Ambiguous Method Names: Same method name and parameters different return value

Question

I am getting the compile error

The call is ambiguous between the following methods or properties getXmlNodeValue.

I have 3 methods all with the same name and parameters, these 3 methods do however have 3 different return types (double, int and string). Is it possible to have 3 methods with the same name and parameters but different return types?

If not, what method would you suggest I use? Ie, just change the method names to getXmlNodeText, getXmlNodeDouble, etc. or something else?

private static string getXmlNodeText(XmlNode node, string xPath, XmlNamespaceManager nsmgr)
{
    try
    {
        return node.SelectSingleNode(xPath, nsmgr).InnerText;
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        return string.Empty;
    }
}

public static string getXmlNodeValue(XmlNode node, string xPath, XmlNamespaceManager nsmgr)
{
    return getXmlNodeText(node, xPath, nsmgr);
}

public static double getXmlNodeValue(XmlNode node, string xPath, XmlNamespaceManager nsmgr)
{
    return Convert.ToDouble(getXmlNodeText(node, xPath, nsmgr));
}

public static int getXmlNodeValue(XmlNode node, string xPath, XmlNamespaceManager nsmgr)
{
    return Convert.ToInt32(getXmlNodeText(node, xPath, nsmgr));
}

// Usage problem:
string name = getXmlNodeValue(pitNode, "ns:name", nsmgr);

Sounds like a good way to do it: getXmlNodeDouble – dcaswell Sep 06 '13 at 04:41 — dcaswell, Sep 06 '13 at 04:41

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 06 '13 at 04:43

No, different return type does not constitute an overload. You're better off renaming the methods with a convention that includes the return type name.

Another approach is to use generics to make the typing flexible. More info here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379564(v=vs.80).aspx

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 06 '13 at 05:02

use generics as shown below to get the desired type value.

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int value1 = GetValue<Int16>("23");
        double value2 = GetValue<double>("23.34");
    }
    public static T GetValue<T>(string value)
    {
        return (T)Convert.ChangeType(value, typeof(T));
    }

Ambiguous Method Names: Same method name and parameters different return value

2 Answers2