Most succinct way to convert ListBox.items to a generic list

Question

I am using C# and targeting the .NET Framework 3.5. I\'m looking for a small, succinct and efficient piece of code to copy all of the items in a ListBox to a List

Answer 1

The following will do it (using Linq):

List<string> list = lbMyListBox.Items.OfType<string>().ToList();

The OfType call will ensure that only items in the listbox's items that are strings are used.

Using Cast, if any of the the items are not strings, you will get an exception.

Answer 2

A bit of LINQ should do it:-

 var myOtherList = lbMyListBox.Items.Cast<String>().ToList();

Of course you can modify the Type parameter of the Cast to whatever type you have stored in the Items property.

Answer 3

What about:

myOtherList.AddRange(lbMyListBox.Items);

EDIT based on comments and DavidGouge's answer:

myOtherList.AddRange(lbMyListBox.Items.Select(item => ((ListItem)item).Value));

Answer 4

You don't need more. You get List of all values from Listbox

private static List<string> GetAllElements(ListBox chkList)
        {
            return chkList.Items.Cast<ListItem>().Select(x => x.Value).ToList<string>();
        }

Answer 5

How about this:

List<string> myOtherList = (from l in lbMyListBox.Items.Cast<ListItem>() select l.Value).ToList();