Hi,

I have just got used to the idea where basic values may be sent by reference, using the keyword 'ref'.... but I was wondering how to pass class instances by value so that the actual data members are not effected.....???

Hi again!

I have just been reading up and I was surprised to find out that by default both value and reference types are sent by value...... ???? I thought reference types were sent by reference by default.....?

some body please explain.... much appreciated......

Hi,

I don't think you can pass an obj and mess up data members. Passing the object allows you to access to another classes methods. For example:

class Class1

int Age = 37;

public void Display()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Name: {0}\nSSN: {1}\nYour birthyear was: {2}", myName, mySSN, BirthYear.birthYear(this));
        }

    public class BirthYear
    {

        public static int birthYear(Class1 obj1)
        {
            return (2003 - obj1.myAge);
        }
    }

the object was created in Main and used to access the Display() method. The diplay method needs to call the birthYear() method but it is in a seperate class. We then can use the "this" keyword to pass the current object to the birthYear() method with a variable from the Class1 class.

I hope this helps...

Ray B.

Thank you so much for replying... I was beginning to loose hope....

anyway.... unfortuantely I have to say that I wasn't able to quite grasp what you were saying.. please forgive me......

I just wanted to reconfirm that the default way to pass arguments was by value.... regardless of whether the arguments being passed are value or reference types....

To answer your question, don't use the ref or out modifiers. The object will not affect your data.


RSteel

If you dont specify anything reference types will be passed as references(e.g. classes) and value types will be passes as values (e.g. structs, common data types like int,long).

Ankur Verma
.Net and C++ Specialist
Wiley Tech Support

Then can you simply tell me.. how do we send reference types as value types...

the answer will be much appreciated......!!

Aziz I've been going through you queries, modifiers for static constructors, namespaces, method hiding-- it seems the book you are referring is telling you the concepts but not the whys and whats around them. Your last query is reflective of the same fact - if you know what you want with your program you can always design it in such a way that you would never run into indecision situations like this. Then there are good programming practices that if you can follow your life as a programmer would be much easier.
When you learn concepts you must also learn why they are there and why something else isn’t. Complete your knowledge so to speak.
I wouldn’t suggest a professional level book to a beginner but I think you need Professional C# (wrox) this book has what you need and would stand you in good stead.

Ankur Verma
.Net and C++ Specialist
Wiley Tech Support