Using Command Line to parse arguments

Question

I am trying to use CommandLine to enable parsing parameters with my console application. I don't think I am using it correctly. I am trying to learn how to create different options, like -s for Symbol, and -d for Date. Here is my attempt:

public interface ICommandLineOption
    {
        string WhichOption { get; }
    }

[Verb("symbol", HelpText = "Symbol to test")]
public class SymbolCommand : ICommandLineOption
{
    public string WhichOption { get { return "Symbol"; } private set { } }

    [Option('s', "symbol", Required = true, HelpText = "Symbol To run backtest")]
    public string Symbol { get; set; }
    
}

[Verb("begin", HelpText = "Start date of test")]
public class BeginDateCommand : ICommandLineOption
{
    public string WhichOption { get { return "BeginDate"; } private set { } }

    [Option('d', "date", Required = true, HelpText = "Date to begin run of backtest")]
    public System.DateTime BeginDate { get; set; }
    
}

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    Parser.Default.ParseArguments<ICommandLineOption>(args).WithParsed<ICommandLineOption>(o =>
    {
        switch (o.WhichOption)
        {
            case "Symbol":
                {
                    var comm = o as SymbolCommand;
                    Console.WriteLine(comm.Symbol);
                    break;
                }
            case "BeginDate":
                {
                    var comm = o as BeginDateCommand;
                    Console.WriteLine(comm.BeginDate);
                    break;
                }
            default:
                break;
        }
    });
}

But this doesn't work:

Exception thrown: 'System.InvalidOperationException' in CommandLine.dll
An unhandled exception of type 'System.InvalidOperationException' occurred in CommandLine.dll
Type ICommandLineOption appears to be immutable, but no constructor found to accept values

Based on the documentation, you don't really need an interface. Use multiple annotated methods of one class — OneCricketeer
– OneCricketeer, Commented Sep 8, 2021 at 16:57
You need to explain what doesn't work means. What is the desired behavior? What is the actual behavior? — Daniel Mann
– Daniel Mann, Commented Sep 8, 2021 at 17:02

harveyAJ · Accepted Answer · 2024-03-25 05:55:35Z

2

This is easily achieved with the Nuget library CommandLineParser

static void Main(string[] args)
{
       Parser.Default.ParseArguments<CommandLineOptions>(args)
       .WithParsed<CommandLineOptions>(o =>
       {
                Console.WriteLine(o.Symbol);
                Console.WriteLine(o.Date);
       });
     ...
}

public class CommandLineOptions
{
    [Option('s', "symbol", Required = true, HelpText = "Symbol To run backtest")]
    public string Symbol { get; set; }

    [Option('d', "date", Required = true)]
    public string Date { get; set; }

}

edited Mar 25, 2024 at 5:55

harveyAJ

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answered Sep 8, 2021 at 18:12

Ivan

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1 Comment

Vulovic Vukasin Over a year ago

Please add more context to this, what libraries are used, etc..

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