In .Net only Visual Basic allows ranges in switch statements, but in C# there is no valid syntax for this.
Tackling your specific problem in C#, I would solve it thus:
if(number >= 1 && number <= 9) // Guard statement
{
if(number < 5)
{
// Case (1 to 4):
//break;
}
else
{
// Case (5 to 9):
//break;
}
}
else
{
// Default code goes here
//break;
}
To illustrate this further, imagine you have a percentage value.
Using your problem as a template, you might wish this to look like:
switch (percentage)
{
case (0 to 19):
break;
case (20 to 39):
break;
case (40 to 69):
break;
case (70 to 79):
break;
case (80 to 100):
break;
default:
break;
}
However, since C# doesn't allow that syntax, here is a solution that C# does allow:
if (percentage >= 0 && percentage <= 100) // Guard statement
{
if (percentage >= 40)
{
if (percentage >= 80)
{
// Case (80% to 100%)
//break;
}
else
{
if (percentage >= 70)
{
// Case (70% to 79%)
//break;
}
else
{
// Case (40% to 69%)
//break;
}
}
}
else
{
if (percentage >= 20)
{
// Case (20% to 39%)
//break;
}
else
{
// Case (0% to 19%)
//break;
}
}
}
else
{
// Default code goes here
//break;
}
It can take a little getting used to, but it's fine once you get it.
Personally, I would welcome switch statements to allow ranges.
The future of C# switch statements
Here are some ideas I had of how switch statements could be improved:
Version A
switch(value)
{
case (x => x >= 1 && x <= 4):
break;
case (x => x >= 5 && x <= 9):
break;
default:
break;
}
Version B
switch(param1, param2, ...)
{
case (param1 >= 1 && param1 <= 4):
break;
case (param1 >= 5 && param1 <= 9 || param2 != param1):
break;
default:
break;
}