.toString() Ctype(), cstr(), DirectCast() ?? Which to use?

[Michael Ramey]

Hello,

There are quite a few ways to convert one object, say an integer to a
string.

Dim myStr as string
dim myInt as integer = 123

myStr = cstr(myInt)
myStr = myInt.toString( )
myStr = CType(myInt, String)
or use DirectCast()

What is the preferred, fastest way? Any way I shouldn't be using because it
could be deprecated?

Thanks,
--Michael

[Trev Hunter]

Re: .toString() Ctype(), cstr(), DirectCast() ?? Which to use?

DirectCast won't work for this example - it only works if the run time types
are the same e.g.

------------

Dim o as Object = "Hello"
Dim i as Object = Cint(5)
Dim s as string = directcast(o, String) ' Will work, because o is a string
at runtime
Dim s1 as String = directcast(1, String) ' Won't work

------------

As for the other ways, they are more or less the same. In the examples you
gave, if you follow the IL generated, they you'll notice that all end up
calling the Int32.ToString( ) method.

See the other posts in this group relating to this issue:

"CType() versus Convert.ToXXXX( )"
"DirectCast vc CType"

HTH,

Trev.



"Michael Ramey" <raterus@localh ost> wrote in message
news:eVIyOCD7DH A.2952@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Hello,
>
> There are quite a few ways to convert one object, say an integer to a
> string.
>
> Dim myStr as string
> dim myInt as integer = 123
>
> myStr = cstr(myInt)
> myStr = myInt.toString( )
> myStr = CType(myInt, String)
> or use DirectCast()
>
> What is the preferred, fastest way? Any way I shouldn't be using because[/color]
it[color=blue]
> could be deprecated?
>
> Thanks,
> --Michael
>
>[/color]

[AirPete]

Re: .toString() Ctype(), cstr(), DirectCast() ?? Which to use?

Michael Ramey wrote:[color=blue]
> Hello,
>
> There are quite a few ways to convert one object, say an integer to a
> string.
>
> Dim myStr as string
> dim myInt as integer = 123
>
> myStr = cstr(myInt)
> myStr = myInt.toString( )
> myStr = CType(myInt, String)
> or use DirectCast()
>
> What is the preferred, fastest way? Any way I shouldn't be using
> because it could be deprecated?
>
> Thanks,
> --Michael[/color]

They are are good ways of doing it, but I prefer ToString simply because I
feel it's the most readable.
Pick any of them you like best, and stick with it (for consistancy).

- Pete

[AirPete]

Re: .toString() Ctype(), cstr(), DirectCast() ?? Which to use?

AirPete wrote:[color=blue]
> Michael Ramey wrote:[color=green]
>> Hello,
>>
>> There are quite a few ways to convert one object, say an integer to a
>> string.
>>
>> Dim myStr as string
>> dim myInt as integer = 123
>>
>> myStr = cstr(myInt)
>> myStr = myInt.toString( )
>> myStr = CType(myInt, String)
>> or use DirectCast()
>>
>> What is the preferred, fastest way? Any way I shouldn't be using
>> because it could be deprecated?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> --Michael[/color]
>
> They are are good ways of doing it, but I prefer ToString simply
> because I feel it's the most readable.
> Pick any of them you like best, and stick with it (for consistancy).
>
> - Pete[/color]

Oops, I didn't see DirectCast, and as Trev noted, it only works if the types
are the same.

- pete

[Trev Hunter]

Re: .toString() Ctype(), cstr(), DirectCast() ?? Which to use?

> Oops, I didn't see DirectCast, and as[color=blue]
> Trev noted, it only works if the types are the same.[/color]

Or if the types are related by inheritance or interfaces - i.e. a cast is
avaialble - not a conversion.

Trev.

[Cor]

Re: .toString() Ctype(), cstr(), DirectCast() ?? Which to use?

Hi Michael.

For .toString you have only to push on the dot.

Why take another one?

Do not forget that in every program language a lot of things are for
backward compatibility.

Cor