C# Reset a property

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C# Reset a property

I'm writing a Clone function for a non serializeable object.For most objects I don't care if they are shallow copied as I won't be making any changes to them.

I start with a MemberwiseClone and this copies all the values and few objects like configuration dictionary over just fine but they are pointers.

EAVEntity newClone = (EAVEntity) this.MemberwiseClone();
newClone.EntityStorageID = Guid.NewGuid();
newClone.Controls.Clear();

So how do I reset a pointer so I can make them not point at the same location?

To be precise, you are not working with "pointers" in their true sense but rather with objects that are reference types. Quite a difference.

If you want the property of your copied object not to point to the same other object, you could either set it to null, a new or any other object for that matter:

newClone.SomeProperty = null;

newClone.SomeProperty = new WhatEverTypeSomePropertyIs();

Johannes Rudolph 2010-01-20 20:19:34

I tried that with newClone.EntityStorageID = new Guid()but it still update this.EntityStorageID. I'll try null.

Jeff 2010-01-20 20:22:59

Nope null ( newClone.EntityStorageID = null;) failed to as it is a non nullable type. My solution will likely be to do the entire clone by hand (one property at a time) but I'm still curious on how I'd set an object by reference.

Jeff 2010-01-20 20:31:13

If you made the GUID a type of GUID? (Nullable<GUID> in VB), this will allow you to pass null. GUID is a value type, whereas nullable types, string, and classes are reference types and will experience the issue you are talking about. So you could create a nullable class or a wrapper class that has a GUID property.

Brian 2010-01-20 20:35:20

you can always use default(Type), will return 0 for ints, null for objects, etc.

Johannes Rudolph 2010-01-21 07:54:24

ansaurus

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C# Reset a property

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