Late binding problems?

[gregory_may]

I want to prevent late binding of this statement:

MyServerConnect ions(Myindex).c lient = Value
But when I try with the code below, I get an editor error:
"Expression is a value and therefor cant be the target of an assignment"

CType(MyServerC onnections(Myin dex), PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct) .Client =
value
What is going on here?

For reference, here is the struct definition:

Private Structure PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct
Dim client As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient
Dim Connected_To_Se rver As Boolean
Dim Connected_User_ Name As String
Dim Remote_port_num As Integer
Dim Remote_host_nam e As String
Dim MessageQueue As Queue
End Structure

Dim MyServerConnect ions As New ArrayList

[jvb]

I didn't test this to see if it actually works, but it doesn't throw
the build error above...

Call this routine...

Private Sub SetMyClient(ByR ef ClientToSet As
System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient, ByVal Value As
System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient)
ClientToSet = Value
End Sub

With this call...

Me.SetMyClient( CType(MyServerC onnections(MyIn dex),
PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct) .client, < System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient

)

Why did you decide to go with a Structure instead of a class? I don't
believe you would have this problem with a class.

[gregory_may]

This is what I am doing inside the class. There is probably some other way
to do this better, but I need a threadsafe way to get to
"MyServerConnec tions". I am using the PublicServerStr uct as a "key" to look
up a connection. I thought an array pointer would be easy, but I cant
figure it out. So, below is a class that I am working on.

I will paste the class below:
Option Explicit On
'Option Strict On
Public Class COMMON_ServerCo nnections

Public Structure PublicServerStr uct
Dim Remote_port_num As Integer
Dim Remote_host_nam e As String
End Structure

Private Structure PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct
Dim client As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient
Dim Connected_To_Se rver As Boolean
Dim Connected_User_ Name As String
Dim Remote_port_num As Integer
Dim Remote_host_nam e As String
Dim MessageQueue As Queue
End Structure

shared MyServerConnect ions As New ArrayList
#Region " Properties "

Public Property Client(ByVal PublicServerCon nection As
PublicServerStr uct) As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient
Get
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
Return CType(MyServerC onnections(Myin dex),
PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct) .client
Else
Return Nothing
End If
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient)
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
'Cant figure out how to get around late binding.
MyServerConnect ions(Myindex).c lient = Value
End If
End Set
End Property

Public Property Connected_To_Se rver(ByVal PublicServerCon nection As
PublicServerStr uct) As Boolean
Get
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
Return CType(MyServerC onnections(Myin dex),
PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct) .Connected_To_S erver
Else
Return Nothing
End If
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Boolean)
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
'Cant figure out how to get around late binding.
MyServerConnect ions(Myindex).C onnected_To_Ser ver = Value
End If
End Set
End Property

Public Property Connected_User_ Name(ByVal PublicServerCon nection As
PublicServerStr uct) As String
Get
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
Return CType(MyServerC onnections(Myin dex),
PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct) .Connected_User _Name
Else
Return Nothing
End If
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
'Cant figure out how to get around late binding.
MyServerConnect ions(Myindex).C onnected_User_N ame = Value
End If
End Set
End Property

Public Property MessageQueue(By Val PublicServerCon nection As
PublicServerStr uct) As String
Get
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
Return CType(MyServerC onnections(Myin dex),
PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct) .MessageQueue.D equeue
Else
Return Nothing
End If
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
CType(MyServerC onnections(Myin dex),
PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct) .MessageQueue.E nqueue(Value)
End If
End Set
End Property

#End Region

Public Function Add(ByVal RemoteHostname As String, ByVal
RemotePortNumbe r As Integer) As PublicServerStr uct

Dim ServerConnectio n As New PublicServerStr uct
ServerConnectio n.Remote_host_n ame = RemoteHostname
ServerConnectio n.Remote_port_n um = RemotePortNumbe r

If ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Serve rConnection) = -1 Then
Dim NewServerConnec tion As New PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct
NewServerConnec tion.Remote_hos t_name = RemoteHostname
NewServerConnec tion.Remote_por t_num = RemotePortNumbe r
NewServerConnec tion.MessageQue ue = New Queue

MyServerConnect ions.Add(NewSer verConnection)
End If
End Function

Public Sub Remove(ByVal PublicServerCon nection As PublicServerStr uct)
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)
If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
MyServerConnect ions.Add(Myinde x)
End If
End Sub
Public Function ReturnAllConnec tions() As ArrayList

Dim MyConnections As ArrayList
Dim PrivateConnecti on As PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct

For Each PrivateConnecti on In MyServerConnect ions
Dim ServerConnectio n As New PublicServerStr uct
ServerConnectio n.Remote_host_n ame =
PrivateConnecti on.Remote_host_ name
ServerConnectio n.Remote_port_n um =
PrivateConnecti on.Remote_port_ num
MyConnections.A dd(ServerConnec tion)
Next

Return MyConnections
End Function

Private Function ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(ByVal PublicServerCon nection
As PublicServerStr uct) As Integer
Dim ServerConnectio n As New PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct

Dim MyIndex As Integer = 0
For Each ServerConnectio n In MyServerConnect ions
MyIndex += 1
If ServerConnectio n.Remote_host_n ame =
PublicServerCon nection.Remote_ host_name Then
If ServerConnectio n.Remote_port_n um =
PublicServerCon nection.Remote_ port_num Then
Return MyIndex
End If
End If
Next

'Cant find anythnig, so return ... -1

Return -1
End Function
End Class

[gregory_may]

Ok, this appears to be working. Its the wierdest thing I have seen yet in
..Net:

It appears that Directly manipulating the MyServerConnect ions ArrayList
confuses everything. So, creating a "pointer", updating the pointer then
copying back seems to be working. WHAT A PAIN.

Is this a bug? This is not how you would think it should work.

Public Function SetClient(ByVal PublicServerCon nection As
PublicServerStr uct, ByRef MyClient As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient)
Dim Myindex As Integer =
ReturnArrayInde xOfClient(Publi cServerConnecti on)

If Not IsNothing(Myind ex) Then
Dim LocalPrivateSer ver As PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct
LocalPrivateSer ver = CType(MyServerC onnections(Myin dex - 1),
PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct)
LocalPrivateSer ver.client = MyClient
MyServerConnect ions(Myindex - 1) = LocalPrivateSer ver
End If
End Function
"gregory_ma y" <None> wrote in message
news:e%******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..

I want to prevent late binding of this statement:

MyServerConnect ions(Myindex).c lient = Value
But when I try with the code below, I get an editor error:
"Expression is a value and therefor cant be the target of an assignment"

CType(MyServerC onnections(Myin dex), PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct) .Client
= value
What is going on here?

For reference, here is the struct definition:

Private Structure PrivateServerCo nnectionStruct
Dim client As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient
Dim Connected_To_Se rver As Boolean
Dim Connected_User_ Name As String
Dim Remote_port_num As Integer
Dim Remote_host_nam e As String
Dim MessageQueue As Queue
End Structure

Dim MyServerConnect ions As New ArrayList