Set Value Types to Null

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Introduction

I created this article to show developers that are moving to .Net 2.0 that you can now set value type fields to null. This feature was introduced in .Net 2.0.

Here is a list of some of the Value Types in .Net.

Structs

Enumerations

Integral types

Floating-point types

decimal

bool

user defined structs

Example

<FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>static</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>void</FONT><FONT size=2> Main(</FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>string</FONT><FONT size=2>[] args)</P><P>{</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>    bool</FONT><FONT size=2>? mynullBool = </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>null</FONT><FONT size=2>;</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>    int</FONT><FONT size=2>? mynullInt = </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>null</FONT><FONT size=2>;</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>   </FONT></P><P><FONT color=#008000 size=2>    // Note that mynullBool will be set to null</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#008080 size=2>    Console</FONT><FONT size=2>.WriteLine(</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2>"mynullBool={0}"</FONT><FONT size=2>, mynullBool);</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>    // Note that mynullInt will be set to null</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#008080 size=2>    Console</FONT><FONT size=2>.WriteLine(</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2>"mynullInt={0}"</FONT><FONT size=2>, mynullInt);</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>   </FONT></P><P><FONT color=#008000 size=2>    // How to Assign default values for null values</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P>    mynullBool = GetBool() ?? </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>true</FONT><FONT size=2>;</P><P>    mynullInt = GetInt() ?? 2006;</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>    // Note that mynullBool will be set to true</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#008080 size=2>    Console</FONT><FONT size=2>.WriteLine(</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2>"mynullBool={0}"</FONT><FONT size=2>, mynullBool);</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>   // Note that mynullInt will be set to 2006</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#008080 size=2>   Console</FONT><FONT size=2>.WriteLine(</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2>"mynullInt={0}"</FONT><FONT size=2>, mynullInt);</P><P>}</P><P> </P><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>static</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>bool</FONT><FONT size=2>? GetBool()</P><P>{</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>    return</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>null</FONT><FONT size=2>;</P><P>}</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </P><P><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>static</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>int</FONT><FONT size=2>? GetInt()</P><P>{</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>    return</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>null</FONT><FONT size=2>;</P><P>}</P></FONT>

Conclusion

The following link points to MSDN for value types. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/s1ax56ch.aspx

The following link points to MSDN for nullable types. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/1t3y8s4s.aspx

About BuddyWork

Developed Enterprise Applications for various sectors in C, C++, C#, VB, VB.NET, Clipper, Artemis and many more languages.

Currently working in London as a .Net Architect.

Microsoft qualification consists of MCSD.Net and MCPD (Enterprise)

License

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