Passing multiple class objects in a method as parameter.

Question

Hi all....

Please help me out -

My Scenario -
I have total 3 class files -
1. AnnTblProperties
public class Announcements
{
public String Announcement
{
get;
set;
}
public DateTime CreatedDate
{
get;
set;
}
}
2. NewsTblProperties
public class News
{
public String News
{
get;
set;
}
public DateTime CreatedDate
{
get;
set;
}
}
3. InsertMethods
public class INsert{
public Datatable InsertValues (int Table, Announcement ann, News news)
{
if(table ==1 )
{
Insert in Announcement(Announcement, CreatedDate) values (ann.Announcement, ann.CreatedDate);
}
if(table ==2 )
{
Insert in News(News, CreatedDate) values (news.News, news.CreatedDate);
}

}
}
---
Table structure of Announcements and News are same - (In Annpuncement table, Column "News" is "Announcement").

ID(PK, not Null)	News	CreatedDate
1	Item-1	3-Jan-2015
2	Item-2	16-Jan-2015
3	Item-3	4-Feb-2015

Now, from front-end, the user selects the table name from dropdownlist.

Say, if user selects "Announcements" from dropdownlist, then following steps takes place -
1. The below method is called (Validations done)
public Announcement SetValuesAnnouncement()
{
Announcements ann = new Announcements(); // object of class Announcements
ann.Announcement = txt_ann.text.trim();
ann.CreatedDate = System.datetime.now;
return ann;
}
Insert insrt = new Insert();
insrt(1,ann,null);
------------
Now,
The tables will be increased in future (structure will be same).
My query -

How do I pass just 2 values to the method InsertValues() ??

How do I pass many objects of classes in a single variable ??

My intend is to reduce the number of parameters.

Can we use collections like arrays or is there some other ways??

PLease Help !!
------

Vulpes · Answer

It will work if you give the array a size: dynamic objs = new dynamic[10]; // say but I don't know what you're trying to achieve that you can't achieve with params object[]?

Riddhi Valecha · Answer

Hi.. Can I use dynamic keyword here ?? Is the following possible - dynamic objs = new dynamic[]; Or something else ??

Vulpes · Answer

Well object[] is the simplest and quickest so I'd use that. You could also use a parameter object array i.e. declare the method as: public datatable Insert( params object[]) { // ... } rather than just: public datatable Insert(object[]) { // ... } This gives you the option of passing the parameters individually rather than as an array. For example instead of: Insert(new object[]{i ann news events}); you could simply do: Insert(i ann news events); This wouldn't affect the code in the body of the method as parameter arrays are processed in exactly the same way as ordinary arrays.

Riddhi Valecha · Answer

Hi... I mentioned earlier also... Now I have to perform this same thing in 12 tables in sql server. The operations are - 1. Select. 2. Insert. 3. Update. 4. Search. ---- Please guide... Which one should I use - Object[] List[] --- or any other... I just want to reduce the number of parameters in the method. Eg- public datatable Insert(int i class ann class news class events) { cmd.Parameters.AddWithValues(@IDi); } -- In Stored Procedure - If I pass value 1 and Select Method

Vulpes · Answer

If you want to send two or more objects of different types wrapped in a single parameter then you can use any collection which stores its elements as System.Object including object[] ArrayList and List . So you could do any of these: Insert(int i object[] objects){...} Insert(int i ArrayList objects){...} Insert(int i List objects){...} and call them with: Insert(3 new object[]{ann news}); Insert(3 new ArrayList(){ann news}); Insert(3 new List (){ann news});

Riddhi Valecha · Answer

Hi Vulpes... I am trying your way out... But I want to ask 1 query... Is there a way in which I can send 2 parameters ?? E.G - Insert (int i Arraylist[3]) or something like this ?? Can I use any collections ( Arrays Lists Dictionary etc) for class objects ?? If yes then how ???

Vulpes · Answer

If you're using C# 4.0 or later (VS 2010) then you can use named and optional parameters to pass just two values to the InsertValues method: public class Insert { public Datatable InsertValues (int Table Announcement ann = null News news = null) { if(table ==1 ) { //Insert in Announcement(Announcement CreatedDate) values (ann.Announcement ann.CreatedDate); } if(table ==2 ) { //Insert in News(News CreatedDate) values (news.News news.CreatedDate); } } } So if you just want to pass an Announcement object you can call with either: insrt.InsertValues(1 ann); or using a named argument: insrt.InsertValues(1 ann: ann); However if you want to pass just a News object you must use a named argument: insrt.InsertValues(2 news: news); // if news is a variable of that type It appears that you could reduce the method to just needing a single argument as the table number can be inferred from the type of object: public Datatable InsertValues (Announcement ann = null News news = null) { if(ann != null) { //Insert in Announcement(Announcement CreatedDate) values (ann.Announcement ann.CreatedDate); } if(news != null) { //Insert in News(News CreatedDate) values (news.News news.CreatedDate); } } and call with: insrt.InsertValues(ann: ann); or insrt.InsertValues(news: news); To pass multiple objects you can use an object params array: public Datatable InsertValues (params object[] objects) { foreach(object obj in objects) { if(obj is Announcement) { var ann = (Announcement)obj; //Insert in Announcement(Announcement CreatedDate) values (ann.Announcement ann.CreatedDate); } if(obj is News) { var news = (News)obj; //Insert in News(News CreatedDate) values (news.News news.CreatedDate); } } You could now call this say with: insrt.InsertValues(ann news);