Reflecting on a basic variable and procedure name.

[John Bentley]

I have two tasks that I expect will be straight forward to anyone with
reflection skills.

1. To return the the name of an object instance (not type) determined at run
time.

For example, I would like to call a function that takes a basic variable and
writes to the debug window the name of the variable and value.

Dim myNumber As Integer = 12
Dim firstName as String = "Barry"

OutputFieldAndV alue(myNumber)
OutputFieldAndV alue(firstName)

' Gives something like
myNumber : 14
firstName : Barry

Sub OutputFieldAndV alue( _
ByVal field As Object)

Dim pad AS Integer = 10
Dim tabs As String = StrDup(1, Tab)

Dim fieldName As String = "Not yet Implemented"
Dim value As String = field.ToString( )

Debug.WriteLine (fieldName.PadR ight(pad) & ":" _
& tabs & value.ToString. PadLeft(pad))
End Sub

What could "Not yet Implemented" be replaced with?

2. The name of the current procedure.

Eg
Function FunnyFunction() as Object
Debug.WriteLine ( ' some statement that out puts "FunnyFunct ion" ' )
End Function

[Jon Skeet]

John Bentley <no*****@nowher e.com> wrote:

I have two tasks that I expect will be straight forward to anyone with
reflection skills.

1. To return the the name of an object instance (not type) determined at run
time.

For example, I would like to call a function that takes a basic variable and
writes to the debug window the name of the variable and value.

Dim myNumber As Integer = 12
Dim firstName as String = "Barry"

OutputFieldAndV alue(myNumber)
OutputFieldAndV alue(firstName)
Nope, neither of these are going to happen.

When you pass a value, that's all that gets passed - a value. There's
no difference between
OutputFieldAndV alue (myNumber);
and
OutputFieldAndV alue (12);

as far as the OutputFieldAndV alue method is concerned.
2. The name of the current procedure.

Eg
Function FunnyFunction() as Object
Debug.WriteLine ( ' some statement that out puts "FunnyFunct ion" ' )
End Function

You can use the StackTrace class for this. Be aware that the JIT may do
interesting things to stack traces though.

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

[John Bentley]

> -------------------------------------------------

Jon Skeet wrote (at this indent level):
------------------------------------------------- John Bentley <no*****@nowher e.com> wrote:

I have two tasks that I expect will be straight forward to anyone
with reflection skills.

1. To return the the name of an object instance (not type)
determined at run time.

For example, I would like to call a function that takes a basic
variable and writes to the debug window the name of the variable and
value.

Dim myNumber As Integer = 12
Dim firstName as String = "Barry"

OutputFieldAndV alue(myNumber)
OutputFieldAndV alue(firstName)
Nope, neither of these are going to happen.
When you pass a value, that's all that gets passed - a value. There's
no difference between
OutputFieldAndV alue (myNumber);
and
OutputFieldAndV alue (12);

as far as the OutputFieldAndV alue method is concerned.

:(

2. The name of the current procedure.

Eg
Function FunnyFunction() as Object
Debug.WriteLine ( ' some statement that out puts "FunnyFunct ion"
' ) End Function
You can use the StackTrace class for this.

That's the tip off! Thanks once more Jon.
Be aware that the JIT may
do interesting things to stack traces though.

With this awareness firmly *Not* in my mind I then came up with:

Imports System.Diagnost ics

Function ThisProcedureNa me() As String
Dim st As New StackTrace()
Dim sf As New StackFrame()

' The procedure we are interested in is not this one but
' the one that called this one. That's one down on the stack.
sf = st.GetFrame(1)

Return sf.GetMethod.Na me
End Function

Sub MyProcedureName ()
Debug.WriteLine ("Name of this procedure: " _
& ThisProcedureNa me())
End Sub

Keywords: Current Procedure Name