zero element array creation

[Zytan]

I want to make a zero element array. I know that Nothing is not the
same as a zero element array, since I can't get the length of, or
iterate through, an array = Nothing. I could make a zero element
array like this, but it seems like overkill:

Dim emptyArray as Byte() = System.Text.Enc oding.Default.G etBytes("")

Is there a better way?

Zytan

[Stephany Young]

Dim emptyArray() as Byte = New Byte() {}
Console.Writeli ne(emptyArray.L ength)

or

Dim emptyArray as Byte() = New Byte() {}
Console.Writeli ne(emptyArray.L ength)

I don't know why you can write it both ways. There will be an esoteric
reason but I just don't know what it is.

Both forms DO compile to identical IL.

My own preference is for the 2nd form.
"Zytan" <zy**********@y ahoo.comwrote in message
news:11******** **************@ p10g2000cwp.goo glegroups.com.. .

>I want to make a zero element array. I know that Nothing is not the
same as a zero element array, since I can't get the length of, or
iterate through, an array = Nothing. I could make a zero element
array like this, but it seems like overkill:

Dim emptyArray as Byte() = System.Text.Enc oding.Default.G etBytes("")

Is there a better way?

Zytan

[Zytan]

Dim emptyArray as Byte() = New Byte() {}

Right, of course.

I don't know why you can write it both ways. There will be an esoteric
reason but I just don't know what it is.

I'd like to know why, as well.

Both forms DO compile to identical IL.

Ok.

My own preference is for the 2nd form.

Mine, too.

Thanks again!!

Zytan

[Stephany Young]

Don't get me wrong Zytan - I have no inclination to find out why - In that
case I'm happy enough to accept that it just is.

There aren't enough hours in the day to chase down the reasons behind all
the foibles that one comes across.

I'm prepared to accept that the writers of VB.NET let a 'foible' exist
because:

a. they had a momentary aberration
b. it was early on a monday morning/late of friday afternoon
c. there is a really good reason for doing so
d. all of the above

Whether or not I like a particular 'foible' is a different matter but I'm
not going to lose any sleep over it.

That said, the various 'foible's do certanly make for som lively discussions
in here. :)
"Zytan" <zy**********@y ahoo.comwrote in message
news:11******** **************@ v33g2000cwv.goo glegroups.com.. .

> Dim emptyArray as Byte() = New Byte() {}

Right, of course.

>I don't know why you can write it both ways. There will be an esoteric
reason but I just don't know what it is.

I'd like to know why, as well.

>Both forms DO compile to identical IL.

Ok.

>My own preference is for the 2nd form.

Mine, too.

Thanks again!!

Zytan

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

"Zytan" <zy**********@y ahoo.comschrieb :

>I want to make a zero element array. I know that Nothing is not the
same as a zero element array, since I can't get the length of, or
iterate through, an array = Nothing. I could make a zero element
array like this, but it seems like overkill:

\\\
Dim a(-1) As Integer
///

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Zytan,

Or I misunderstood it, or we are coming now on really problems which will
never exist in a real world.

\\\
Dim a(-1) As Integer
///
(I take Herfrieds sample because this shows it in my idea the nicest.)

Therefore all was it alone for me, what can be the use of this?

Cor
"Zytan" <zy**********@y ahoo.comschreef in bericht
news:11******** **************@ p10g2000cwp.goo glegroups.com.. .

>I want to make a zero element array. I know that Nothing is not the
same as a zero element array, since I can't get the length of, or
iterate through, an array = Nothing. I could make a zero element
array like this, but it seems like overkill:

Dim emptyArray as Byte() = System.Text.Enc oding.Default.G etBytes("")

Is there a better way?

Zytan

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

Cor,

"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <no************ @planet.nlschri eb:

Or I misunderstood it, or we are coming now on really problems which will
never exist in a real world.

\\\
Dim a(-1) As Integer
///
(I take Herfrieds sample because this shows it in my idea the nicest.)

Therefore all was it alone for me, what can be the use of this?

Imagine a method like 'Directory.GetF iles' would be called on an empty
directory. Then I'd expect a zero-length array to be returned instead of
'Nothing'.

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>

[Tom Shelton]

On 2007-02-19, Cor Ligthert [MVP] <no************ @planet.nlwrote :

Zytan,

Or I misunderstood it, or we are coming now on really problems which will
never exist in a real world.

\\\
Dim a(-1) As Integer
///
(I take Herfrieds sample because this shows it in my idea the nicest.)

Therefore all was it alone for me, what can be the use of this?

Cor

It's sort of a variation of the null object pattern. If a method returns an
array, it's often nice to not have to check for a null reference (nothing)...

for each i as integer in getintegerarray ()
' do cool stuff with integer
next i

Instead of:

dim a() as integer = getintegerarray ()
if not a is nothing then
foreach i as integer in a
' do cool stuff with integer
next i
end if

--
Tom Shelton

[Doug Glancy]

Herfried,

That's what done before in VBA and was just trying to figure it out the
other day in .Net. Thanks for the answer. So simple once you know.

Doug

"Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hi************ ***@gmx.atwrote in message
news:%2******** *******@TK2MSFT NGP05.phx.gbl.. .

Cor,

"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <no************ @planet.nlschri eb:

>Or I misunderstood it, or we are coming now on really problems which will
never exist in a real world.

\\\
Dim a(-1) As Integer
///
(I take Herfrieds sample because this shows it in my idea the nicest.)

Therefore all was it alone for me, what can be the use of this?

Imagine a method like 'Directory.GetF iles' would be called on an empty
directory. Then I'd expect a zero-length array to be returned instead of
'Nothing'.

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Tom/Herfried,

I don't see it clear, however I get the idea where you guys want to use it.

Thanks,

Cor

"Tom Shelton" <to*********@co mcastXXXXXXX.ne tschreef in bericht
news:l7******** *************** *******@comcast .com...

On 2007-02-19, Cor Ligthert [MVP] <no************ @planet.nlwrote :

>Zytan,

Or I misunderstood it, or we are coming now on really problems which will
never exist in a real world.

\\\
Dim a(-1) As Integer
///
(I take Herfrieds sample because this shows it in my idea the nicest.)

Therefore all was it alone for me, what can be the use of this?

Cor

It's sort of a variation of the null object pattern. If a method returns
an
array, it's often nice to not have to check for a null reference
(nothing)...

for each i as integer in getintegerarray ()
' do cool stuff with integer
next i

Instead of:

dim a() as integer = getintegerarray ()
if not a is nothing then
foreach i as integer in a
' do cool stuff with integer
next i
end if

--
Tom Shelton