C# - Input string was not in correct format!

Katie B

Evening All,

I'm trying to get this bit of code to take the numbers from the list box and add them in the label named ucaspoints. But when I write this code:

private void btnAdd_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

int totalpoints = 0;

string item = lstboxGrades.SelectedItem.ToString();

lstboxeducation.Items.Add(item);

totalpoints = int.Parse(lstboxeducation.Text) + totalpoints;

ucaspoints.Text = totalpoints.ToString();

}

It runs without error, but only displays the numbers in the list box rather than adding them. Ive tried adapting this to:

private void btnAdd_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

int totalpoints = 0;

string item = lstboxGrades.SelectedItem.ToString();

lstboxeducation.Items.Add(item);

totalpoints = Convert.ToInt32(lstboxeducation.Text) + totalpoints;

ucaspoints.Text = totalpoints.ToString();

}

Swapping the int.Parse to Convert.ToInt32 but then i receive a run time error stating that the "Input string is not in the correct format" (on the line in bold). Ive tried putting break points in and with the int.Parse it runs through it no problem, but it will stop at the convert.toint32 and give the above error.

Any advice would be great. Thanks

2 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Vulpes13y ago
Accepted answer
Try:

private void btnAdd_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string item = lstboxGrades.SelectedItem.ToString();
lstboxeducation.Items.Add(item);
int totalPoints;
int.TryParse(ucaspoints.Text, out totalPoints); // get existing total points
int itemPoints;
int.TryParse(item, out itemPoints); // get new points to be added
ucaspoints.Text = (totalpoints + itemPoints).ToString();
}

If anything can't be parsed to an int, then the int.TryParse method will assign 0 to the 'out' variable.
Katie B13y ago
It worked!! Thank you! I've always wondered what the difference between Parse and TryParse was. But I can see how the bit you added works, it looks a lot cleaner than what I was trying to write.

Thanks again!