Convert C# Dictionary to multidimensional array

Question

I am trying to convert Dictionary<string, string> to multidimensional array. The items inside multidimentional array should be in quotes. So far I get this ["[mary, online]","[alex, offline]"]. But the output should be something like [["mary", "online"], ["alex", "offline"]]. Please help.

public void sendUpdatedUserlist(IDictionary<string, string> message)
{
    string[] array = message
      .Select(item => string.Format("[{0}, {1}]", item.Key, item.Value))
     .ToArray();
}

Do you mean a multidimensional array like string[,] or a jagged array like string[][]? — John Wu
– John Wu, Commented Dec 19, 2022 at 21:21
Instead of string.Format do new string[]{ item.key,item.value} ? — Fildor
– Fildor, Commented Dec 19, 2022 at 21:21
You should probably use a real JSON serializer for this. Will save you from fighting a bunch of edge case bugs and probably run faster as a bonus. — Joel Coehoorn
– Joel Coehoorn, Commented Dec 19, 2022 at 21:35

Dmitrii Bychenko · Accepted Answer · 2022-12-19 21:32:19Z

3

If you insist on 2d array (string[,], not jagged string[][]) you can create the array and fill it row by row:

string[,] array = new string[message.Count, 2];

int index = 0;

foreach (var pair in message) {
  array[index, 0] = pair.Key;
  array[index++, 1] = pair.Value; 
}

edited Dec 19, 2022 at 21:32

answered Dec 19, 2022 at 21:23

Dmitrii Bychenko

188k20 gold badges178 silver badges231 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

AceGambit · Accepted Answer · 2022-12-19 21:28:46Z

2

string.Format isn't going to return an array, you're close, but what you want is to "select" an actual array. Something like this:

var arr = dict.Select(kvp => new[] { kvp.Key, kvp.Value }).ToArray();

this is going to return type of string[][], which is technically a jagged array (unlike a true 2D array string[,] in that each dimension doesn't have to be the same size) unlike the one-dimensional string[] you have declared in your sample code.

If you truly need a 2D array, you can't really do that with LINQ and .ToArray(), you'll have to populate it yourself with a loop.

edited Dec 19, 2022 at 21:28

answered Dec 19, 2022 at 21:20

AceGambit

6765 silver badges15 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Convert C# Dictionary to multidimensional array

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related