Comparing C# Int Arrays
 

Hello all...my first official post (after the introduction)

I'm relatively new in the area of C# (some PHP experience) and I'm hoping someone can help me.

I have 2 arrays of variable lengths, with int data in them. Something like this:

FreeNumbers = 1,2,3,4,5
UsedNumbers = 1,2

I want to take the first FreeNumber (1) and search through the used number array. If it exists there I want to move on to the next FreeNumber (2) and do the same. Once I find a FreeNumber (3) that is NOT in the UsedNumber array, I want to assign it to another var (TheNextFreeNumber).

Can someone help me with this? I was thinking this should be done through For's, ForEach or Try/Catch but I'm just not quite getting there. Maybe there is an even simpler C# function?

Thanks for any help.

-Chris

Re: Comparing C# Int Arrays
 

Can you use generics? They are a little easier to deal with than arrays:

    private void simpleButton2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {

      List<int> free = new List<int>();

      List<int> used = new List<int>();

      free.AddRange(new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 });

      used.AddRange(new int[] { 2, 3 });



      int nextNumber = GetNextFreeNumber(free, used);

      System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break();

    }

    private int GetNextFreeNumber(List<int> free, List<int> used)

    {

      foreach (int i in free)

      {

        if (used.Contains(i))

          continue;

        else

        {

          used.Add(i);

          return i;

        }

      }

      throw new Exception("out of free number");

    }

Re: Comparing C# Int Arrays
 

I haven't used generics before. The arrays are already built and filled. Is there an easy way to move the aray data to the generics? There are about 300 elements per array.

-Chris

Re: Comparing C# Int Arrays
 

Yes:

    private void simpleButton2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {

      int[] numbers = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 };

      List<int> lst = new List<int>();

      lst.AddRange(numbers); //adds the array to the generic list

Re: Comparing C# Int Arrays
 

That Got It! Thank you so much! Plus I learned about Generics for the first time. Will study up more on that.

Here's the code I used in the end for those interested:

List<int> free = new List<int>();

List<int> used = new List<int>();

free.AddRange(FreeNumbers); //adds the array to the generic list

used.AddRange(UsedNumbers); //adds the array to the generic list



foreach (int i in free)

        {

        if (used.Contains(i))

        continue;

        else

                {

                Response.Write("<hr>");

                Response.Write(i);                                        

                Response.Write(" is the next available number<hr>");                

                break;

                }

        }

Now one more question...why didn't I join Daniweb sooner? :-)

Thanks again