Is there a try Convert.ToInt32… avoiding exceptions

Question

I\'d like to know if there is a \"safe\" way to convert an object to an int, avoiding exceptions.

I\'m looking for something like public static bo

Answer 1

int variable = 0;
int.TryParse(stringValue, out variable);

If it can't be parsed, the variable will be 0. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/f02979c7.aspx

Answer 2

I would use a mixture of what you are already doing;

• Check if the object is null - return false and the value 0;
• Attempt to convert directly - if successful, return true and the converted value
• Attempt to parse value.ToString() - if successfull, return true and the parsed value
• Any other case - Return false and the value 0, as object is not convertible/parsible

The resulting code:

public static bool TryToInt32(object value, out int result)
{
    result = 0;
    if (value == null)
    {
        return false;
    }

    //Try to convert directly
    try
    {
        result = Convert.ToInt32(value);
        return true;
    }
    catch
    {
        //Could not convert, moving on
    }

    //Try to parse string-representation
    if (Int32.TryParse(value.ToString(), out result))
    {
        return true;
    }

    //If parsing also failed, object cannot be converted or paresed
    return false;
}

Answer 3

I wrote this mess, looking at it makes me sad.

using System;
using System.Globalization;

internal static class ObjectExt
{
    internal static bool TryConvertToDouble(object value, out double result)
    {
        if (value == null || value is bool)
        {
            result = 0;
            return false;
        }

        if (value is double)
        {
            result = (double)value;
            return true;
        }

        var text = value as string;
        if (text != null)
        {
            return double.TryParse(text, NumberStyles.Float, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, out result);
        }

        var convertible = value as IConvertible;
        if (convertible == null)
        {
            result = 0;
            return false;
        }

        try
        {
            result = convertible.ToDouble(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
            return true;
        }
        catch (Exception)
        {
            result = 0;
            return false;
        }
    }
}

Edit Notice now I answered for double when the question was int, keeping it any way. Maybe useful for someone.

Answer 4

This version using a type converter would only convert to string as a last resort but also not throw an exception:

public static bool TryToInt32(object value, out int result)
{
    if (value == null)
    {
        result = 0;
        return false;
    }
    var typeConverter =  System.ComponentModel.TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(value);
    if (typeConverter != null && typeConverter.CanConvertTo(typeof(int)))
    {
        var convertTo = typeConverter.ConvertTo(value, typeof(int));
        if (convertTo != null)
        {
            result = (int)convertTo;
            return true;
        }
    }
    return int.TryParse(value.ToString(), out result);
}

Answer 5

No need to re-invent the wheel here. use int.TryParse to achieve your goal. It returns a bool to show that value is parsed or not. and if parsed the result is saved in the output variable.

int result;
object a = 5;
if(int.TryParse(a.ToString(),out result))
{
   Console.WriteLine("value is parsed");  //will print 5
}    

object b = a5;
if(int.TryParse(b.ToString(),out result))
{
    Console.WriteLine("value is parsed");  
}
else
{
    Console.WriteLine("input is not a valid integer");  //will print this   
}

Answer 6

Return a nullable int. that way you know whether you parsed 0.

int? value = int.TryParse(stringValue, out int outValue) 
    ? outValue
    : default(int?);