get_chars Subroutine

  subroutine get_chars(this, path, value)
    use fson_value_m, only: type_string, fson_value
    use fson_string_m, only: fson_string_copy
    implicit none

    type(fson_value), pointer :: this, p
    character(len=*), optional :: path
    character(len=*) :: value

    nullify(p)

    if (present(path)) then
       call get_by_path(this=this, path=path, p=p)
    else
       p => this
    end if

    if (.not.associated(p)) then
       print *, "Unable to resolve path: ", path
       call exit(1)
    end if

    if (p % value_type == TYPE_STRING) then
       call fson_string_copy(p % value_string, value)
    else
       print *, "Unable to resolve value to characters: ", path
       call exit(1)
    end if

  end subroutine get_chars