How to cast double or double array into double array always in C#

Question

I have method which process the double arrays. I am supplying double arrays using keyword params. My problem is sometimesI have to pass doubles as well and I want to use to same method for both types. Currently method have signature

public void DoSomething(params double[][] arrays)

Above method definition works fine for following arguments:

double [] array = new double []{2,3,5} ;
double [] anotherarray = new double []{7,8,10} ;
DoSomething (array, anotherarray) ;

I am thing to pass object and then cast them in this method and use try catch block and I do not know it is right approach or there exists some elegant way to handle this kind of situation because I can have mixed data as input arguments.

public void DoSomething(params object objs)
{   
   // for loop
   try 
   {
      var tempdata =  (double) objs(loop index);
      double[] data = new double[] { tempdata };
   } 
   catch 
   {
      var tempdata = (double []) objs(loop index);
      double [] data = tempdata;
   }
   // do other opertaion
}

I want to call this way:

double [] array = new double []{2,3,5} ;
double singlevalue = 10 ;
double [] anotherarray = new double []{7,8,10} ;
DoSomething (array, singlevalue, anotherarray) ;

I mentioned that my data can be mixed type and due to which I am looking this kind of functionality — User1551892
– User1551892, Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 9:48
@JonSkeet: if it does the same thing for say doubles and singles wouldn't you need to at some point call a common overload or either repeat all the code? (apologies if I am being slow on a friday morning here). — Chris
– Chris, Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 9:52
What exactly do you mean by "mixed data" here? It doesn't help that you haven't shown any examples of calling the method. If you sometimes have double[][] and sometimes have double[], but those are the only options, then I would definitely suggest adding an overload (and making one overload call the other). — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 9:54
@Chris: I haven't seen any indication that float is required yet - the OP isn't being very specific, but I can only see double[] and duoble[][] at the moment, which can definitely be handled with overloads. And yes, one overload would call the other, but that's fine. — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 9:54

Jon Skeet · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-07 10:15:26Z

2

Now you've given an example of how you want to call it, I suspect that using dynamic typing may be the simplest approach:

public void DoSomething(params object[] values)
{
    foreach (dynamic value in values)
    {
        // Overload resolution will be performed at execution time
        DoSomethingImpl(value);
    }
}

private void DoSomethingImpl(double value) { ... }

private void DoSomethingImpl(double[] value) { ... }

You could do it manually if you want:

public void DoSomething(params object[] values)
{
    foreach (object value in values)
    {
        if (value is double)
        {
            DoSomethingImpl((double) value);
            // Or: DoSomethingImpl(new[] { (double) value });
        }
        else if (value is double[])
        {
            DoSomethingImpl((double[]) value);
        }
        ...
    }
}

I would definitely not just cast unconditionally and then catch the exception that's thrown. That's a horrible abuse of exceptions.

edited Nov 7, 2014 at 10:15

answered Nov 7, 2014 at 10:10

Jon Skeet

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1 Comment

User1551892 Over a year ago

yes, I was not feeling comfortable with try catch block.I thought may be I could save few lines of code and however it seems difficult. Thanks for help.

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