Creating c# array similar to javascript array

Question

I am new in C# and would like to know if it's possible to create an array in C# like following:

rates[0]['logic_id'] = 12;
rates[0]['line_id'] = ""
rates[0]['rate'] = rateVal;
rates[0]['changed'] = isChanged;

rates[1]['logic_id'] = 13;
rates[1]['line_id'] = ""
rates[1]['rate'] = secvalue;
rates[1]['changed'] = isChanged;

Can I create rates array in C# with such values?

EDIT:

My goal is to send rates array to a specific Web API service that is running with PHP. They accept only array with abovementioned structure. That's why I want to achieve that.

That object notation doesn't exist in C#. Whats so bad about creating proper objects? — BradleyDotNET
– BradleyDotNET, Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 18:07
Wouldn't you rather have it strongly typed and create a Rate object? — John Koerner
– John Koerner, Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 18:07
This appears to be an XY Problem. You want to create an array to solve some problem, but the problem you haven't described. Unless you are literally using SO to understand collections (arrays, enumerables, etc) it would be in everyones best interest if we understood what you think an array would solve for. — Erik Philips
– Erik Philips, Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 18:11

Dave Zych · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-07 18:39:31Z

4

The best approach here would be to create a Rate class that is held in a List<Rate>().

public class Rate
{
    public int LogicId { get; set; }
    public string LineId { get; set; }
    public decimal Rate { get; set; }
    public bool IsChanged { get; set; }
}

public void Populate()
{
    var rates = new List<Rate>();

    var rate = new Rate();
    rate.LogicId = 12;
    rate.LineId = string.Empty;
    rate.Rate = 0;
    rate.IsChanged = true;

    rates.Add(rate);
}

To access the values, you can loop through them:

foreach(var rate in rates)
{
    //Do something with the object, like writing some values to the Console
    Console.WriteLine(rate.LogicId);
    Console.WriteLine(rate.Rate);
}

edited Nov 7, 2014 at 18:39

answered Nov 7, 2014 at 18:09

Dave Zych

22k7 gold badges53 silver badges67 bronze badges

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

5 Comments

Mike Christensen Over a year ago

+1 - You should probably note how to access the values too.

FireFalcon Over a year ago

@Dave Zych if send `rates' as a List to Web API, how can they separate the values. For example, get LogicID and LineID separately?

Dave Zych Over a year ago

@Oraz to send this to an API you'll have to serialize it in some way, i.e. convert it to XML (if the API accepts XML) or JSON (if it accepts JSON). JSON is the more common, and you can use the Newtonsoft.JSON library to convert the list to a json array. The code is similar to string jsonForApi = json.Serialize(rates);

FireFalcon Over a year ago

@DaveZych I've added reference to Newtonsof.Json library, but I cannot find any Serialize method for Json that takes List as a parameter. Can you help please? I am dealing with Windows Service in VS 2010 with .Net Framework 4.0.

FireFalcon Over a year ago

I found it: var json = Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.SerializeObject(rates)

Matías Fidemraizer · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-07 18:21:29Z

2

You could solve it using arrays, but it's someway outdated the approach.

My suggestion is that you should use a List<Dictionary<string, object>>:

var data = new List<Dictionary<string, object>>();

data.Add(new Dictionary<string, object>());

data[0].Add("rate", rateVal);

And later you can access it like JavaScript using dictionary's indexer:

var rate = data[0]["rate"];

Update

OP said:

My goal is to send rates array to a specific Web API service that is running with PHP. They accept only array with abovementioned structure. That's why I want to achieve that.

No problem. If you serialize that list of dictionaries using JSON.NET, you can produce a JSON which will contain an array of objects:

[{ "rate": 2 }, { "rate": 338 }]

Actually, .NET List<T> is serialized as a JSON array and a Dictionary<TKey, TValue> is serialized as a JSON object, or in other words, as an associative array.

edited Nov 7, 2014 at 18:21

answered Nov 7, 2014 at 18:08

Matías Fidemraizer

65.1k19 gold badges132 silver badges216 bronze badges

3 Comments

FireFalcon Over a year ago

I need to send an array rates to a specific Web API service built with PHP. So is it possible to make a List of Dictionaries and after convert them into JavaScript array and send it to that web service?

gunr2171 Over a year ago

@Oraz, that's a different question than what is posted. It may be best to solve this question first, then post a different question.

Matías Fidemraizer Over a year ago

@Oraz Add JSON.NET to your solution/project's and a simple JsonConvert.Serialize giving the whole list of dictionaries will produce the desired output. For example, I expect a JSON like this: [{ "rate": 438, "otherProperty": "whatever" }, { "rate": 4101, "otherProperty": "whatever 2" }]

cpacheco · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-07 18:29:01Z

0

This can depend on your specific neeeds, mut maybe you just want a list of objects

first create a class:

class Rate
{
    public int LoginId { get; set; }
    public int? LineId { get; set; }
    public decimal RateValue { get; set; }
    public bool IsChanged { get; set; }
}

Then, in any method you want, just use:

List<Rate> Rates = new List<Rate>();
Rates.Add(new Rate() {LoginId = 1, LineId = null, RateValue = Rateval, IsChanged = false});
Rates.Add(new Rate() {LoginId = 13, LineId = null, RateValue = SecVal, IsChanged = false});

EDIT

My apologies for the terrible answer, edited to account for the errors

edited Nov 7, 2014 at 18:29

answered Nov 7, 2014 at 18:13

cpacheco

1869 bronze badges

6 Comments

Mike Christensen Over a year ago

-1 - This won't even compile.

Erik Philips Over a year ago

This also has, what most would consider, bad practices that being public fields.

Mike Christensen Over a year ago

@ErikPhilips - It has no public fields. It only has private fields, which is one of the big reasons it won't compile.

Erik Philips Over a year ago

@MikeChristensen yes you are correct. I was looking at the example setting fields, didn't notice the missing access modifiers.

Mike Christensen Over a year ago

In the future I'd recommend testing your code in the IDE before posting it, until you are very, very familiar with C#.

|

Alan P · Accepted Answer · 2020-08-10 15:12:04Z

public struct Rate
        {
            public int LoginId ;
            public int LineId ;
            public double RateValue ;
            public bool IsChanged;
        }

        public static void makelist()
        {
             List<Rate> Rates = new List<Rate>();
             Rates.Add(new Rate() {LoginId = 1, LineId = null, RateValue = Rateval,IsChanged = false});
        }

This method will only hold data, and not hold methods like a class.

With the data types defined in the struct, memory usage stays low as its only purpose is to store data. This is a midway between a variable and a class.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Creating c# array similar to javascript array

4 Answers 4

5 Comments

Update

3 Comments

6 Comments

Comments

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

5 Comments

Update

3 Comments

6 Comments

Comments

Linked

Related