Want a const array...

[Sinex]

Hi,
I want to declare an array of constants (of type byte) and initialize the
array ...all at one shot. How do I do that?

Sinex

[Johann Blake]

Sinex,

There is no such thing as an "array of constants". A normal array
contains values that can be changed.

To define a normal array and assign it values, use the syntax:

byte[] myArray = {1, 2, 3, 100, 205, etc.}

Best Regards
Johann Blake

[Vadym Stetsyak]

Afaik there is no direct way how to do this
you can declare for expample

public readonly byte[] arr = new byte[3] { 0x01, 0x02, 0x03 };

However, array elements aren't readonly.

Another way is to use ArrauyList

private static byte[] arr = new byte[3] { 0x01, 0x02, 0x03 };
public readonly ArrayList al = ArrayList.ReadOnly(ArrayList.Adapter(arr));

al is readonly collection. The minus of such a collection is that if you
will try to set the value of it you will get runtime exception and not the
error in the compile-time

--
Vadym Stetsyak aka Vadmyst

"Sinex" <ma************@honeywell.com> wrote in message
news:#V**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Hi,
I want to declare an array of constants (of type byte) and initialize the array ...all at one shot. How do I do that?

Sinex

[Derrick Coetzee [MSFT]]

Sinex wrote:

I want to declare an array of constants (of type byte) and
initialize the array ...all at one shot. How do I do that?

As mentioned, there's no convenient built-in way to do this, but what you
can do is declare a simple class that wraps an array and only exposes the
ability to read it, like this (warning, code is untested):

class ConstArray {
byte[] data;

public ConstArray(byte[] data) {
this.data = data;
}

public byte this [int index] {
get
{
return data[index];
}
}
}

Now you can declare in your class:

public readonly ConstArray arr = new ConstArray(new byte[3] {0x01, 0x02,
0x03});

Now the compiler will enforce that neither the array nor its elements can be
changed. If possible you may want to make ConstArray a value type to avoid
unneccessary indirection.
--
Derrick Coetzee, MCP, MSFT (Speech Server)
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights. Use of included code samples are subject to the terms
specified at http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm