What happens when you attempt to copy a ptr_vector, which is bound to happen inside a map? The pointer containers model exclusive ownership of pointers.
You can do this with C++0x and std::move, but that won’t help you here."