Properties returning a class that need to be modified

[Tristan]

Hi,

In my application I always return deep copies of classes
that are returned from get methods of properties. I do this
so that the class returned can't be changed by getting it and
then manipulating the reference returned.

The problem is when I need to change what's inside the class
returned, I think the code below will be clearer!

Class LineStyle
{
private int lineWidth

property LineWidth
{
get
{
return lineWidth;
}
set
{
lineWidth = value;
}
}

Class Shape
{
private LineStyle mLineStyle

property LineStyle ShapeLineStyle
{
get
{
// Return a deep copy
return new LineStyle(mLineStyle)
}
set
{
mLineStyle = new LineStyle(value);
}
}
}

The problem is that I want to do:

Shape.LineStyle.Width = someValue

and for that to be reflected in the shape object

Perhaps I should just always return references from
get methods???

Help much appreciated

Tristan.