Question

Is there a way, in .net, to detect if a word is a keyword in a given .net language?

I am using a fairly simple code generator for this project, and I would like to start automating it. Right now I do each one by hand, so fixing any issues that arise is pretty easy. However, once this starts happening automatically I am going to need a way to detect if a word I need to use as an identifier is a keyword. I can still use it, I just need to quote it properly.

I know that I can simply quote everything I generate, but I would like to keep the generated code pretty 🙂

An example of the kind of things I need to quote:

vb:  Public [Class] As String = 'CLASS' c#:  public String @class = 'CLASS'; 

Answer 1

Perhaps you’re looking for IsValidIdentifier

[IsValidIdentifier] return[s] true only if the value fits the rules of the language and does not conflict with a keyword.

or CreateEscapedIdentifier

CreateEscapedIdentifier tests whether the identifier conflicts with any reserved or language keywords, and if so, returns an equivalent name with language-specific escape code formatting

For example:

    CSharpCodeProvider csProvider = new CSharpCodeProvider();      bool isValid1 = csProvider.IsValidIdentifier('class');     // returns false      string escapedId1 = csProvider.CreateEscapedIdentifier('foo');     // escapedId1 = 'foo'     string escapedId2 = csProvider.CreateEscapedIdentifier('do');     // escapedId2 = '@do'     string escapedId3 = csProvider.CreateEscapedIdentifier('AndAlso');     // escapedId3 = 'AndAlso' (not reserved in c#)      VBCodeProvider vbProvider = new VBCodeProvider();      string escapedId4 = vbProvider.CreateEscapedIdentifier('AndAlso');     // escapedId4  = '[AndAlso]' (reserved in VB) 

Seems like it wouldn’t be too hard to extend/use this facility to meet your needs.