Array of array references

Question

I have three string arrays:

private readonly string[] PMCTableColumnNames = new string[] { "PMCIP", "Description", "Cam1ReferencePoints", "Cam2ReferencePoints", "DataserverIP" };
private readonly string[] PMDTableColumnNames = new string[] { "PMDIP", "Description" };
private readonly string[] PMDZonesTableColumnNames = new string[] { "PMDIP", "Description", "Zone" };

I want to construct an array that points to these arrays as:

private var[] ArrayReferences = new var[] { PMCTableColumnNames, PMDTableColumnNames, PMDZonesTableColumnNames };

When i put index to this (ArrayReferences) array, i want to get all elements of the specific array like this:

string[] _PMDTableColumnNames = ArrayReferences[1];

How can i do that?

Why are you using var[]? And are you telling us that string[] _PMDTableColumnNames = ArrayReferences[1]; is not working? — Oded
– Oded, Commented Jul 7, 2012 at 10:52
@Oded: I believe it is legal to use var[] here, since the compiler can infer the type? — carlpett
– carlpett, Commented Jul 7, 2012 at 10:54
No, i write "var" because i want to express my idea. I know that it can't be "var". — sanchop22
– sanchop22, Commented Jul 7, 2012 at 10:55
Then don't post code that can't even compile (unless that's the point of the question). — Oded
– Oded, Commented Jul 7, 2012 at 10:56

Lee · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-07 11:00:25Z

3

You can create an array of arrays:

private string[][] ArrayReferences;

Note you'll have to initialise ArrayReferences in the constructor since you can't reference the other arrays in the field initialiser. i.e.

public class ClassName
{
    private readonly string[] PMCTableColumnNames = new string[] { "PMCIP", "Description", "Cam1ReferencePoints", "Cam2ReferencePoints", "DataserverIP" };
    private readonly string[] PMDTableColumnNames = new string[] { "PMDIP", "Description" };
    private readonly string[] PMDZonesTableColumnNames = new string[] { "PMDIP", "Description", "Zone" };

    private string[][] ArrayReferences;

    public ClassName()
    {
        ArrayReferences = new string[][] { PMCTableColumnNames, PMDTableColumnNames, PMDZonesTableColumnNames };
    }

    void SomeMethod()
    {
        string[] _PMDTableColumnNames = ArrayReferences[1];
    }
}

edited Jul 7, 2012 at 11:00

answered Jul 7, 2012 at 10:53

Lee

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3 Comments

Oded Over a year ago

@petre - Should? That's not a requirement of the language. How do you mean "should"?

Adam Over a year ago

@Oded because the first line of this answer gives an error: Cannot access non-static field in static context if the three arrays are not static.

Adam Over a year ago

by the way: the term for an array of arrays is jagged array.

Svante Svenson · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-07 10:57:23Z

0

string[][] ArrayReferences = new [] { PMCTableColumnNames, PMDTableColumnNames, PMDZonesTableColumnNames };

or just

var ArrayReferences = new [] { PMCTableColumnNames, PMDTableColumnNames, PMDZonesTableColumnNames };

should do it.

answered Jul 7, 2012 at 10:57

Svante Svenson

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Comments

yogi · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-07 11:00:48Z

0

You simply can use ArrayList class it's meant for this kind of purposes.

answered Jul 7, 2012 at 11:00

yogi

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3 Comments

Lee Over a year ago

If the collection length is fixed, an array is fine. If you need to dynamically modify the collection, then a generic List<T> is preferable to ArrayList.

yogi Over a year ago

No I don't think so, ArrayList has add method by which you can add elements to your ArrayList dynamically, And you don't need to specify the length of the ArrayList in advance. But yes for a typesafe list List<T> is a better option.

Adam Over a year ago

@yogi might be a good idea to read @lee's answer again, and read up on List and ArrayList.

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