Develop Reference

GetSet in C# not being parsed

Relatively minor question about something I am missing here,
I am attempting to do a simple GetSet in C# to get the hang of the syntax but appear to have missed something as all that is printed is GetSet.Role and not the actual attributes being assigned.
Have I just worded something wrong? Apologies for the minor question but any help is appreciated.
namespace GetSet
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Role Mage = new Role("Staff", "Robes", "Magic affinity");
Role Warrior = new Role("Sword", "Platebody", "Strength");
Role Rogue = new Role("Needle", "Leather", "Cunning");
Console.WriteLine(Mage);
Console.WriteLine(Warrior);
Console.WriteLine(Rogue);
//stop the program from closing
Console.ReadLine();
}
}
}
and the following is my class:
namespace GetSet
{
class Role
{
//private variables
private string weapon;
private string armour;
private string passive;
//public structs
public Role(string aWeapon, string aArmour, string aPassive)
{
weapon = aWeapon;
armour = aArmour;
passive = aPassive;
}
//Getters and Setters for above private variables
public string Weapon
{
get { return weapon; }
set { weapon = value;}
}
public string Armour
{
get { return armour; }
set { armour = value;}
}
public string Passive
{
get { return passive; }
set { passive = value;}
}
}
}

Add a ToString() to your Role class and set it return whatever you want:
public override string ToString()
{
return $"Weapon: {weapon}, Armor: {armor}, Passive: {passive}";
}

You need to override the ToString method on the GetSet class.
Something like:
public override string ToString()
{
return $"{weapon}/{armour}/{passive}";
}
Update
You can simplyfy your Role class.
internal class Role
{
public Role(string weapon, string armour, string passive)
{
Weapon = weapon;
Armour = armour;
Passive = passive;
}
public string Weapon { get; }
public string Armour { get; }
public string Passive { get; }
public override string ToString()
{
return $"{Weapon}/{Armour}/{Passive}";
}
}
Re: vasily.sib's comment.
If you need to change the properties after object creation then simply change
public string Passive { get; }
to
public string Passive { get; set; }

As other answers lacks of getters/setters syntax examples, I will post my.
namespace GetSet
{
public class Role
{
// private backing field
private string _weapon;
// properties can have getters and setters, that contains some logic
public string Weapon
{
get { return _weapon; }
set { if (_weapon != vale) _weapon = value; }
}
// there is an auto-getters/setters
// in this case, backing field is handled by .Net CLR
public string Armour { get; set; }
// getters and setters may have different access level
// also, note property initializer '= "John";' - this will set property value
// to "John" right before constructor invocation
public string Name { get; private set; } = "John";
// properties also can be readonly, so they can be setted only in constructors
public string Passive { get; }
// public constructor
public Role(string passive)
{
Passive = passive;
}
public void ChangeName(string newName)
{
Name = newName; // setting property through private setter
}
// I believe, that this method shouldn't be used to represent object as string
// At least, I think, you should never relay on it's return value, BUT it ups to you
public overide string ToString() => Name;
}
}
Also, as you can see, I'm not setting publicly available properties (properties with public setters, Weapon and Armour) in consturctors, because I can initialize them along with constructing Role object, like this:
var mage = new Role("Magic affinity") { Weapon = "Staff", Armor = "Robes" };
mage.ChangeName("John, Doe");
As said before, I beleive that it is not relay on object itself, how it will look in string. I thinking so, because if you for some reasons need to represent same object as different strings in different places of your code - this will cause troubles. So instead of this:
// this will call .ToString() method
Console.WriteLine(mage);
// output: John, Doe
I suggest this:
// represent object as you need
Console.WriteLine($"{mage.Name} - walks in {mage.Armour}, beats with {mage.Weapon}");
// output: John, Doe - walks in Robes, beats with Staff

calling a variable from one class to another always becomes null

Below is the sample code
public class class1
{
public static void emp(string name)
{
.....
value = (value that is returned)
}
}
public class class2
{
public static void studen(string division)
{
...
}
}
This is how i want to use. class2.studen(value);
Here i need to pass the value that is returned from class1 to the string division of class2.
Any help would be appreciated.
Here function emp and studen are in different class files.

As hatchet mentioned, you're not getting a result from class1. There's a lot of info missing from your post but based on what I think you're trying to do, try like this:
public class class1
{
public static string value { get; set; } // use the proper type here if it's not a string
public static void emp(string name)
{
.....
this.value = (value that is returned)
}
}
public class class2
{
public static void studen(string division)
{
class1.emp("Hello");
string class2Var = class1.value; // class2Var will now be "Hello"
}
}

.Net 4.0 Optimized code for refactoring existing "if" conditions and "is" operator

I have following C# code. It works fine; but the GetDestination() method is cluttered with multiple if conditions by using is operator.
In .Net 4.0 (or greater) what is the best way to avoid these “if” conditions?
EDIT: Role is part of the business model, and the destination is purely an artifact of one particular application using that business model.
CODE
public class Role { }
public class Manager : Role { }
public class Accountant : Role { }
public class Attender : Role { }
public class Cleaner : Role { }
public class Security : Role { }
class Program
{
static string GetDestination(Role x)
{
string destination = #"\Home";
if (x is Manager)
{
destination = #"\ManagerHomeA";
}
if (x is Accountant)
{
destination = #"\AccountantHomeC";
}
if (x is Cleaner)
{
destination = #"\Cleaner";
}
return destination;
}
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string destination = GetDestination(new Accountant());
Console.WriteLine(destination);
Console.ReadLine();
}
}
REFERENCES
Dictionary<T,Delegate> with Delegates of different types: Cleaner, non string method names?
Jon Skeet: Making reflection fly and exploring delegates
if-else vs. switch vs. Dictionary of delegates
Dictionary with delegate or switch?
Expression and delegate in c#

Having virtual property which would be overriden in derived classes should do the trick:
class Role
{
public virtual string Destination { get { return "Home"; } }
}
class Manager : Role
{
public override string Destination { get { return "ManagerHome;"; } }
}
class Accountant : Role
{
public override string Destination { get { return "AccountantHome;"; } }
}
class Attender : Role
{
public override string Destination { get { return "AttenderHome;"; } }
}
class Cleaner : Role
{
public override string Destination { get { return "CleanerHome;"; } }
}
class Security : Role { }
I didn't make the property abstract, to provide default Home value when it's not overriden in derived class.
Usage:
string destination = (new Accountant()).Destination;
Console.WriteLine(destination);
Console.ReadLine();

Here's one option:
private static readonly Dictionary<Type, string> DestinationsByType =
new Dictionary<Type, string>
{
{ typeof(Manager), #"\ManagerHome" },
{ typeof(Accountant), #"\AccountantHome" },
// etc
};
private static string GetDestination(Role x)
{
string destination;
return DestinationsByType.TryGetValue(x.GetType(), out destination)
? destination : #"\Home";
}
Note:
This doesn't cope with null parameters. It's not clear whether or not you actually need it to. You can easily add null handling though.
This doesn't copy with inheritance (e.g. class Foo : Manager); you could do that by going up the inheritance hierarchy if necessary
Here's a version which does deal with both of those points, at the cost of complexity:
private static string GetDestination(Role x)
{
Type type = x == null ? null : x.GetType();
while (type != null)
{
string destination;
if (DestinationsByType.TryGetValue(x.GetType(), out destination))
{
return destination;
}
type = type.BaseType;
}
return #"\Home";
}
EDIT: It would be cleaner if Role itself had a Destination property. This could either be virtual, or provided by the Rolebase class.
However, it could be that the destination is really not something the Role should concern itself with - it could be that Role is part of the business model, and the destination is purely an artifact of one particular application using that business model. In that sort of situation, you shouldn't put it into Role, as that breaks separation of concerns.
Basically, we can't tell which solution is going to be most suitable without knowing more context - as is so often the way in matters of design.

Approach 1 (Selected): Using dynamic keyword to implement multimethods / double dispatch
Approach 2: Use a dictionary to avoid if blocks as mentioned in Jon Skeet’s answer below.
Approach 3: Use a HashList with delegates if there is condition other than equality (For example, if input < 25). Refer how to refactor a set of <= , >= if...else statements into a dictionary or something like that
Apporach 4: Virtual Functions as mentioned in MarcinJuraszek’s answer below.
MultiMethods / Double Dispatch approach using dynamic keyword
Rationale: Here the algorithm changes based on the type. That is, if the input is Accountant, the function to be executed is different than for Manager.
public static class DestinationHelper
{
public static string GetDestinationSepcificImplm(Manager x)
{
return #"\ManagerHome";
}
public static string GetDestinationSepcificImplm(Accountant x)
{
return #"\AccountantHome";
}
public static string GetDestinationSepcificImplm(Cleaner x)
{
return #"\CleanerHome";
}
}
class Program
{
static string GetDestination(Role x)
{
#region Other Common Works
//Do logging
//Other Business Activities
#endregion
string destination = String.Empty;
dynamic inputRole = x;
destination = DestinationHelper.GetDestinationSepcificImplm(inputRole);
return destination;
}
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string destination = GetDestination(new Security());
Console.WriteLine(destination);
Console.WriteLine("....");
Console.ReadLine();
}
}

This is a strongly typed, imperative language so if statements and type checking are going to happen.
Having said that, have you considered a virtual method on Role that can be overridden to provide a destination string?
A further alternative, a lookup table!
Dictionary<Type, string> paths = new Dictionary<TYpe, string>()
{
{ typeof(Manager), #"\ManagerHomeA" }
{ typeof(Accountant), #"\AccountantHomeC" }
{ typeof(Cleaner), "Cleaner" }
}
string path = #"\Home";
if(paths.ContainsKey(x.GetType())
path = paths[x];

One way to do it would be to use a map instead of an if:
//(psuedocode)
private Dictionary<Type, string> RoleMap;
void SomeInitializationCodeThatRunsOnce()
{
RoleMap.Add(typeof(Manager), #"\ManagerHome");
RollMap.Add(typeof(Accountant), #"\AccountantHome");
// ect...
}
string GetDestination(Role x)
{
string destination;
if(!RoleMap.TryGet(x.GetType(), out destination))
destination = #"\Home";
return destination;
}
Further reading: http://www.hanselman.com/blog/BackToBasicsMovingBeyondForIfAndSwitch.aspx

Role should have a virtual function that would return destination:
public virtual string GetDestination()
{
return "Home";
}
And all the classes should override this function and return the correct string. Then in the code you would have:
var role = new Accountant();
string destination = role.GetDestination();
I hope that helps. There may be typos, I am writing from head.

you can either use an interface definition or an abstract method / property
with interface:
public interface IDestinationProvider
{
sting Destination { get; }
}
string GetDestination(Role role)
{
var provider = role as IDestinationProvider;
if (provider != null)
return provider.Destination;
return "Default";
}
with an abstract base class
abstract class Role
{
public abstract string GetDestination();
}
class Manager : Role
{
public virtual string GetDestination() { return "ManagerHomeA"; }
}
string GetDestination(Role role)
{
return #"\" + role.GetDestination();
}
or with attributes:
[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Class, AllowMultiple = false)]
public class DestinationAttribute : Attribute
{
public DestinationAttribute() { this.Path = #"\Home"; }
public string Path { get; set; }
}
[Destination(Path = #"\ManagerHome")]
public class Manager : Role { }
string GetDestination(Role role)
{
var destination = role.GetType().GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DestinationAttribute), true).FirstOrDefault();
if (destination != null)
return destination.Path;
return #"\Home";
}

Call one constructor from another

I have two constructors which feed values to readonly fields.
public class Sample
{
public Sample(string theIntAsString)
{
int i = int.Parse(theIntAsString);
_intField = i;
}
public Sample(int theInt) => _intField = theInt;
public int IntProperty => _intField;
private readonly int _intField;
}
One constructor receives the values directly, and the other does some calculation and obtains the values, then sets the fields.
Now here's the catch:
I don't want to duplicate the
setting code. In this case, just one
field is set but of course there may
well be more than one.
To make the fields readonly, I need
to set them from the constructor, so
I can't "extract" the shared code to
a utility function.
I don't know how to call one
constructor from another.
Any ideas?

Like this:
public Sample(string str) : this(int.Parse(str)) { }

If what you want can't be achieved satisfactorily without having the initialization in its own method (e.g. because you want to do too much before the initialization code, or wrap it in a try-finally, or whatever) you can have any or all constructors pass the readonly variables by reference to an initialization routine, which will then be able to manipulate them at will.
public class Sample
{
private readonly int _intField;
public int IntProperty => _intField;
private void setupStuff(ref int intField, int newValue) => intField = newValue;
public Sample(string theIntAsString)
{
int i = int.Parse(theIntAsString);
setupStuff(ref _intField,i);
}
public Sample(int theInt) => setupStuff(ref _intField, theInt);
}

Before the body of the constructor, use either:
: base (parameters)
: this (parameters)
Example:
public class People: User
{
public People (int EmpID) : base (EmpID)
{
// Add more statements here.
}
}

I am improving upon supercat's answer. I guess the following can also be done:
class Sample
{
private readonly int _intField;
public int IntProperty
{
get { return _intField; }
}
void setupStuff(ref int intField, int newValue)
{
//Do some stuff here based upon the necessary initialized variables.
intField = newValue;
}
public Sample(string theIntAsString, bool? doStuff = true)
{
//Initialization of some necessary variables.
//==========================================
int i = int.Parse(theIntAsString);
// ................
// .......................
//==========================================
if (!doStuff.HasValue || doStuff.Value == true)
setupStuff(ref _intField,i);
}
public Sample(int theInt): this(theInt, false) //"false" param to avoid setupStuff() being called two times
{
setupStuff(ref _intField, theInt);
}
}

Here is an example that calls another constructor, then checks on the property it has set.
public SomeClass(int i)
{
I = i;
}
public SomeClass(SomeOtherClass soc)
: this(soc.J)
{
if (I==0)
{
I = DoSomethingHere();
}
}

Yeah, you can call other method before of the call base or this!
public class MyException : Exception
{
public MyException(int number) : base(ConvertToString(number))
{
}
private static string ConvertToString(int number)
{
return number.toString()
}
}

Constructor chaining i.e you can use "Base" for Is a relationship and "This" you can use for same class, when you want call multiple Constructor in single call.
class BaseClass
{
public BaseClass():this(10)
{
}
public BaseClass(int val)
{
}
}
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
new BaseClass();
ReadLine();
}
}

When you inherit a class from a base class, you can invoke the base class constructor by instantiating the derived class
class sample
{
public int x;
public sample(int value)
{
x = value;
}
}
class der : sample
{
public int a;
public int b;
public der(int value1,int value2) : base(50)
{
a = value1;
b = value2;
}
}
class run
{
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
der obj = new der(10,20);
System.Console.WriteLine(obj.x);
System.Console.WriteLine(obj.a);
System.Console.WriteLine(obj.b);
}
}
Output of the sample program is
50 10 20
You can also use this keyword to invoke a constructor from another constructor
class sample
{
public int x;
public sample(int value)
{
x = value;
}
public sample(sample obj) : this(obj.x)
{
}
}
class run
{
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
sample s = new sample(20);
sample ss = new sample(s);
System.Console.WriteLine(ss.x);
}
}
The output of this sample program is
20

Error handling and making your code reusable is key. I added string to int validation and it is possible to add other types if needed. Solving this problem with a more reusable solution could be this:
public class Sample
{
public Sample(object inputToInt)
{
_intField = objectToInt(inputToInt);
}
public int IntProperty => _intField;
private readonly int _intField;
}
public static int objectToInt(object inputToInt)
{
switch (inputToInt)
{
case int inputInt:
return inputInt;
break;
case string inputString:
if (!int.TryParse(inputString, out int parsedInt))
{
throw new InvalidParameterException($"The input {inputString} could not be parsed to int");
}
return parsedInt;
default:
throw new InvalidParameterException($"Constructor do not support {inputToInt.GetType().Name}");
break;
}
}

Please, please, and pretty please do not try this at home, or work, or anywhere really.
This is a way solve to a very very specific problem, and I hope you will not have that.
I'm posting this since it is technically an answer, and another perspective to look at it.
I repeat, do not use it under any condition. Code is to run with LINQPad.
void Main()
{
(new A(1)).Dump();
(new B(2, -1)).Dump();
var b2 = new B(2, -1);
b2.Increment();
b2.Dump();
}
class A
{
public readonly int I = 0;
public A(int i)
{
I = i;
}
}
class B: A
{
public int J;
public B(int i, int j): base(i)
{
J = j;
}
public B(int i, bool wtf): base(i)
{
}
public void Increment()
{
int i = I + 1;
var t = typeof(B).BaseType;
var ctor = t.GetConstructors().First();
ctor.Invoke(this, new object[] { i });
}
}
Since constructor is a method, you can call it with reflection. Now you either think with portals, or visualize a picture of a can of worms. sorry about this.

In my case, I had a main constructor that used an OracleDataReader as an argument, but I wanted to use different query to create the instance:
I had this code:
public Subscriber(OracleDataReader contractReader)
{
this.contract = Convert.ToString(contractReader["contract"]);
this.customerGroup = Convert.ToString(contractReader["customerGroup"]);
this.subGroup = Convert.ToString(contractReader["customerSubGroup"]);
this.pricingPlan= Convert.ToString(contractReader["pricingPlan"]);
this.items = new Dictionary<string, Member>();
this.status = 0;
}
So I created the following constructor:
public Subscriber(string contract, string customerGroup) : this(getSubReader(contract, customerGroup))
{ }
and this method:
private static OracleDataReader getSubReader(string contract, string customerGroup)
{
cmdSubscriber.Parameters[":contract"].Value = contract + "%";
cmdSubscriber.Parameters[":customerGroup"].Value = customerGroup+ "%";
return cmdSubscriber.ExecuteReader();
}
notes: a statically defined cmdSubscriber is defined elsewhere in the code; My main constructor has been simplified for this illustration.

In case you need to run something before calling another constructor not after.
public class Sample
{
static int preprocess(string theIntAsString)
{
return preprocess(int.Parse(theIntAsString));
}
static int preprocess(int theIntNeedRounding)
{
return theIntNeedRounding/100;
}
public Sample(string theIntAsString)
{
_intField = preprocess(theIntAsString)
}
public Sample(int theIntNeedRounding)
{
_intField = preprocess(theIntNeedRounding)
}
public int IntProperty => _intField;
private readonly int _intField;
}
And ValueTuple can be very helpful if you need to set more than one field.

NOTE: most of the solutions above does not work for structs.
Unfortunately initializing struct fields in a method called by a constructor is not recognized by the compiler and will lead to 2 errors:
in the constructor: Field xxxx must be fully assigned...
in the method, if you have readonly fields: a read-only field cannot be assigned except in a constructor.
These can be really frustrating for example when you just need to do simple check to decide on which constructor to orient your call to.

How to change the class of an object dynamically in C#?

Suppose I have a base class named Visitor, and it has 2 subclass Subscriber and NonSubscriber.
At first a visitor is start off from a NonSubscriber, i.e.
NonSubscriber mary = new NonSubscriber();
Then later on this "mary" subscribed to some services, and I want to change the type of "mary" to Subscriber.
What is the conventional way to do that?

can't do that. sorry. C# is not a dynamic language.

You will have to create a new mary = new Subscriber(); and copy all relevant properties.
But a better approach might be to model it differently: Give Visitor a list of subscriptions. An empty list means a NonSubscriber.

You cant do this type of conversion.
What you should do is treat mary as a visitor, and when time arrives, create a new instance of "subscriber":
Visitor mary = new NonSubscriber();
// Do some Visitor operations
...
// Now mary is a Subscriber
mary = new Subscriber();

You could use the GOF design patterns State or Strategy to model such an behaviour. Using these patterns, it seems during runtime as if the class of the objects has been changed.

It seems that you have some design problems. I think that it would be better to redesign your code like:
class Visitor
{
private bool isSubscriber = false;
public bool IsSubscriber
{
get { return isSubscriber; }
}
public void Subscribe()
{
// do some subscribing stuff
isSubscriber = true;
}
public void Unsubscribe()
{
// do some unsubscribing stuff
isSubscriber = false;
}
}

You cannot change the type of a variable at runtime. You need to create a new instance.
mary = new Subscriber();

Create a Subscriber constructor that takes a NonSubscriber object as a parameter, or create a method on the NonSubscriber object that returns a Subscriber to save you having to writer the mappping code in multiple places.

It seems like you are encoding information incorrectly into your class hierarchy. It would make more sense to use a different pattern than sub classing here. For example, use only one class (visitor, or perhaps you could name it potential subscriber, whatever seems appropriate) and encode information on the services the object is subscribed to, moving the dynamically changing behavior behind a "Strategy" pattern or some such. There's very little detail in your example, but one thing you could do in C# is to make a "subscriber" property which would change the behavior of the object when the state of the property was changed.
Here's a contrived somewhat related example:
class Price
{
private int priceInCents;
private bool displayCents;
private Func<string> displayFunction;
public Price(int dollars, int cents)
{
priceInCents = dollars*100 + cents;
DisplayCents = true;
}
public bool DisplayCents
{
get { return displayCents; }
set
{
displayCents = value;
if (displayCents)
{
this.displayFunction = () => String.Format("{0}.{1}", priceInCents / 100, priceInCents % 100);
}
else
{
this.displayFunction = () => (priceInCents / 100).ToString();
}
}
}
public string ToString()
{
return this.displayFunction();
}
}

public class User
{
public Subscription Subscription { get; set; }
public void HandleSubscription()
{
Subscription.Method();
}
}
public abstract class SubscriptionType
{
public abstract void Method();
}
public class NoSubscription : SubscriptionType
{
public override void Method()
{
// Do stuff for non subscribers
}
}
public class ServiceSubscription : SubscriptionType
{
public override void Method()
{
// Do stuff for service subscribers
}
}
public class Service2Subscription : SubscriptionType
{
public override void Method()
{
// Do stuff for service2 subscribers
}
}
Think the code explains my answer :)

Adding to the other answers and your comment, you indeed can use the state pattern for your purpose, it would go something like this:
public class MyProgram
{
public void Run()
{
Visitor v = new Visitor("Mary");
Debug.Assert(v.SubscriptionLinkText == "Join now");
v.IsSubscribed = true;
Debug.Assert(v.SubscriptionLinkText == "Today's special");
v.IsSubscribed = false;
Debug.Assert(v.SubscriptionLinkText == "Join now");
}
}
public class Visitor
{
public string Name { get; set; }
private bool _isSubscribed;
public bool IsSubscribed
{
get { return this._isSubscribed; }
set
{
if (value != this._isSubscribed)
{
this._isSubscribed = value;
this.OnSubscriptionChanged();
}
}
}
private SubscriptionBase _subscription;
public string SubscriptionLinkText
{
get { return this._subscription.LinkText; }
}
public Visitor(string name)
{
this.Name = name;
this._isSubscribed = false;
this.OnSubscriptionChanged();
}
private void OnSubscriptionChanged()
{
// Consider also defining an event and raising it here
this._subscription =
SubscriptionBase.GetSubscription(this.IsSubscribed);
}
}
abstract public class SubscriptionBase
{
// Factory method to get instance
static public SubscriptionBase GetSubscription(bool isSubscribed)
{
return isSubscribed ?
new Subscription() as SubscriptionBase
: new NoSubscription() as SubscriptionBase;
}
abstract public string LinkText { get; }
}
public class Subscription : SubscriptionBase
{
public override string LinkText
{
get { return "Today's Special"; }
}
}
public class NoSubscription : SubscriptionBase
{
public override string LinkText
{
get { return "Join now"; }
}
}