Arrays and properties in a class

[A Ratcliffe]

Here's where I show my C++ roots, and the fact that I am still learning C#,
but...

In C++, if I had a small array in a class, I would simply define it in the
class to the correct dimensions. If I wished to access the array via
operator, I would overload the [] operator for the class. For example...

class cPoint3
{
private:
float _v[3];

public:
float& operator [](int i);
}

In C#, this all changes. On to my questions:-

A) In C#, as I understand it, I have to define the array as [], as in

private float [] _v;

and then set its size in the constructor, as

_v = new float[3]

Is this right? it seems a long winded way of setting something that I KNOW
is always going to be that size.

B)
How do I create the equivalent overloaded [] for the class in C#?

Sorry for bothering you all with such simplicity, but I was expecting
something closer to the C++ way of doing things, and it threw me into a spin
when VS.NET started highlighting everything as incorrect syntax.

Thanks in advance,

Yours,

Ann-Marie Ratcliffe

[A Ratcliffe]

As an addendum...

Once I had created the overloaded [] for my C# class, if I then had an array
Points[], if I referred to Points[a][b], would be looking at...

The value of Point[b] at index [a] in Points, or vice-versa?

Thanks again,

Ann-Marie

[Jon Skeet [C# MVP]]

A Ratcliffe <ar********@archiNOSPAMmagic.net> wrote:

Here's where I show my C++ roots, and the fact that I am still learning C#,
but...

In C++, if I had a small array in a class, I would simply define it in the
class to the correct dimensions. If I wished to access the array via
operator, I would overload the [] operator for the class. For example...

class cPoint3
{
private:
float _v[3];

public:
float& operator [](int i);
}

In C#, this all changes. On to my questions:-

A) In C#, as I understand it, I have to define the array as [], as in

private float [] _v;

and then set its size in the constructor, as

_v = new float[3]
You don't need to do it in the constructor - you can do it along with
the declaration:

float[] _v = new float[3];

(Note that private is the default access for instance/static variables.
I omit it.)
B)
How do I create the equivalent overloaded [] for the class in C#?
You need an indexer, eg:

public string this [int x]
{
get
{
return someStringArray[x];
}

set
{
someStringArray[x]=value;
}
}

(Potentially with more bounds checking etc.)

Look up indexer in the MSDN for more information.
Sorry for bothering you all with such simplicity, but I was expecting
something closer to the C++ way of doing things, and it threw me into a spin
when VS.NET started highlighting everything as incorrect syntax.
No problem at all :)
As an addendum... Once I had created the overloaded [] for my C# class, if I then had an array
Points[], if I referred to Points[a][b], would be looking at... The value of Point[b] at index [a] in Points, or vice-versa?

it would be the equivalent of (Points[a])[b] - that's the way to think
about it. Hope that helps.

--
Jon Skeet - <sk***@pobox.com>
http://www.pobox.com/~skeet
If replying to the group, please do not mail me too