How do I select a C# variable using a string

Question

I have a string user setting and want to select a particular variable with the same name during the startup of my C# Windows app.

e.g.

I have a user setting (string) called UserSelectedInt, which is currently set to 'MyTwo'. (Please note that my variables are actually a lot more complex types than integers, I've just used them as examples.)

public static int MyOne = 12345;
public static int MyTwo = 54321;
public static int MyThree = 33333;

public int myInt = SelectMyVariableUsing(MyApp.Settings.Default.UserSelectedInt)

The user may have selected 'MyTwo' last time they closed the app, so that is the variable I want to select during startup. I hope I'm making sense.

Please can some let me know how would I achieve this?

Thanks

Answer 1

Use a Dictionary<string, int>. That allows you to assign an integer value to a number of strings. If the string is user input, you need to check that it is valid before trying to retrieve the corresponding integer.

Answer 2

Sounds like you are trying to implement the provider pattern. You may find using this is a better mechanism for you to use, especially as you say it is more complex than using ints.

In your code you would reference the particular provider using your MyApp.Settings.Default.UserSelectedInt setting.

I would say architecturally this would be a better mechanism than some of the other suggested answers.