Sequential GUIDs in C++ with Qt - CodeProject https://www.codeproject.com/Tips/594304/Sequen...

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Sequential GUIDs in C++ with Qt

computermagic, 17 May 2013 CPOL Rate this:
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Generating sequential GUIDs in C++ and Qt 5

Introduction
Generate sequential GUIDs in C++ using the Qt framework. This is a rewrite of the existing C# article here (http://www.codeproject.com
/Articles/388157/GUIDs-as-fast-primary-keys-under-multiple-database). That article contains an excellent description of why you would
want sequential GUIDs.

This code is written specifically for Qt 5.

Background
Databases insert sequential information quickly. When you insert information out of order it requires the database to rebuild indexes
which can be time consuming. Get the advantages of sequential numbering for you database records while getting the benefit of unique
ids that a GUID gives.

Source Code - sequenatialguid.h

Hide Shrink Copy Code

#ifndef SEQUENTIALGUID_H
#define SEQUENTIALGUID_H

#include <QObject>
#include <QUuid>
#include <QByteArray>
#include <QDateTime>
#include <QDataStream>
#include <QTime>

class SequentialGUID : public QObject

{
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit SequentialGUID(QObject *parent = 0);

enum SequentialGUIDType {
SequentialAsString = 0,
SequentialAsBinary = 1,
SequentialAtEnd = 2
};

static QUuid GetSequentialGUID(SequentialGUIDType guid_type);

signals:

public slots:

private:

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static void InitRand();

static int randInt(int low, int high);

static bool rand_init;

};

#endif // SEQUENTIALGUID_H

Source Code - sequentialguid.cpp

Hide Shrink Copy Code

#include "sequentialguid.h"

// Declare static variables

bool SequentialGUID::rand_init = false;

SequentialGUID::SequentialGUID(QObject *parent) :
QObject(parent)
{
}

void SequentialGUID::InitRand() {
if (!rand_init) {
QTime t = QTime::currentTime();
qsrand((uint) t.msec());

rand_init = true;
}
}

int SequentialGUID::randInt(int low, int high) {

InitRand();
return qrand() % ((high+1) - low) + low;
}

QUuid SequentialGUID::GetSequentialGUID(SequentialGUIDType guid_type)

{
QByteArray randBytes;
// Get some random bytes
for(int i=0; i<10; i++) {
char b = (char)randInt(0, 255);
randBytes.append(b);
}
// Would prefer a cryptographically secure rng
// _rng.GetBytes(randBytes);

//long timestamp = QDateTime::Now.Ticks / 10000L;

qint64 timestamp = QDateTime::currentMSecsSinceEpoch();
QByteArray timestampBytes;
timestampBytes.resize(sizeof(timestamp));
QByteArray timestampBytesRev;
timestampBytesRev.resize(sizeof(timestamp));

char *ptr = (char *)&timestamp;

for(int i=0; i<8; i++) {
timestampBytes[i] = ptr[i];
timestampBytesRev[7-i] = ptr[i];
}
// We only want 48 bytes, cut off high bytes which should be 0's anyway
// unless this is the future...
timestampBytes.remove(6, 2);
timestampBytesRev.remove(0,2);

QByteArray tsBytes;

// Use the correct endian so we get a proper sequence (e.g. counting up digits
// on the right so it sorts properly in the database)
#if Q_BYTE_ORDER == Q_LITTLE_ENDIAN
tsBytes = timestampBytesRev;
#else
tsBytes = timestampBytes;
#endif

QByteArray guidBytes;

switch (guid_type) {

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case SequentialAsString:
case SequentialAsBinary:
guidBytes.append(tsBytes);
guidBytes.append(randBytes);
break;

case SequentialAtEnd:
guidBytes.append(randBytes);
guidBytes.append(tsBytes);
break;
}

QUuid uid = QUuid::fromRfc4122(guidBytes);

return uid;
}

Using the code

Include the sequentialguid.h file so you can use the object in your application:
Hide Copy Code
#include "sequentialguid.h"

Get a new GUID this way:

Hide Copy Code
<span style="font-size: 9pt;">QUuid guid =
SequentialGUID::GetSequentialGUID(SequentialGUID::SequentialAsString);</span>

Points of Interest
Random numbers are NOT generated using a cryptographically secure method. For my particular case, this wasn't important. The
original article used the .Net framework System.Security.Cryptography.RNGCryptoServiceProvider(); to do so. I didn't
know the code to do so in C++ off the top of my head.

The parameter SequentialGUID::SequentialAsString can be replaced with SequentialAsBinary, or SequentialAtEnd.

Rule of thumb us to use SequentialAtEnd for MSSql servers, and the others for most other database systems (look under "Using The
Code" section in original article for a description).

Here is an example of sequential GUIDs

History
5/17/2013 - Initial posting of code

License
This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

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About the Author

computermagic

President Computer Magic And Software Design

United States

We specialize in custom software development for your business. With 10+ years of experience,
you can be be sure that you are getting the best code that money can buy.

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