LIBPFM(3)

NAME
pfm_get_event_encoding - get raw event encoding

SYNOPSIS
#include <perfmon/pfmlib.h>

int pfm_get_event_encoding(const char *str,int dfl_plm, char **fstr, int *idx, uint64_t *code, int *count);

DESCRIPTION
This function is used to retrieve the raw event encoding corresponding to the event string in str. Only one event per call can be encoded. As such, str can contain only one symbolic event name. The string may contain unit masks and modifiers. The default privilege level mask is passed in dfl_plm. It may be used depending on the event. This function is deprecated. It is superseded by pfm_get_os_event_encoding() where the OS is set to PFM_OS_NONE. Encoding is retrieve through the pfm_pmu_encode_arg_t structure. The following examples illustrates the transition:
   int i, count = 0;
   uint64_t *codes;
   ret = pfm_get_event_encoding("RETIRED_INSTRUCTIONS", PFM_PLM3, NULL, &codes, &count);
   if (ret != PFM_SUCCESS)
      err(1", cannot get encoding %s", pfm_strerror(ret));
   for(i=0; i < count; i++)
      printf("count[%d]=0x%"PRIx64"\n", i, codes[i]);
is equivalent to:
   pfm_pmu_encode_arg_t arg;
   int i;
   memset(&arg, 0, sizeof(arg));
   arg.size = sizeof(arg);
   ret = pfm_get_os_event_encoding("RETIRED_INSTRUCTIONS", PFM_PLM3, PFM_OS_NONE, &arg);
   if (ret != PFM_SUCCESS)
      err(1", cannot get encoding %s", pfm_strerror(ret));
   for(i=0; i < arg.count; i++)
      printf("count[%d]=0x%"PRIx64"\n", i, arg.codes[i]);
   free(arg.codes);
The encoding may take several 64-bit integers. The function can use the array passed in code if the number
of entries passed in count is big enough. However, if both *codes is NULL and count
is 0, the function allocates the memory necessary to store the encoding. It is up to the caller to
eventually free the memory. The number of 64-bit entries in codes is reflected in *count upon
return regardless of whether the codes was allocated or used as is. If the number of 64-bit integers is
greater than one, then the order in which each component is returned is PMU-model specific. Refer to the PMU
specific man page.
The raw encoding means the encoding as mandated by the underlying PMU model. It may not be directly suitable
to pass to a kernel API. You may want to use API-specific library calls to ensure the correct encoding is passed.
If fstr is not NULL, it will point to the fully qualified event string upon successful return. The string
contains the event name, any umask set, and the value of all the modifiers. It reflects what the encoding will
actually measure. The function allocates the memory to store the string. The caller must eventually free the
string.
Here is a example of how this function could be used:
#include <inttypes.h>
#include <err.h>
#include <perfmon/pfmlib.h>
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
   uint64_t *codes 0;
   int count = 0;
   int ret;
   ret = pfm_initialize();
   if (ret != PFMLIB_SUCCESS)
      err(1", cannot initialize library %s", pfm_strerror(ret));
   ret = pfm_get_event_encoding("RETIRED_INSTRUCTIONS", PFM_PLM3, NULL, &codes, &count);
   if (ret != PFM_SUCCESS)
      err(1", cannot get encoding %s", pfm_strerror(ret));
   for(i=0; i < count; i++)
      printf("count[%d]=0x%"PRIx64"\n", i, codes[i]);
   free(codes);
   return 0;
}

RETURN
The function returns in *codes the encoding of the event and in *count the number of 64-bit integers to support that encoding. Upon success, PFM_SUCCESS is returned otherwise a specific error code is returned.

ERRORS

PFM_ERR_TOOSMALL
    The code argument is too small for the encoding.

PFM_ERR_INVAL
    The code or count argument is NULL or the str contains more than one symbolic event.

PFM_ERR_NOMEM
    Not enough memory.

PFM_ERR_NOTFOUND
    Event not found.

PFM_ERR_ATTR
    Invalid event attribute (unit mask or modifier)

PFM_ERR_ATTR_VAL
    Invalid modifier value.

PFM_ERR_ATTR_SET
    attribute already set, cannot be changed.

PFM_ERR_ATTR_UMASK
    Missing unit mask.

PFM_ERR_ATTR_FEATCOMB
    Unit masks or features cannot be combined into a single event.

AUTHOR
Stephane Eranian <eranian@gmail.com>

SEE ALSO
pfm_get_os_event_encoding(3)