Question

How can I get the name of the object that was passed byref into a method?

Example:

Dim myobject as object

sub mymethod(byref o as object)
    debug.print(o.[RealName!!!!])
end sub

sub main()
    mymethod(myobject)
    'outputs "myobject" NOT "o"
end sub

I’m using this for logging. I use one method multiple times and it would be nice to log the name of the variable that I passed to it. Since I’m passing it byref, I should be able to get this name, right?

For minitech who provided the answer:

This would give you the parameter name in the method and it’s type, but not the name of the variable that was passed byref.

using system.reflection

Dim mb As MethodBase = MethodInfo.GetCurrentMethod()
For Each pi As ParameterInfo In mb.GetParameters()
    Debug.Print("Parameter: Type={0}, Name={1}", pi.ParameterType, pi.Name)
Next

If you put that in “mymethod” above you’d get “o” and “Object”.

Answer 1

That’s impossible. Names of variables are not stored in IL, only names of class members or namespace classes. Passing it by reference makes absolutely zero difference. You wouldn’t even be able to get it to print out “o”.

Besides, why would you ever want to do that?