Shachar,
In addition to ParamArray as Cor suggested.
I would consider Overloading the function or using the Optional keyword.
For example:
' 1. (a) Overload Sum to take 0 parameters
Private Function Sum() As Integer
Return 0
End Function
' 1. (b) Overload Sum to take an array of parameters.
Private Function Sum(ByVal list() As Integer) As Integer
Dim total As Integer
For Each item As Integer In list
total += item
Next
Return total
End Function
' 2. An Optional parameter
Private Function Sum(Optional ByVal list() As Integer = Nothing) As
Integer
If list Is Nothing Then Return 0
Dim total As Integer
For Each item As Integer In list
total += item
Next
Return total
End Function
' 3. An ParamArray
Private Function Sum(ByVal ParamArray list() As Integer) As Integer
Dim total As Integer
For Each item As Integer In list
total += item
Next
Return total
End Function
1, 2 & 3 allow the following:
Dim total As Integer
Dim list() As Integer
total = Sum()
total = Sum(list)
In the above case I prefer 1 as I am letting the compiler decide if I passed
the parameter or not, where as in 2 I have a runtime check to decide if the
parameter was passed or not. 2 will have problems if I can legitimately pass
Nothing as a value for list.
3 also allows:
total = Sum(1,2,3,4,5,6)
I normally use 1 or 3 depending on if I wanted a list of values inline on
the call, rather then explicitly create an array. Depending on what I am
creating I will combine 1 with 3, where I overload on 0, 1, 2, 3 fixed
parameters, then have a ParamArray overload. Similar to the overloads on
String.Format.
Hope this helps
Jay
