C# : Logging the variables in a class

 

Imagine you have a web site with a bunch of global variables. You want to display them in a debug page. So you could use intellisense and manually traverse through the class but if it’s a big class it’s a right royal pain and you have to keep updating the code as you add new variables.

Enter stage right Reflection.

Type objectType = typeof (GlobalVar);
GlobalVar gv = new GlobalVar();
System.Reflection.FieldInfo[] fieldInfo = objectType.GetFields();

foreach (System.Reflection.FieldInfo info in fieldInfo)
{
    xxx.Text = info.Name;

    object oText = info.GetValue(null);
    if (oText is string)
      yyy.Text = (String)oText;
     else if (oText is int)
       yyy.Text = oText.ToString();
    else if (oText is bool)
       yyy.Text = oText.ToString();
    else if (oText is long)
        yyy.Text = oText.ToString();
}

Note the “GetValue(null); “. This is because all the variables in the class are static.

For a non-static class, see C# Tutorial - Using Reflection to Get Object Information.

Enjoy!