c# build a list of tasks before executing

Question

i'm trying to build a list of tasks before executing them. here's some example code:

    public string Returnastring(string b)
    {
        return b;
    }

    public string Returnanotherstring(string a)
    {
        return a;
    }


    private void btnT_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        bool cont = true;

        var Returnastringtask = Task.Factory.StartNew(() => Returnastring("hi"));
        var Returnanotherstringtask = Task.Factory.StartNew(() => Returnanotherstring("bye"));

        if (cont)
        {
            Task.WaitAll(new Task[] { Returnastringtask });
        }
        else
        {
            Task.WaitAll(new Task[] { Returnanotherstringtask });
        }

i know this code doesn't behave how i expect it as both tasks run. i want to basically create the tasks initially and then execute one or the other based on the bool. i don't want to create the tasks inside the true or false conditions as i want to avoid code copying. by this i mean if cont is true i might want to run tasks 1,2,3,4 but if cont is false i might want to run tasks 2,3,7,8.

Answer 1

Well, another approach, (which I find very direct)

        var list = new List<Task>();
        for (var i = 0; i < 10; ++i)
        {
            var i2 = i;
            var t = new Task(() =>
                {
                    Thread.Sleep(100);
                    Console.WriteLine(i2);
                });
            list.Add(t);
            t.Start();
        }

        Task.WaitAll(list.ToArray());