Struct Vs Class for Array Element?

mark esco

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am very new to C#. and I made a class to store info about
media files. I need a "structure" to hold start and end positions of certain media files. Some
media files may need 20+ sets of "start" and "End" data and some may need only 1 for the
enire duration. So what is the best way to do this. So far I have:

 namespace UsefulPlayer
{
    [Serializable]
    class MediaFiles
    {
        public string FilePath { get; set; }    //Path to file
        public string FileTitle { get; set; }   //Title w/o path
        public int FavoriteLevel { get; set; }  //Sortable attribute:Favorite
        
        public struct Markers   //Clips: each media file can have multiple
        {
            float StartPoint;
            float EndPoint;
        }
        
        //Constructor
        public MediaFiles(string MediaFilePath) 
        {
            FilePath = MediaFilePath; //Path of file <-- Passed in
            FavoriteLevel = 50;       //Default to 50. 1=Sucks! 100=Great!
            
 
        }


    }
}

Since those two variables (StartPoint and EndPoint) are so closely related to each media file I don't
want to create a seperate class for them. Should I make a list/array/collection of these structs, or
should I use something other that structs all togeather. From what I have read I should avoid structs and make a separate class but the two variable are tied closely to each media file and each media file could require multiple sets of the variables so what to I do? As I said I am a newbie so forgive my
ignorance. And thanks in advance to everyone for your patience and knowledge. =)

3 Replies

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

Sam Hobbs16y ago
It is sometimes frustrating for us that try to help because sometimes developers don't yet have enough familiarity with the language and related concepts to be able to describe the problem. Congratulatons on learning enough to be able to help yourself. I hope you will soon be able to describe your problem well enough that someone here eager to help can help.
mark esco16y ago
Well after days of research I discovered my problem! I didn't understand
the core implementation procedures for object-oriented programming. I
found a great site that helped me understand every thing I needed to
know plus some. If anyone is having similar issues with indexing complex
data structures, I recommend this site CSharpStation <-- This link starts
at tutorial 7 "Class Structures" and is a great - to the point - tutorial for
a thorough, yet brief overview of C#. As I did try to research my issue
before posting, I wasn't aware my problem was so fundamental simple,
and I apologize for the post. Anyway, maybe it helps some newbies = )
mark esco16y ago
Well I got it working.... I will have a List<> of struct Markers in each MediaFiles class. And I will use
something called a delegate to access the properties of that class. This seams like a long round about
way to do what I am trying to achieve so if anyone knows a better way to create and access multiple
instances of a class PLEASE let me know. Here is my code if anyone is having similar issues:

[code]
//Display folder selection to user //Is path good?
             fbdPickFolder.ShowDialog();
             if (fbdPickFolder.SelectedPath != "")
             {
                 //Recieves files
                 string[] TempFiles;
                 MediaOptions.SearchFolder = fbdPickFolder.SelectedPath;
                 TempFiles = Directory.GetFiles(MediaOptions.SearchFolder);

                 //Isulates files with proper data
                 //Create a List<> of my MediaFiles class
                 List MediaFile = new List();
                 for (int i = 0; i < TempFiles.Count(); i++)
                 {

                     //and the media files to the class via the constructor within the class
                     MediaFile.Add(new MediaFiles(TempFiles[i].ToString()));

                 }

                 //Use this delagate "p" I wish I could just access the properties directly through an index or string
                 MediaFile.ForEach(delegate(MediaFiles p)
                 { MessageBox.Show(p.FilePath); }); //I verified the file names: Success!
             }
             else
             {
                 MessageBox.Show("No Folder Selected!!!!");
             }

[/code]