empty attributes in C#?

Question

hi there I'm trying to call a third-party DLL written in VB from an app written in C#. One of the methods I need to call is in the format: records.populate(ref clientID ref datefrom ref dateto ref status) (where clientID and status are both integers and the other two are datetimes) In the documentation for the library it states that all the attributes are optional giving the example: records.populate(123) How can I emulate this code in C#? I've tried the same syntax (won't compile with empty arguments); tried using null for each one (well I can't do this because DateTime is non-nullable); tried using new int()/DateTime() but this didn't return any data when it should have. So how do I do it? I have no idea how the populate() method is handling the arguments since it's third-party. Thanks for your help.

Alan · Answer

As those arguments are optional they must have default values which the function uses when they're not used in the call. The problem in the absence of any documentation is to guess what they are :) You could try this: DateTime datefrom = DateTime.Now; DateTime dateto = DateTime.Now; int status = 0; records.populate(123 ref datefrom ref dateto ref status);

Fiona · Answer

Thanks but no joy. Cannot convert from ref object to ref int :s

Alan · Answer

Try this: object optional = Type.Missing; records.populate(123 ref optional ref optional ref optional);