### Navigation

- index
- next |
- previous |
- CMake »
- 3.0.2 Documentation »
- cmake-modules(7) »

# ExternalData

Manage data files stored outside source tree

Use this module to unambiguously reference data files stored outside the source tree and fetch them at build time from arbitrary local and remote content-addressed locations. Functions provided by this module recognize arguments with the syntax `DATA{<name>}` as references to external data, replace them with full paths to local copies of those data, and create build rules to fetch and update the local copies.

The `DATA{}` syntax is literal and the `<name>` is a full or relative path within the source tree. The source tree must contain either a real data file at `<name>` or a “content link” at `<name><ext>` containing a hash of the real file using a hash algorithm corresponding to `<ext>`. For example, the argument `DATA{img.png}` may be satisfied by either a real `img.png` file in the current source directory or a `img.png.md5` file containing its MD5 sum.

The `ExternalData_Expand_Arguments` function evaluates `DATA{}` references in its arguments and constructs a new list of arguments:

    ExternalData_Expand_Arguments(
      <target>   # Name of data management target
      <outVar>   # Output variable
      [args...]  # Input arguments, DATA{} allowed
      )

It replaces each `DATA{}` reference in an argument with the full path of a real data file on disk that will exist after the `<target>` builds.

The `ExternalData_Add_Test` function wraps around the CMake `add_test()` command but supports `DATA{}` references in its arguments:

    ExternalData_Add_Test(
      <target>   # Name of data management target
      ...        # Arguments of add_test(), DATA{} allowed
      )

It passes its arguments through `ExternalData_Expand_Arguments` and then invokes the `add_test()` command using the results.

The `ExternalData_Add_Target` function creates a custom target to manage local instances of data files stored externally:

    ExternalData_Add_Target(
      <target>   # Name of data management target
      )

It creates custom commands in the target as necessary to make data files available for each `DATA{}` reference previously evaluated by other functions provided by this module. A list of URL templates may be provided in the variable `ExternalData_URL_TEMPLATES` using the placeholders `%(algo)` and `%(hash)` in each template. Data fetch rules try each URL template in order by substituting the hash algorithm name for `%(algo)` and the hash value for `%(hash)`.

The following hash algorithms are supported:

    %(algo)     <ext>     Description
    -------     -----     -----------
    MD5         .md5      Message-Digest Algorithm 5, RFC 1321
    SHA1        .sha1     US Secure Hash Algorithm 1, RFC 3174
    SHA224      .sha224   US Secure Hash Algorithms, RFC 4634
    SHA256      .sha256   US Secure Hash Algorithms, RFC 4634
    SHA384      .sha384   US Secure Hash Algorithms, RFC 4634
    SHA512      .sha512   US Secure Hash Algorithms, RFC 4634

Note that the hashes are used only for unique data identification and download verification. This is not security software.

Example usage:

    include(ExternalData)
    set(ExternalData_URL_TEMPLATES "file:///local/%(algo)/%(hash)"
                                   "file:////host/share/%(algo)/%(hash)"
                                   "http://data.org/%(algo)/%(hash)")
    ExternalData_Add_Test(MyData
      NAME MyTest
      COMMAND MyExe DATA{MyInput.png}
      )
    ExternalData_Add_Target(MyData)

When test `MyTest` runs the `DATA{MyInput.png}` argument will be replaced by the full path to a real instance of the data file `MyInput.png` on disk. If the source tree contains a content link such as `MyInput.png.md5` then the `MyData` target creates a real `MyInput.png` in the build tree.

The `DATA{}` syntax can be told to fetch a file series using the form `DATA{<name>,:}`, where the `:` is literal. If the source tree contains a group of files or content links named like a series then a reference to one member adds rules to fetch all of them. Although all members of a series are fetched, only the file originally named by the `DATA{}` argument is substituted for it. The default configuration recognizes file series names ending with `#.ext`, `_#.ext`, `.#.ext`, or `-#.ext` where `#` is a sequence of decimal digits and `.ext` is any single extension. Configure it with a regex that parses `<number>` and `<suffix>` parts from the end of `<name>`:

    ExternalData_SERIES_PARSE = regex of the form (<number>)(<suffix>)$

For more complicated cases set:

    ExternalData_SERIES_PARSE = regex with at least two () groups
    ExternalData_SERIES_PARSE_PREFIX = <prefix> regex group number, if any
    ExternalData_SERIES_PARSE_NUMBER = <number> regex group number
    ExternalData_SERIES_PARSE_SUFFIX = <suffix> regex group number

Configure series number matching with a regex that matches the `<number>` part of series members named `<prefix><number><suffix>`:

    ExternalData_SERIES_MATCH = regex matching <number> in all series members

Note that the `<suffix>` of a series does not include a hash-algorithm extension.

The `DATA{}` syntax can alternatively match files associated with the named file and contained in the same directory. Associated files may be specified by options using the syntax `DATA{<name>,<opt1>,<opt2>,...}`. Each option may specify one file by name or specify a regular expression to match file names using the syntax `REGEX:<regex>`. For example, the arguments:

    DATA{MyData/MyInput.mhd,MyInput.img}                   # File pair
    DATA{MyData/MyFrames00.png,REGEX:MyFrames[0-9]+\\.png} # Series

will pass `MyInput.mha` and `MyFrames00.png` on the command line but ensure that the associated files are present next to them.

The `DATA{}` syntax may reference a directory using a trailing slash and a list of associated files. The form `DATA{<name>/,<opt1>,<opt2>,...}` adds rules to fetch any files in the directory that match one of the associated file options. For example, the argument `DATA{MyDataDir/,REGEX:.*}` will pass the full path to a `MyDataDir` directory on the command line and ensure that the directory contains files corresponding to every file or content link in the `MyDataDir` source directory.

The variable `ExternalData_LINK_CONTENT` may be set to the name of a supported hash algorithm to enable automatic conversion of real data files referenced by the `DATA{}` syntax into content links. For each such `<file>` a content link named `<file><ext>` is created. The original file is renamed to the form `.ExternalData_<algo>_<hash>` to stage it for future transmission to one of the locations in the list of URL templates (by means outside the scope of this module). The data fetch rule created for the content link will use the staged object if it cannot be found using any URL template.

The variable `ExternalData_OBJECT_STORES` may be set to a list of local directories that store objects using the layout `<dir>/%(algo)/%(hash)`. These directories will be searched first for a needed object. If the object is not available in any store then it will be fetched remotely using the URL templates and added to the first local store listed. If no stores are specified the default is a location inside the build tree.

The variable `ExternalData_SOURCE_ROOT` may be set to the highest source directory containing any path named by a `DATA{}` reference. The default is `CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR`. `ExternalData_SOURCE_ROOT` and `CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR` must refer to directories within a single source distribution (e.g. they come together in one tarball).

The variable `ExternalData_BINARY_ROOT` may be set to the directory to hold the real data files named by expanded `DATA{}` references. The default is `CMAKE_BINARY_DIR`. The directory layout will mirror that of content links under `ExternalData_SOURCE_ROOT`.

Variables `ExternalData_TIMEOUT_INACTIVITY` and `ExternalData_TIMEOUT_ABSOLUTE` set the download inactivity and absolute timeouts, in seconds. The defaults are 60 seconds and 300 seconds, respectively. Set either timeout to 0 seconds to disable enforcement.

### Navigation

- index
- next |
- previous |
- CMake »
- 3.0.2 Documentation »
- cmake-modules(7) »