c# Class Access from Nested Class Confusion

Question

I have created a library class where...

public class CircuitLibrary
{
   // Fields, properties, methods, etc.
   ...

   // Nested classes.
   public class Sensor
   {
      // Enums.
      public enum Sensors { Sensor1, Sensor2, Sensor3, ... };

      ...
   }

   public class SerialCommands
   {
      // Fields, properties, etc.
      ...

      // Nested classes.
      public class SensorSettingsCommands
      {
         // Fields, properties, etc.
         ...

         public void SomeMethod()
         {
            ...
            if( Sensor.Sensors.IsOn ) // Doesn't like this. OK if I change to CircuitLibrary.Sensor.Sensors.IsOn. Why?
               ...
          }
      }
   }
}

Here is the error I receive:

Cannot access a nonstatic member of outer type
"MyCircuitLibrary.CircuitLibrary.SerialCommands" via nested type
"MyCircuitLibrary.CircuitLibrary.SerialCommands.SensorSettingsCommands"

So it looks like it is searching for (and found?) Sensor in SerialCommands? But if I change it to CircuitLibrary.Sensor it now knows it is in CircuitLibrary? When I right-click and "Go to definition" it finds it okay and doesn't say "Couldn't find Sensor in SerialCommands". If someone could help explain what is going on I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

I suspect some of the properties that you've not shown are relevant here. Please try to post a short but complete example. — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Oct 28, 2011 at 19:38
@SLaks: Yes, I read something similar here but considered my situation very similar to the described wheel-bearing example. I have a circuit controller which will use sensors (which can only be used on this type of circuit) and each sensor has properties I need to read/write. I have been battling this issue for a while now. :/ I'll open a new post for it; maybe I'll see you there. Thanks for your help. — john
– john, Commented Oct 28, 2011 at 20:07

SLaks · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-28 19:37:13Z

3

Your SerialCommands class has a non-static Sensor property.

Since this property is closer to your code than the outer-most Sensor class, the compiler thinks you're using the property rather than the class.
Since you can't a use the non-static property without a SerialCommands instance, you get an error.

When you write CircuitLibrary.Sensor, it works fine, since there is no CircuitLibrary property to confuse the compiler.

answered Oct 28, 2011 at 19:37

SLaks

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