#include <papi.h>
int PAPI_event_name_to_code( const char * EventName, int * EventCode );

*EventCode The numeric code for the event.
*EventName A string containing the event name as listed in PAPI_presets or discussed in PAPI_native.

PAPI_EINVAL One or more of the arguments is invalid.
PAPI_ENOTPRESET The hardware event specified is not a valid PAPI preset.
PAPI_ENOINIT The PAPI library has not been initialized.
PAPI_ENOEVNT The hardware event is not available on the underlying hardware.

int EventCode, EventSet = PAPI_NULL;
// Convert to integer
if ( PAPI_event_name_to_code( "PAPI_TOT_INS", &EventCode ) != PAPI_OK )
handle_error( 1 );
// Create the EventSet
if ( PAPI_create_eventset( &EventSet ) != PAPI_OK )
handle_error( 1 );
// Add Total Instructions Executed to our EventSet
if ( PAPI_add_event( EventSet, EventCode ) != PAPI_OK )
handle_error( 1 );

PAPI_event_code_to_name

PAPI_remove_event

PAPI_get_event_info

PAPI_enum_event

PAPI_add_event

PAPI_add_named_event

PAPI_presets

PAPI_native