How to avoid typing the object name for each property?

Question

Class1 is a class object which is already instantiated. Is there any alternative approach not to type every time Class1.?

Class1.Hostname = location.Ip;
Class1.UserName = location.Username;
Class1.Password = location.Password;
Class1.Port = 23;
Class1.GiveUpSecurityAndAcceptAnySshHostKey = true;
Class1.LogPath = "";
Class1.IsDebug = true;
Class1.Downloadwaitmiliseconds = 1000;

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/programming-guide/classes-and-structs/object-and-collection-initializers — Chetan, Mar 19 '19 at 10:10
If it's already instantiated you can't really get around it in C#. You _could_ create a [fluent API](https://scottlilly.com/how-to-create-a-fluent-interface-in-c/). It depends on how much code you want to add to "simplify" this. — default, Mar 19 '19 at 10:10
iirc in visual basic there was a way to do a `using ()` or `with` type statement but I can't remember what it was, or if it carried over in any form to c# — NibblyPig, Mar 19 '19 at 10:11
@NibblyPig you're looking for the keyword [`With`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/language-reference/statements/with-end-with-statement) — default, Mar 19 '19 at 10:12
Check [the third answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/5964848/4934172) to the duplicate question. — 41686d6564 stands w. Palestine, Mar 19 '19 at 10:14
@Default That's only for VB. There's no C# equivalent by default. — 41686d6564 stands w. Palestine, Mar 19 '19 at 10:14
It's a duplicate of a duplicate of a duplicate... some research should be done before asking a question. — Zohar Peled, Mar 19 '19 at 10:16
@ZoharPeled To be fair to the OP, all these duplicates are hard to find if you're not familiar with VB's `With` statement. — 41686d6564 stands w. Palestine, Mar 19 '19 at 10:17
@AhmedAbdelhameed which is exactly the reason why I didn't downvote the question :-) — Zohar Peled, Mar 19 '19 at 10:18
@abc Not by default but you can create an extension method and use it somewhat similar to the `With` statement in VB. [This answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/5964848/4934172) provides an example on how to do that. — 41686d6564 stands w. Palestine, Mar 19 '19 at 11:12

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 19 '19 at 10:13

0

You can do it like this:

Class1 = new Class() 
{ 
  Hostname = location.Ip;
  UserName = location.Username;
  Password = location.Password;
  Port = 23;
  GiveUpSecurityAndAcceptAnySshHostKey = true;
  LogPath = "";
  IsDebug = true;
  Downloadwaitmiliseconds = 1000;

  AlreadySetPropety1 = Class1.AlreadySetPropety1;
  AlreadySetPropety2 = Class1.AlreadySetPropety2;
  …
}

That means that along your properties you have to set already set properties but in fact there is not issue in your code. You can refactor it to some method for instance if you don’t like personally.

answered Mar 19 '19 at 10:13

Yarl

728
1
7
26

this is new instansiation and i am aware about this. – abc Mar 19 '19 at 10:49
You got me.Switch to VB as noted by moderators. Check also https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/a20beb/call-a-function-of-visual-basic-into-C-Sharp-page/. – Yarl Mar 19 '19 at 11:01

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 19 '19 at 10:13

If you want to set the properties after instantiation, you can create a method that takes those as values as arguments and set them inside the method, where you would not need the variable name. Like a Fill method. Same as what you may do in the constructor of the class.

If you are able to do this during the instantiation you can do something like

var Class1= new YOURCLASS{
    Hostname = location.Ip;
    UserName = location.Username;
    Password = location.Password;
    Port = 23;
    GiveUpSecurityAndAcceptAnySshHostKey = true;
    LogPath = "";
    IsDebug = true;
    Downloadwaitmiliseconds = 1000;
};

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 19 '19 at 10:15

You might add into your Class1 a set method, like:

class Class1 {
    public string Hostname { get; set; }
    public string Username { get; set; }
    public string Password { get; set; }
    public int Port { get; set; }
    public bool GiveUpSecurityAndAcceptAnySshHostKey { get; set; }
    public string LogPath { get; set; }
    public bool IsDebug { get; set }
    public int Downloadwaitmiliseconds { get; set; }

    public void setValues(string hostname, string username, string password, int port /* adding other values*/) 
    {
        Hostname = hostname;
        Username = username
        Port = port;
        /* The other values */
    }

}

Maybe is the way to do it if you have the object initialized

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 19 '19 at 10:15

There is no syntax that I am aware of to do that. You might be able to write a Setter along the lines of:

public void Set(hostname = null, username = null, password = null)
{
    if (hostname != null)
        Hostname = hostname;
    if (username != null)
        Username = username ;
    ...
}

and you can call it with explicit parameters:

Class1.Set(hostname="localhost", username="me")

Of course this only works when null is not a valid option for your properties

How to avoid typing the object name for each property?

4 Answers4