Is it possible to have a field named bool in C#?

Question

I am sitting playing with elastic search from C#, and I wanted to create a query using an anonymous type in C# serialized to JSON. But I ran in to a problem as I need JSON that looks like this in one part:

{"bool": {<unimportant for question>}}

This would translate into a c# class that has a field named bool. Is this possible? (My guess is no...)

I think I will need custom serialization, or maybe elastic search provides some other alternative name for bool.

`bool` is a valid field name in .NET. However in order to _access_ it from C# code you need to use `@`, as @flem's answer suggests. — Vlad, Oct 21 '12 at 19:57

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 21 '12 at 19:52

5

If you want to name variables the same as keywords you can prefix them with @.

bool @bool = false;

I would avoid doing this in ALL circumstances where possible. It's just plain confusing.

answered Oct 21 '12 at 19:52

Paul Fleming

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Yes I am just trying it out some new technologies nothing serious. Thanks the "@" worked perfectly – Konstantin Oct 21 '12 at 20:12

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 21 '12 at 19:58

You can set the name in a [DataMember] attribute, but you need to use real classes (not anonymous).

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;
using System.Xml;

// You must apply a DataContractAttribute or SerializableAttribute 
// to a class to have it serialized by the DataContractSerializer.
[DataContract()]
class Enterprise : IExtensibleDataObject
{

    [DataMember(Name = "bool")]
    public bool CaptainKirk {get; set;}

    // more stuff here
}

More Info: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.runtime.serialization.datamemberattribute.aspx

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

1

Use the DateMember attribute to specify what the serialised name is:

[DataMember(Name = "bool")]
public string MyBoolean { get; set; }

See also: JavaScriptSerializer.Deserialize - how to change field names

edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

Community

1
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answered Oct 21 '12 at 19:58

Guffa

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Thanks, this is what I would normally do but I was trying it out with an anonymous type... – Konstantin Oct 21 '12 at 20:13

Is it possible to have a field named bool in C#?

3 Answers3