Converting a list to an array with ToArray()

Question

I've created a class called listItem and the following list:

List<listItem> myList = new List<listItem>();

At some point in my code, I want to convert it to an array, thereby using:

listItem[] myArray = myList.ToArray();

Unfortunately, this doesn't work, and I get this error message:

Cannot convert [...] listItem[] to [...] List<listItem>

I tried to figure this out, but very unsuccessfully...

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: My bad, the first code line I wrote was indeed mistyped!

Actually, all the code above works pretty well. My error was due to the fact that my function:

List<listItem> myFunction()

returned myArray, hence the conversion problem... It is now fixed. :)

Thank you all for your answers.

Your first line won't compile to start with, and the error message suggests a conversion the other way round. Please show a short but complete program demonstrating the problem, and the verbatim error message. — Jon Skeet, Apr 03 '12 at 09:20
Is that typed in correctly? Your issue seems to have nothing to do with the ToArray() call. — Ritch Melton, Apr 03 '12 at 09:20
The error message you've posted relates to converting array of ListItems into List, not the other way around. List.ToArray() should work perfectly fine. Post whole code or whole error message. — SiliconMind, Apr 03 '12 at 09:21

score 14 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 03 '12 at 09:46

14

This is the error (as pointed out from Darkshadw and Jon Skeet)

listItem myList = new List<listItem>();

You are assigning the value of a List to a listItem.

Replace it with

List<listItem> myList = new List<listItem>();

to create a list of listItem. Then

listItem[] myArray = myList.ToArray();

will work.

answered Apr 03 '12 at 09:46

Gabber

How to give size? – GvSharma Jun 29 '17 at 13:37
To get size: `myArray.size`. To set: `myArray = new Array[5];` but deletes old array – Gabber Jun 29 '17 at 13:42
1

It works. `ToArray()` on a `List` converts the list to array depending on the type. Thanks. – Rajkumar M Feb 19 '22 at 08:51

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 14 '15 at 16:30

2

have you tried

listItem[] myArray = myList.ToArray(new listItem[]{});

in Java it works, im not sure in c#

edited Oct 14 '15 at 16:30

Irvin Dominin

answered Apr 03 '12 at 09:24

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 03 '12 at 09:25

0

string[] s = myList.ToArray();

Considering myList is list of string

answered Apr 03 '12 at 09:25

R.D.

3 Answers3