accessing object from another method c#

Question

I have a method that returns an object:

private object myObjectMethod(){ //... return myObject; }

But in another method I want to retrieve this object:

private void myotherMethod(){ var x = myObjectMethod(); // Now how would I access the properties of myObject? }

Can you tell us why the return type of myObjectMethod is object? — ChaosPandion
– ChaosPandion, Commented Nov 29, 2011 at 22:53
I cant do x. it doesnt show options to choose from but the options like tostring etc — Asim Zaidi
– Asim Zaidi, Commented Nov 29, 2011 at 22:55
@ChaosPandion Object[] myObj = new Object[3]; myObj[0] = "string here"; // myObj[1] = true; //boolean myObj[2] = 1 ; // integer — Asim Zaidi
– Asim Zaidi, Commented Nov 29, 2011 at 23:16

Adam Rackis · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-17 15:51:26Z

The best way is to just return the actual type you're dealing with from the method

But if that's not an option, and you really are stuck with just object being returned from your method, you have a few options.

If you know the right type, casting would be the simplest way:

((ActualType)x).SomeProperty;

Or to test that the cast is correct:

string val; if (x is ActualType) val = (x as ActualType).SomeProperty;

Or, if you know the property name, but not the type of x, then:

PropertyInfo pi = x.GetType().GetProperty("SomeProperty"); string somePropertyValue = (string)pi.GetValue(x, null);

Or, if you're using C# 4, you could use dynamic

string somePropertyValue = ((dynamic)x).SomeProperty;

Just don't go crazy with dynamic. If you find yourself using dynamic excessively, there may be some deeper issues with your code.

@ChaosPandion - I actually added it before I saw your comment -- brilliant minds... :)
string somePropertyValue = ((dynamic)x).SomeProperty; where do I add that

Heinzi · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-29 22:57:30Z

Change

private object myObjectMethod(){ ... return myObject; }

to

private TypeOfMyObject myObjectMethod(){ ... return myObject; }

Piotr Zierhoffer · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-29 22:57:51Z

You should change the return type of your method to the actual class you're interested in. And probably you'll need to change it's visibility to public.

You can also use reflection or casting

(obj as MyObject).Stuff;

Brandon Buck · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-29 23:02:56Z

You could use a generic version of your method:

public static T MyObjectMethod<T>() { return (T)myObject; }

And then:

var myObject = MyObjectMethod<MyObjectClass>(); myObject.Property;

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