Question

I have an int array as a property of a Web User Control. I’d like to set that property inline if possible using the following syntax:

<uc1:mycontrol runat='server' myintarray='1,2,3' /> 

This will fail at runtime because it will be expecting an actual int array, but a string is being passed instead. I can make myintarray a string and parse it in the setter, but I was wondering if there was a more elegant solution.

Answer 1

Implement a type converter, here is one, warning : quick&dirty, not for production use, etc :

public class IntArrayConverter : System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter {     public override bool CanConvertFrom(System.ComponentModel.ITypeDescriptorContext context, Type sourceType)     {         return sourceType == typeof(string);     }     public override object ConvertFrom(System.ComponentModel.ITypeDescriptorContext context, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture, object value)     {         string val = value as string;         string[] vals = val.Split(',');         System.Collections.Generic.List<int> ints = new System.Collections.Generic.List<int>();         foreach (string s in vals)             ints.Add(Convert.ToInt32(s));         return ints.ToArray();     } } 

and tag the property of your control :

private int[] ints; [TypeConverter(typeof(IntsConverter))] public int[] Ints {     get { return this.ints; }     set { this.ints = value; } }