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visual studio tagged Blog posts

String Array Sorting

27-Apr-2004

It took me today some time to figure out how to sort an array of strings case-sensitively. The default behavior of the Array.Sort() uses an default Comparer object which should be case-sensitive. When I tested this I found out that I had misinterpreted the definition of 'case-sensitive'. What I wanted was 'Oridinal' sorting. So I created an OrdinalStringComparer class which implements IComparer and I got what I wanted.

using System;
using System.Collections;

namespace ReflectionIT.Test {

   &nbspclass Class1{

   &nbsp   &nbsp[STAThread]
   &nbsp   &nbspstaticvoid Main(string[]args){

   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspTest(new CaseInsensitiveComparer());
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspTest(Comparer.Default);   &nbsp   &nbsp
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspTest(new OridinalStringComparer());
   &nbsp   &nbsp
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspConsole.ReadLine();
   &nbsp   &nbsp}

   &nbsp   &nbspprivatestaticvoid Test(IComparer comparer){

   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspstring[]words=newstring[]{"c","a","A","aB","ab","Ab"};

   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspArray.Sort(words,comparer);
   &nbsp   &nbsp
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspConsole.WriteLine(comparer.GetType().Name +":");
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspforeach(stringwordinwords){
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspConsole.WriteLine(word);
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp}
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspConsole.WriteLine();
   &nbsp   &nbsp}
   &nbsp   &nbsp
   &nbsp}
   &nbsp   &nbsp
   &nbsppublicclass OridinalStringComparer : IComparer {
   &nbsp   &nbsp
   &nbsp   &nbspint IComparer.Compare(object x,object y ){
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturnstring.CompareOrdinal((string)x,(string)y);
   &nbsp   &nbsp}
   &nbsp   &nbsp
   &nbsp}
   &nbsp   &nbsp
}

And when you run this program you get the following output:

CaseInsensitiveComparer:
A
a
Ab
ab
aB
c

Comparer:
a
A
ab
aB
Ab
c

OridinalStringComparer:
A
Ab
a
aB
ab
c

System.Collections and System.Collections.Specialized

08-Mar-2004

This table gives you an overview of all collections in the System.Collections and System.Collections.Specialized namespaces.

Class Key Value Remarks
System.Array   ? Predefined size, used for passing data around.
ArrayList   Object Easy to work with, provides basic collection functionality and can easily be converted to an Array.
BitArray   Boolean
Manages a compact array of bit values, which are represented as Booleans
CollectionBase   ? Abstract base for building your own collection classes.
DictionaryBase Object ? Abstract base for building your own collection classes using a key-value pair.
HashTable Object Object Provides high performance access to items in the key-value pair collection, by a specific key.
Queue   Object Implements the FIFO mechanism.
ReadOnlyCollectionBase   Object Abstract base for building your own read-only collection classes.
SortedList Object (sorted) Object Provides access to items in the collection by a specific key or an index (GetByIndex(int)).
Stack   Object Implements the LIFO mechanism.
Specialized.HybridDictionary
Object Object Uses internally a ListDictionary class when the collection is small, and switches automatically to a Hashtable class when the collection gets large.
Specialized.ListDictionary Object Object Is designed to be used for collections with 10 or less items, while the Hashtable is designed to contain more items.
Specialized.NameObjectCollectionBase String ? Abstract base for building your own collection classes using a key-value pair.
Specialized.NameValueCollection String (sorted) String NameValueCollection class is the strong type equivalent of the SortedList class, for the String class.
Specialized.StringCollection   Object Strongly typed ArrayList for the String class.
Specialized.StringDictionary String String Strongly typed Hashtable for the String class, not sorted.

Read also Jan Tielens article on the MSDN Belux website.

EventsHelper using Fire and Forget

07-Mar-2004

I have used the EventsHelper class to fire events asynchronical. I came across this class in the TechEd 2003 presentation C# Best Practices from Eric Gunnerson and Juval Löwy. Today I noticed a bug. The FireAsync() method uses the 'Fire and Forget' pattern incorrectly.

The 'Fire and Forget' pattern is used when the return value and returned parameters of the call are not required, and when there is no need to synchronize with the asynchronously executing method. In this case, the caller simply needs to call BeginInvoke, passing any normal and ref parameters, and null for the callback and asyncState.

This has been a commonly used pattern. However, there has been a documentation change in version 1.1 of the .NET Framework that has big ramifications for this technique of making async calls. The documentation now states that EndInvoke must be called for a corresponding BeginInvoke--otherwise Microsoft say they may now, or in the future, leak resources. It appears that no resources are leaked under version 1.0 of the framework; however, with this type of warning in place, it is recommended that a call to EndInvoke be made even if the return values of an async call are not required.

It is relatively straightforward to create a helper class that handles this for you--one example I found here.

public class AsyncHelper {

   &nbspdelegatevoid DynamicInvokeShimProc(Delegate d,object[]args);

   &nbspstatic DynamicInvokeShimProc dynamicInvokeShim=new
   &nbsp   &nbspDynamicInvokeShimProc(DynamicInvokeShim);

   &nbspstatic AsyncCallback dynamicInvokeDone=new
   &nbsp   &nbspAsyncCallback(DynamicInvokeDone);

   &nbsppublicstaticvoid FireAndForget(Delegate d,paramsobject[]args){
   &nbsp   &nbspdynamicInvokeShim.BeginInvoke(d,args,dynamicInvokeDone,null);
   &nbsp}

   &nbspstaticvoid DynamicInvokeShim(Delegate d,object[]args){
   &nbsp   &nbspd.DynamicInvoke(args);
   &nbsp}

   &nbspstaticvoid DynamicInvokeDone(IAsyncResult ar){
   &nbsp   &nbspdynamicInvokeShim.EndInvoke(ar);
   &nbsp}
}

DateDiff() function in C#

11-Feb-2004 4 Comments

I have written the following DateDiff() function in C#. VB.NET users already had it using the Micrsoft.VisualBasic.dll assembly. Now you can use it without referencing this 'ugly' extra assembly.

using System;


namespace ReflectionIT.System {

   &nbsppublicenum DateInterval {
   &nbsp   &nbspYear,
   &nbsp   &nbspMonth,
   &nbsp   &nbspWeekday,
   &nbsp   &nbspDay,
   &nbsp   &nbspHour,
   &nbsp   &nbspMinute,
   &nbsp   &nbspSecond
   &nbsp}

   &nbsppublicclass DateTimeUtil {

   &nbsp   &nbsppublicstaticlong DateDiff(DateInterval interval, DateTime date1, DateTime date2){

   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspTimeSpan ts=date2-date1;

   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspswitch(interval){
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspcase DateInterval.Year:
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturndate2.Year -date1.Year;
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspcase DateInterval.Month:
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturn(date2.Month -date1.Month)+(12*(date2.Year -date1.Year));
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspcase DateInterval.Weekday:
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturn Fix(ts.TotalDays)/7;
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspcase DateInterval.Day:
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturn Fix(ts.TotalDays);
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspcase DateInterval.Hour:
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturn Fix(ts.TotalHours);
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspcase DateInterval.Minute:
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturn Fix(ts.TotalMinutes);
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspdefault:
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturn Fix(ts.TotalSeconds);
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp}
   &nbsp   &nbsp}

   &nbsp   &nbspprivatestaticlong Fix(double Number){
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspif(Number >=0){
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturn(long)Math.Floor(Number);
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbsp}
   &nbsp   &nbsp   &nbspreturn(long)Math.Ceiling(Number);
   &nbsp   &nbsp}
   &nbsp}
}


Integrate NDoc HTML Help in VS.NET

30-Dec-2003

NDoc 1.2 generates class libraries documentation from .NET assemblies and the XML documentation files generated by the C# compiler. NDoc uses add-on documenters to generate documentation in several different formats, including the MSDN-style HTML Help format (.chm), the Visual Studio .NET Help format (HTML Help 2), and MSDN-online style web pages.

This article explains the four steps to take in order to integrate the HTML Help 2 file you generated into Visual Studio.NET.

  1. Comment the Library using XML documentation tags
  2. Create HTML Help 2 using NDoc
  3. Registering the Help File using H2Reg
  4. Include Help Collection to VSCC

 

.NET Quick Reference Card

07-Nov-2003

Download DotNetRefCard.pdf

I have created a small quick reference card for Microsoft .NET with some hard to remember details. My printer supports two pages per side and double sided printing. This makes it possible to print the 4 pages on a single sheet which makes it easier to use.

Contents:

  • C# String escape sequence
  • C# Numeric & Char Literals
  • String Formatting
  • Standard Numeric Format Strings
  • Custom Numeric Format Strings
  • Standard DateTime Format Strings
  • Custom DateTime Format Strings
  • Regular Expressions

I hope you will find it useful.

Any suggestions and feedback for improving this reference card is most welcome. Send your suggestions and feedback to Fons.Sonnemans@reflectionit.nl

LocalizedTextProvider Component

10-Aug-2003 1 Comments

I have read that the .NET framework has great features to localize your application. I had to use them recently to create an English, Dutch, French and German "version" of one of my applications. I found out they worked well but it was very time consuming to set all the text properties of all controls for each language. Even worse you have to translate common terms like: OK, Cancel, New, Open, Close, etc. on every form if you want to use the designer. You can, of course, write code to fetch them all from one resource file. But I don't like to write code, especially if you don't have to.

I came up with a solution for this problem, called the LocalizedTextProvider component. This component is actually an extender which, adds a LocalizedText property to a Control or MenuItem. When you add this component to a WinForm it will allow you to set the LocalizedText property ('Misc' category) of all controls on your form. You can select a Key from a predefined list. This list contains all keys from the string resources in the component. I have filled the list using the International Word List from the 'Microsoft Official Guidelines for User Interface Developers and Designers' website.

 


Example: the LocalizedText property for the Cancel button is set to Microsoft.Cancel

The Text for the Cancel button will automatically be translated to 'Annuleren' for Dutch users, 'Abbrechen' for German users and 'Annuler' for French users. You can test this by setting the CurrentUICulture property of the CurrentThread to a Dutch, German or French CultureInfo.

Assembly Comparison Tool (WinChurn)

11-Jul-2003

I have found a great tool on the GotDotNet user samples website

WinChurn allows you to compare two versions of the same managed assembly. This is extremely helpful when tracking changes in your assembly. The tool comes with a help system, as well as some examples to get you started. Optionally, the tool allows you to generate a policy file, however caution is urged when using this feature. While the tool is extremely robust and accurate at detecting public API changes, it cannot detect internal changes. The tool uses Reflection to generate the results.

Assembly Comparison Tool (WinChurn)

I Love CodeSmith

09-Jun-2003

I have tried CodeSmith for the first time and I love it. CodeSmith allows you to create templates that will generate code for any ASCII based language. It is simple and very powerful. You can easily adjust it to fit your needs.

You can download it from CodeSmith (it's FREEWARE)

C# InputBox

30-Apr-2003 2 Comments

Visual Basic 6.0 has an InputBox() function, Visual Basic.NET has one but in C# you don't. You can solve this easily by adding a reference to 'Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll' and use the static method Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.InputBox().

The VB implementation has some shortcomings which I solved in my improved InputBox class. You never know whether the user entered a empty text or clicked the Cancel button. It is also impossible to have validation on the text.


Example: InputBox

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