Parsing with Boost::Spirit (V2.4) into container - stl

Question

I just started to dig into Boost::Spirit, latest version by now -- V2.4.
The essense of my problem is following:
I would like to parse strings like "1a2" or "3b4".
So the rule I use is:
(double_ >> lit('b') >> double_)
| (double_ >> lit('a') >> double_);
The attribute of the rule must be "vector <double>". And I'm reading it into the container.
The complete code:
#include <boost/spirit/include/qi.hpp>
#include <boost/spirit/include/phoenix_core.hpp>
#include <boost/spirit/include/phoenix_operator.hpp>
#include <iostream>
#include <algorithm>
#include <string>
#include <vector>
#include <cstring>
int main(int argc, char * argv[])
{
using namespace std;
using namespace boost::spirit;
using namespace boost::spirit::qi;
using boost::phoenix::arg_names::arg1;
char const * first = "1a2";
char const * last = first + std::strlen(first);
vector<double> h;
rule<char const *, vector<double>()> or_test;
or_test %= (double_ >> lit('b') >> double_)
| (double_ >> lit('a') >> double_);
if (parse(first, last, or_test,h)) {
cout << "parse success: ";
for_each(h.begin(), h.end(), (cout << arg1 << " "));
cout << "end\n";
} else cout << "parse error\n" << endl;
return 0;
}
I'm compiling it with g++ 4.4.3. And it returns "1 1 2". While I expect "1 2".
As far as I understand this happens because parser:
goes to the first alternative
reads a double_ and stores it in the container
then stops at "a", while expecting lit("b")
goes to the second alternative
reads two more doubles
My question is -- Is this a correct behavior, and if yes -- why?

Answer 1

That's expected behavior. During backtracking Spirit does not 'unmake' changes to attributes. Therefore, you should use the hold[] directive explicitly forcing the parser to hold on to a copy of the attribute (allowing to roll back any attribute change):
or_test =
hold[double_ >> lit('b') >> double_)]
| (double_ >> lit('a') >> double_)
;
This directive needs to be applied to all alternatives modifying the attribute, except the last one.