Can you call a place in an array with a char that is a valid int but defined as a string?

Question

For example, you have the array (called array1): {"1","2","3"}

And the string (called string1): "0"

Can you do the following: array1[string1]

And have it equal: "1"

I have checked How can I evaluate a C# expression dynamically? and call a c# function that is defined in a string however I did not understand the answers. I apologize.

When I try string1 = int.Parse(string1); I get an error:

Or string1 = Convert.ToInt32(string1); :

Cannot implicitly convert type 'int' to 'string'

To elaborate, (sorry if my description wasn't very clear), my code does this:

btnName =  btn.Name.ToString(); //btnName for example == btn01
btnCo1 = btnName[3].ToString(); // btnCo1 will equal "0"
btnCo2 = btnName[4].ToString(); //btnCo2 will equal "1"
btnCo1 = Convert.ToInt32(btnCo1); //I want btnCo1 as a int to use like so :
btnCo2 = Convert.ToInt32(btnCo2);
   grid[btnCo1][btnCo2] //grid is a jagged array

Yes you can try and convert the string to an int so array1[int.parse(string1)] but, if it doesnt find an int that will error. — BugFinder, Jul 19 '16 at 11:25
You can't write that because the index of an array should be an integer and "0" is a string not an integer. C# is not VB.NET with Option Strict Off. Of course you can implement your own class over an array and implemet yourself a string indexer like you can do for example with the DataRow fields collection — Steve, Jul 19 '16 at 11:26
`string1 = int.Parse(string1);` Do you see what you're trying to do here? — Jeroen Vannevel, Jul 19 '16 at 11:34
I am trying to save the string1 as a int for future use. So that I can use array1[string1] without trouble. — bubblez go pop, Jul 19 '16 at 11:36
You're not trying to save it as an int though. you're trying to save it as a string. — Jeroen Vannevel, Jul 19 '16 at 11:37
apologies for such a badly worded question. thank you for your edit — bubblez go pop, Jul 19 '16 at 12:56

MakePeaceGreatAgain · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-19T12:58:45.763

You have to parse the string to int, preferably using TryParse:

int idx;
if (Int32.TryParse(string1, out idx)) Console.WriteLine(array1[idx]);

Other way would be using Convert.ToIn32. However this might throw an exception if string1 cannot be converted to int, for example if it contains "Hello World".

EDIT concerning yours: you can´t change a variables data-type once you´ve declared it. So if btnCo1 already is a string you can´t change it to be an int, you have to define a new variable for it:

int idx1 = Convert.ToInt32(btnCo1);
int idx2 = Convert.ToInt32(btnCo2);

DoSomething(grid[idx1][idx2]);

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 19 '16 at 11:33

0

Yes you can, just parse the string index to int.

string[] array = new string[]{ "a", "b" };
string idx = "0";

Console.WriteLine(array[Convert.ToInt32(idx)]); //Will log "a"

See fiddle here

answered Jul 19 '16 at 11:33

Bon Macalindong

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Can you call a place in an array with a char that is a valid int but defined as a string?

2 Answers2