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Set returned value from method as public string in C#

I need to get string from one class to another class,
It is possible to set public string from method I mean like in this code:
class test
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
load();
}
public class Data
{
public string datacollected { get; set; }
}
public static void load()
{
string fileName = "samplefile.json";
string jsonString = File.ReadAllText(fileName);
Data datacfg = new Data();
var datanew = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Deserialize<List<Data>>(jsonString);
datacfg = datanew.First();
}
public string datacollected = datacfg.datacollected;
}
i want to use string datacollected in another class and in another public void

The datacollected member that is directly in the test class is not a property. It's a field. Fields that have an assignment on the same statement as the declaration are evaluated before* the class's constructor (ie: before the Main method runs).
You probably want it to be a property instead, which is evaluated each time you access the member. The simplest method to fix that is by adding a > after the equals.
public string datacollected => datacfg.datacollected;
You've got two other problems though.
datacollected (in the test class) isn't static. All of your methods are static, and therefor wouldn't be able to access the non-static member.
You've still got the problem where the datacfg is a local variable that is defined inside the load method. You can't use variables outside their defined scope.
Option 1: you only need the parsed file data in the method that called load.
Change load to return the parsed data, rather than save it to a class-global variable.
using System.Text.Json;
static class test
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Data loadedData = load();
}
public static Data load()
{
string fileName = "samplefile.json";
string jsonString = File.ReadAllText(fileName);
return JsonSerializer.Deserialize<List<Data>>(jsonString).First();
}
}
public class Data
{
public string datacollected { get; set; }
}
Option 2: If you really need some global variable, put the whole Data object up to a field instead. This doesn't use a property - there's really no advantage in this case.
using System.Text.Json;
static class test
{
// assuming you're using nullable reference types (the "?")
private static Data? loadedData;
static void Main(string[] args)
{
load();
Console.WriteLine(loadedData!.datacollected);
// "!" to tell compiler that you know loadedData
// shouldn't be null when executed
}
public static void load()
{
string fileName = "samplefile.json";
string jsonString = File.ReadAllText(fileName);
loadedData = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<List<Data>>(jsonString).First();
}
}
public class Data
{
public string datacollected { get; set; }
}
I'd go with Option 1 if at all possible.
* I don't remember if it's before, during, or after.

You can declare a class like this
public class UseData
{
private List<Data> _data=null;
public string datacollected
{
get
{
if (_data == null)
LoadData();
return _data.First().datacollected;
}
}
private void LoadData()
{
string fileName = "samplefile.json";
string jsonString = File.ReadAllText(fileName);
_data = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Deserialize<List<Data>>(jsonString);
}
}
which have a private list of data and it loads from your json file at first time you called. Next time you call it, as the private _data object is filled, it wont load again and the datacollected property returns the first data object's datacollected string property.

Error on static Class

public class Program
{
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
var c = check.myValue("Example 1"); //This is the pattern I've to use, don't want to create an object (Is it possible to use it with static class)
Console.WriteLine(c.result1);
Console.WriteLine(c.result2);
}
}
public static class check
{
public static void myValue(string qr)
{
public string result1 = "My Name" + qr;
public string result1 = "You're" + qr;
}
}
See here Online Example (Code is not working)
Every thing on main function I've to use exactly the same pattern because I'll use it in a lot of different classes and I don't want to create object each and every time by using non-static class.
Please correct me if I'm wrong

There's a lot wrong with the syntax of that code, which #Sergey addresses in his answer.
You appear to want to return an instance of a class from a static method, and that class should contain two properties.
You can do that by creating the actual, nonstatic class containing the properties:
public class Check
{
public string Result1 { get; set; }
public string Result2 { get; set; }
}
Then return a new instance from the static method therein:
public static Check MyValue(string qr)
{
var result = new Check();
result.Result1 = "My Name" + qr;
result.Result2 = "You're" + qr;
return result;
}
However, you're saying in the comments in your code that you don't want to use an object.
In that case it appears you want to use static properties. That's generally not recommendable, but it would look like this:
public static class Check
{
public static string Result1 { get; set; }
public static string Result2 { get; set; }
public static void MyValue(string qr)
{
Result1 = "My Name" + qr;
Result2 = "You're" + qr;
}
}
Then you can read Check.Result1 after calling the method MyValue().

Your code is totally wrong
myValue method returns void. You cannot assign void return value to variable.
You cannot have public modifiers for local variables.
You cannot have local variables with same name in same scope
If you want to return two values from method, then you should return object with two fields - custom class or tuple. You can also use out parameters, but I don't think it's your case
public static class Check
{
public static Tuple<string, string> MyValue(string qr)
{
return Tuple.Create($"My Name {qr}", $"You're {qr}");
}
}
With C# 7 it's a little bit better. You can write this method in one line and provide names for tuple properties
(string MyName, string YourName) MyValue(string qr) => ($"My Name {qr}", $"You're {qr}");
Usage
var result = Check.MyValue("Example 1");
Console.WriteLine(result.Item1); // result.MyName
Console.WriteLine(result.Item2); // result.YourName
You can practice with creating custom class with nicely named properties instead of using tuples.

DLL Property no settable

Why Could I not set my Property?
The DLL is imported and all methods are reachable but the URL property wont show up and also seems to not exists
http://prntscr.com/6y2az8
Dll Code:
namespace Steap
{
public class SteapAPI
{
public static String URL
{
get;
set;
}
public static XmlReader r = XmlReader.Create("");
public int getSteamID64()
{
int ID = 0;
r.ReadToFollowing("steamID64");
ID = r.ReadContentAsInt();
return ID;
}
public string getSteamID()
{
string ID = String.Empty;
r.ReadToFollowing("steamID");
ID = r.ReadContentAsString();
return ID;
}
public string getName()
{
return getSteamID();
}
}
}
I also used string intead of String and I need the static for the later statement

In the image that you added you are trying to access it like this:
SteapAPI sapi = new SteapAPI);
sapi.URL = // ... do something
Your property is static, so you should call it from class and not from instance:
SteapAPI.URL = // ... do something

Static properties are on the class not the instance. Use
SteapAPI.URL
Keep in mind this means the value is shared by all instances of the class.

If it is static then you access it like
SteapAPI.URL

C# Properties based on choice

I need a little help i am using a class and want to set the properties based on choice on type int,string and datetime here is my code that i wrote but as my constructor will be confused between public string paramValue and public int? paramValue what is the best way to set properties based on choice so only one property can be set a time.Thanks for any suggestion
public class PassData
{
private string _ParamName { get; set; }
private int? _ParamValueInt { get; set; }
private string _ParamValueString { get; set; }
private DateTime? _ParamValueDateTime { get; set; }
public string paramName
{
get { return _ParamName; }
set { _ParamName = value;}
}
public string paramValue
{
get { return _ParamValueString; }
set {_ParamValueString = value; }
}
public int? paramValue
{
get { return _ParamValueInt; }
set { _ParamValueInt = value; }
}
public PassData(string ParamName, int ParamValue)
{
paramName = ParamName;
paramValue = ParamValue;
}
public PassData(string ParamName, string ParamValue)
{
ParamName = ParamName;
ParamValueString = ParamValue;
}
public PassData(string ParamName, DateTime ParamValue)
{
ParamName = ParamName;
ParamValueDateTime = ParamValue;
}
}

Basically, you can't have multiple properties on an object that only differ by type. You have a few options.
1) Create a single property that can hold various types:
private Object _paramValue;
public Object ParamValue
{
get { return _paramValue; }
set {_paramValue= value; }
}
In your setter, you can throw an exception if the value is a type you don't like. You'd also have to upcast the result every time you called the getter, making this solution not ideal. If you want to go this route, I'd suggest making the property an interface, and defining various implementations for the types of data you need.
2) Create a generic class:
public class PassData<T>
{
private T _paramValue;
public T paramValue
{
get { return _paramValue; }
set {_paramValue= value; }
}
}
This has the disadvantage of not being able to change the type after the instance is created. It was unclear if this was a requirement for you.
I like this design as it provides for the possibility of making the constructor for this class private:
public class PassData<T>
{
private PassData(T value)
{
this._paramValue = value;
}
}
If you did this, you can create overloaded static methods to allow the creation of instances:
public static PassData<String> CreateValue(string value)
{
return new PassData<String>(value);
}
public static PassData<Int32> CreateValue(Int32 value)
{
return new PassData<Int32>(value);
}
That way, you can control what types can be created.

Not an answer (in the sense that it does not offer you a way to do what you're trying to do, as Mike Christensen's answer covers it). I just wanted to get more into why what you are trying to do is not working.
Your expectation for it to work is not unreasonable per se, the issue is that c# is not polymorphic on return values. I think some other languages are, C# is not.
i.e. while in c#, you can do:
public void test(int val) {}
public void test(string val) {}
// When you call `test` with either an int or a string,
// the compiler will know which one to call
you CAN'T do:
public int test() {return 1;}
public string test() {return "1";}
// does not compile. The compiler should look at the call
// site and see what you assign the result of "test()" to
// to decide. But there are various edge cases and it was decided
// to leave this out of the language
Now, the get on string paramValue is functionally equivalent to this scenario. You're trying to get the compiler to decide which paramValue to call based on the return value.

Correct use of Properties to maintain a HUD in a nested Form?

Edit 1
Is it possible to do this with get/set? Something like the below? This works for me but I am worried I am missing something not to mention all the staticness.
///<summary>
/// Class to track and maintain Heads Up Display information
///</summary>
public static class HUD
{
///<summary>
///Declare variables to store HUD values
///</summary>
private static string _lastName;
private static string _firstName;
private static string _middleName;
private static string _suffix;
private static string _sSN;
private static string _personID;
private static string _masterID;
private static string _enrollmentID;
private static string _planID;
// Store a reference to THE form that holds the HUD and is visible
private static FrmModuleHost _frmHUDHost;
public static string PersonId
{
get { return _personID; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_PersonID.Text = value;
_personID = value;
}
}
public static string SSn
{
get { return _sSN; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_SSN.Text = value;
_sSN = value;
}
}
public static string MiddleName
{
get { return _middleName; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_MiddleName.Text = value;
_middleName = value;
}
}
public static string FirstName
{
get { return _firstName; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_FirstName.Text = value;
_firstName = value;
}
}
public static string LastName
{
get { return _lastName; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_LastName.Text = value;
_lastName = value;
}
}
public static string Suffix
{
get { return _suffix; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_SuffixName.Text = value;
_suffix = value;
}
}
public static string MasterID
{
get { return _masterID; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_MasterID.Text = value;
_masterID = value;
}
}
public static string EnrollmentID
{
get { return _enrollmentID; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_EnrollmontPeriod.Text = value;
_enrollmentID = value;
}
}
public static string PlanID
{
get { return _planID; }
set
{
FrmHudHost.tbxHUD_PlanID.Text = value;
_planID = value;
}
}
public static FrmModuleHost FrmHudHost
{
get { return _frmHUDHost; }
set { _frmHUDHost = value; }
}
}
Original Post
I have a class that is responsible for updating a Heads Up Display of current selected member info. My class looks like this -->
public static class HUD
{
///<summary>
///Declare variables to store HUD values
///</summary>
public static string _lastName;
public static string _firstName;
public static string _middleName;
public static string _suffix;
public static string _sSN;
public static string _personID;
public static string _masterID;
public static string _enrollmentPeriod;
public static string _planID;
///<summary>
/// Method to update the display with current information
///</summary>
public static void UpdateHUD (FrmModuleHost frm, params String[] args)
{
frm.tbxHUD_LastName.Text = args[0];
_lastName = args[0];
frm.tbxHUD_FirstName.Text = args[1];
_firstName = args[1];
frm.tbxHUD_MiddleName.Text = args[2];
_middleName = args[2];
frm.tbxHUD_SSN.Text = args[3];
_sSN = args[3];
frm.tbxHUD_PersonID.Text = args[4];
_personID = args[4];
}
}
What I am trying to figure out is how I can tell what args are being passed. What you see below is what is called from the Search Page as that is all that is available at that point. The other 4 values will be loaded 1 at a time on various pages. A person HAS A enrollment which HAS A plan if that helps.
private void GetResults()
{
var lName = getCurrentRowVal("Last Name");
var fName = getCurrentRowVal("First Name");
var pID = getCurrentRowVal("Person ID");
var sSN = getCurrentRowVal("SSN");
var mName = getCurrentRowVal("Middle Name");
HUD.UpdateHUD(FrmWwcModuleHost, lName, fName, mName, sSN, pID);
}
Now when I call this from the Enrollment Page I will want everything to stay and add the EnrollmentID.
private void GetResults()
{
var enrollmentID = getCurrentRowVal("EnrollmentID");
HUD.UpdateHUD(FrmWwcModuleHost, enrollmentID);
}
My question is, How do I do that and know which arg[] index to call and not overwrite the existing values?
Is it as simple as always providing ALL parameters as they are set? So my call from the Enrollment Page would instead look like this -->
private void GetResults()
{
var enrollmentID = getCurrentRowVal("EnrollmentID");
HUD.UpdateHUD(FrmWwcModuleHost, HUD._lastName, HUD._firstName, HUD._middleName, HUD._sSN, HUD._personID, enrollmentID);
}
Thanks for any insights!

You'll really need to ditch the params style call and establish real parameters for your methods. Just create multiple overloads for your most common call signatures.

I did not see a reference to a particular version of .net you are using. Here is how I handle this in .net 3.5.
First create a class for passing the update values in, but make all of the properties nullable (since all of your items are string, they are already nullable). If the values are nullable, add actual property setters, and LastNameChanged properties.
public class UpdateData {
public string LastName { get; set;};
public string FirstName { get; set;};
public string MiddleName { get; set;};
...
}
Now your method signature looks like this:
public static void UpdateHUD (FrmModuleHost frm, UpdateData data)
{
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(data.FirstName) {
frm.tbxHUD_LastName.Text = data.FirstName;
_lastName = data.FirstName;
}
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(data.LastName) {
frm.tbxHUD_FirstName.Text = data.LastName;
_firstName = data.FirstName;
}
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(data.MiddleName) {
frm.tbxHUD_MiddleName.Text = data.MiddleName;
_middleName = data.FirstName;
}
Next is the setting the UpdateData and calling the method:
UpdateHUD(FrmWwcModuleHost, new UpateData{ FirstName = "test1", LastName = "test2", ...});
Final note: you are using a lot of statics here. You might consider changing most of them. Move the static variables to an actual class with properties (but no statics), and reference the class in your code.

Perhaps instead of
params String[] args
you should do
params KeyValuePair<String,String>[] args
where any given param's properies would be assigned something like this:
Key = "Last Name"
Value = "Hare"
Then inside your UpdateHUD method you could check to see what the Key of the parameter was so you would know which value was being passed.

You could also create a separate class to pass in the params array. Something like:
public class HUDParam {
public HUDParam(paramName, paramValue) { /*[init code here...]*/ }
public string Name { get; set; }
public string Value { get; set; }
}
Then:
HUD.UpdateHUD(frm, new HUDParam("FirstName", "Tom"),
new HUDParam("LastName", "Thompson");
In your update method, you can just check the name and set the appropriate value in your HUD.

C# 4.0 has optional params which are much different from the params keyword. Params keyword is literally no different at runtime than if you didn't have the params keyword at all. In other words, you just get an array of values with no way of knowing which are which. Params keyword is just a C# convenience at compile time.
Although I haven't used C# 4.0 optional parameters yet, I imagine they behave similarly to the way VB.NET optional parameters did in that you can specify a default value at the function and that default will be used if the caller doesn't specify it. But the caller still has to indicate (either with missing values or paramName:= syntax) which parameter they are specifying.
In your case I think you're better off using either normal named parameters and passing null when you don't need them, or pass a dictionary/hashtable instead.

You could pass the arguments with a Dictionary where you can assign a value to a certain name.
The cleanest version would be to make a method for each variable.
e.g.
void UpdateLastName(string name)
{
frm.tbxHUD_LastName.Text = _lastName = name;
}

If you can use Framework 4.0, you can use optional and named parameters. Until that time, you will need to pass all the arguments.
But, I think by your question you might misunderstand what's happening slightly. The arguments you send in params are going into the method as an argument. Their scope therefore is the method itself, so you not "overwriting" anything. The array that you used for the first call is gone (out of scope) and the array you use for the second call will have whatever you put in it. Best way to do optional parameters before 4.0 is using multiple method overloads.

If you have a name association with a value but possibly unknown name values this is a candidate for a Dictionary .
Optional parameters involve no less checking than checking a dictionary if a key exists or if a member of a class is null. Since there already exists a primitive for this and it's more flexible I see no reason to use variable parameters or optional parameters.

What I would do is use an ananoymous type (which can be turned into a dictionary at runtime) and then changing the values which are present.
New function definition:
public static void UpdateHUD (FrmModuleHost frm, object args);
And client code:
UpdateHUD(frm, new {
MiddleName = "Jed",
SSN = "..." });
Using the code from Roy Osherove's Blog, this can be turned into a dictionary. The new implementation would be similar to:
var dictionary = MakeDictionary(args);
if ( dictionary.ContainsKey("SSN") ) { _sSN = dictionary["SSN"]; }
Of course, this will all be irrelevant when C# 4.0 comes out.