set multiple return value for method declaration

Question

I have a function as below:

  public var UpdateMapFetcher(int stationID, int typeID)

I need this function to return either string or int.

My return value is set as below

 if (finaloutput == "System.String")
        {
            // param1[i] = Convert.ChangeType(typeID_New.ToString(), typeof(string));
            returnvalue = returnvalue.ToString();
            return returnvalue;
        }
        else if (finaloutput == "System.Int32")
        {
            int a=0;
            a = Convert.ToInt32(returnvalue);
            return a;
        }

How to have either one data type as return value in dynamic environment.

Answer 1

My intuition tells me, that you are trying to convert string value to some type. In that case you can use:

public T UpdateMapFetcher<T>(int stationID)
{
    //var someValue = "23";
    return (T)Convert.ChangeType(someValue, typeof(T));
}
//then
var typed = UpdateMapFetcher<int>(6);

---

In case you don't know T, you can use mapping (0-int, 1-string, etc.):

public object UpdateMapFetcher(int stationID, int type)
{
    var typeMap = new []{ typeof(int), typeof(string)};
    //var someValue = "23";
    return Convert.ChangeType(someValue, typeMap[type]);
}
//then
var untyped = UpdateMapFetcher(6, 0/*0 is int*/);
if (untyped.GetType() == typeof(int))
{ /*is int*/
}

---

Another solution is to use implicit conversions:

public class StringOrInt
{
    private object value;
    public ValueType Type { get; set; }

    public static implicit operator StringOrInt(string value)
    {
        return new StringOrInt()
        {
            value = value,
            Type = ValueType.String
        };
    }
    public static implicit operator StringOrInt(int value)
    {
        return new StringOrInt()
        {
            value = value,
            Type = ValueType.Int
        };
    }
    public static implicit operator int(StringOrInt obj)
    {
        return (int)obj.value;
    }
    public static implicit operator string(StringOrInt obj)
    {
        return (string)obj.value;
    } 
}
public enum ValueType
{
    String,
    Int
}

And then (simplified):

public static StringOrInt UpdateMapFetcher(int stationID, int typeID)
{
    if (typeID == 0)
        return "Text";
    return 23;
}

private static void Main(string[] args)
{
    var result = UpdateMapFetcher(1, 1);
    if (result.Type == ValueType.String) { }//can check before
    int integer = result;//compiles, valid
    string text = result;//compiles, fail at runtime, invalid cast      
}

Answer 2

you can return an object. You'd have to subsequently check for types in your consuming method. I assume that won't be a problem in your usecase.

your method signature is therefore:

public object UpdateMapFetcher(int stationID, int typeID)