Storing data in an array

Brad Wick

I have been looking at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa288453(VS.71).aspx trying to figure this out but I just seem to get it. I have a function that I would like it to return the information in an array or something like it, but I can't figure out how to add the data. The only way I can think to explain it is more like XML. One function will return different items from a XML feed, and the other will return one record from an XML feed with the information Example for multiple records:

[Message]
[ID]44562[/ID]
[/Message]
[Message]
[ID]44562[/ID]
[/Message]
[Message]
[ID]44562[/ID]
[/Message]

Example for single records:

[Message]
[ID]44562[/ID]
[From]Scott[/From]
[To]Scott[/To]
[Subject]Test[/Subject]
[/Message]

led mike

Brad Wick wrote:

I have a function that I would like it to return the information in an array or something like it, but I can't figure out how to add the data.

If you can't figure out how to add data to an array then I suggest you get a beginners book. Look for book reviews here on the site.

led mike

Brad Wick

Adding items to an array I can do, but not a Multidimensional Array. Some people do not read books, but search the internet and learn from each time they tackle something. I have been playing around in C# for some time and can do pretty much anything that is needed, but trying to learn some other items. Why dont you just respond to every post "go buy a book" that is so much more helpful then actually helping someone out.

Bert delaVega

Just look at your XML examples (hierarchy). It's just a name/value pair array.

led mike

Brad Wick wrote:

Some people do not read books, but search the internet and learn from each time they tackle something.

Ok, good luck.

led mike

Brad Wick

So you think it would be better to store the information in XML to pass between different functions/objects?

Bert delaVega

No. I don't know your application so it's hard to say what's better. What I was getting at was that if you're confused about multi-dimensional arrays, just look at your XML to visualize what it would look like. In 2.0 forward, you could use a generic list, but I think you said you're using 1.0+ [Edit] No, the 1.0 was from another question. Sorry.

DaveyM69

The way I normally handle this is to create a class (or struct if more appropriate) for a single item, then create a class that is a generic list of single items. e.g.

public class MyMessage
{
// variables, properties, methods, constructors etc...
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
public class MyMessageCollection : List<MyMessage>
{
// returns the message with specified ID or new empty message if not found
public MyMessage FindItemFromID(int id)
{
MyMessage found = this.Find(c => c.ID == id);
return found != null ? found : new MyMessage();
}

// other methods (loading, saving...) etc...
}

Dave