Chapters 7: Collections/Classes

Collections/Classes
Classes

 Classes
– All data types in C# are really instances of
classes.
 Strings are a good example of the abilities of classes
with all of the methods available to anything that is typed
a string
– Classes are structures that combine data and
processing into one component and are the basis
of object oriented programming
Classes in C#

 Classes are composed of Attributes

(variables), Properties (values) and Methods
(functions and subroutines.)
 It includes a special Method called a
Constructor which is used to initialize the
class to a state where the properties and
methods can be accessed.
ArrayList Class

 Limitations of traditional array

– Cannot change the size or length of an array after it is
created
 ArrayList class facilitates creating listlike structure,
AND it can dynamically increase or decrease in
length
– Similar to vector class found in other languages
 Includes large number of predefined methods

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ArrayList Class (continued)

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Table: ArrayList members
ArrayList Class (continued)

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Table: ArrayList members (continued)
ArrayList Class (continued)

Table: ArrayList members (continued)

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ArrayList Class (continued)

 Any predefined or user-defined type can be

used as an ArrayList object
 C# also includes a List<> class
– List<> class requires that objects be the same
type when you place them in the structure
– ArrayList allows you to mix types

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ArrayList Class (continued)

using System.Collections;
ArrayList anArray = new ArrayList(); // Instantiates ArrayList
anArray.Add("Today is the first day of the rest of your life!");
anArray.Add("Live it to the fullest!");
anArray.Add("ok");
anArray.Add("You may not get a second chance.");
anArray.RemoveAt(2); // Removes the third physical one
for (int i = 0; i < anArray.Count; i++) //Displays elements
{
Console.WriteLine(anArray[i]);
}
Console.ReadKey();
}

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ArrayList Class (continued)

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Array vs Arraylist
 Array
– Fixed length. Once defined
the size cannot be
changed.
– Elements must all be of the
same base type. (That is,
Strongly Typed!!)
– Much faster processing
than ArrayList since it does
not have to worry about
data type nor tracking adds
and removes.
 ArrayList
– Variable Length. One can
add and remove elements
from the array.
– Elements can be of different
types, but this comes at an
overhead.
– Elements are all “typed” as
base Object and then must
be cast to the correct data
type.
 List has similar properties to
ArrayList, but is strongly
typed.
Other Collection Classes

 Collection classes are classes that enable

you to store and retrieve various groups of
objects in different ways.
 Number of other predefined collection
classes
– Classes for storing bit values, creating stacks,
queues, and hash tables

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BitArray class

 Bit values are represented as Booleans

 Include the System.Collections namespace
// Creates and initializes several BitArrays
BitArray firstBitArr = new BitArray(10);
BitArray secondBitArr = new BitArray(10, true);
bool[ ] boolArray = new bool[5] {true, false, true, true, false};
BitArray thirdBitArr = new BitArray(boolArray);
 Count and Length properties
 Item property
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BitArray class (continued)

 Set( ) and SetAll ( ) methods

 BitArrays most commonly used to represent a simple
group of Boolean flags
 BitArrays useful for working with large data sets

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HashTable class

 Hashtable represents a collection of key/value

pairs that are organized based on the hash code
of the key
– Hash code - a number generated using a key with the
objective of providing efficient insertion and find
operations
 Overriding goal is to design an algorithm that provides as few
collisions as possible
– Do not have to create your own algorithm when you
use the .NET Hashtable class
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HashTable class (continued)

// Creates a new hash table

Hashtable executableProgram = new Hashtable();
// Add some elements to the hash table. There are no
// duplicate keys, but some of the values are duplicates.
executableProgram.Add("pdf", "acrord32.exe");
executableProgram.Add("tif", "snagit32.exe");
executableProgram Add("jpg", "snagit32.exe");
executableProgram.Add("sln", "devenv.exe");
executableProgram.Add("rtf", "wordpad.exe");

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HashTable class (continued)

Has properties and methods of Add( ), Clear( ),

Contains( ), Count, Keys, Item, Remove( ),
and Values

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