How to better initialize nullable type from non-nullable?

Question

My objects often has nullable types properties that used as SQL commands parameters.

I initialize them next way:

public int? Amount
{
    get
    {
        int i;
        int? amount = null;
        if (Int32.TryParse(Request["amount"], out i))
        {
            amount = i;
        }
        return amount;
    }
}

command.Parameters.Add("@amount").Value = (object)this.Amount ?? DbNull.Value;

How can I rewrite such initialization code to make it shorter or faster?

Answer 1

Firstly, don't do that; you are silently dropping the fact that you can't parse the data! Better to throw an exception in this case, or handle expected scenarios (null, for example).

string val = Request["amount"];
return string.IsNullOrEmpty(val) ? (int?)null : (int?)int.Parse(val);

Answer 2

1) Shorter != faster. Important to note.

2) This will work just as well:

public int? Amount
{
    get
    {
        int i;
        if (Int32.TryParse(Request["amount"], out i))
        {
            return i;
        }
        return null;
    }
}