CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#.netconstants
michael
michael

Reputation: 489

Receiving 'Expression being assigned must be constant' when it is

Is there a way to use something like this:

private const int MaxTextLength = "Text i want to use".Length;

I think it would be more readable and less error prone than using something like:

private const int MaxTextLength = 18;

Are there any ways to have the length of the text be the source for a constant variable?

Upvotes: 35

Views: 40890

Answers (5)

jhamm
jhamm

Reputation: 1888

Does the value need to be a const? Would a static readonly work for your case? 

private static readonly int MaxTextLength = "Text i want to use".Length;

This will allow you to write the code in a similar manner to your first example.

Upvotes: 4

musefan
musefan

Reputation: 48415

Not sure why you want to do this but how about...

private const string MaxText = "Text i want to use.";

private static int MaxTextLength { get { return MaxText.Length; } }

Upvotes: 0

Kevin Kalitowski
Kevin Kalitowski

Reputation: 6989

Unfortunately, if you are using the const keyword the value on the right side of the '=' must be a compile-time constant. Using a "string".length requires .NET code to execute which can only occur when the application is running, not during compile time.

You can consider making the field readonly rather than a const.

Upvotes: 17

Gishu
Gishu

Reputation: 136613

Use static readonly instead of const.

Constants have to be compile time constants

Upvotes: 33

Davide Piras
Davide Piras

Reputation: 44605

private readonly static int MaxTextLength = "Text i want to use".Length;

Upvotes: 45

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