File Content Extraction 26.1
Filter SDK C++ Programming Guide

# convert_to_string

The value of this metadata item, converted into a string form using a pre-defined set of formats.

This method applies the same transformations during the conversion to string as the metadata_map method.

- Boolean values are represented as either 'true' or 'false'.
- Date-time values are represented as an integer number of epoch seconds (the number of seconds since the beginning of January 1st, 1970).
- Binary values are represented by treating them as strings - interpreting each individual byte as if it were a character in the computer's single-byte code page.

- MIPLabel values are printed as `[LabelID="<label.labelId>", Enabled=<label.enabled>, SiteId="<label.siteId>", ActionId="<label.actionId>", Method="<label.method>", SetDate=<label.setDate>, Name="<label.name>", ContentBits=<label.contentBits>]`.

  Optional MIPLabel member data are presented in the converted string only if they are non-null. For example, if the pointer `label.setDate` is empty, the entire segment `SetDate=value` is absent from the output.

  Non-string members are presented in the same format as they would be as standalone values - the boolean `Enabled` is presented as 'true' or 'false', the date-time `SetDate` is presented in epoch seconds.

## Syntax

    std::string convert_to_string() const;

## Discussion

The `MetadataElement` class also provides a conversion operator to `std::string`. This allows you to use `MetadataElement` instances when `std::string` values are expected, without needing to call `convert_to_string()`. The resulting string is identical to the one produced by calling `convert_to_string()`.

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Version 26.1 | Last updated January 2026

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Product: File Content Extraction 26.1

Topic Title: convert_to_string