Class strategy for handling null integers

[JabbaTheNut]

I am looking for a good way to handle null integer values in a class. I need to develop a class that will extract data from several tables which can contain null values and provide the results in a set of property values.

For example...

##################################
private int x = (int) [database item which can be null];

public int Y
{
get
{
return x;
}
}
##################################

I understand that I can't convert a null value to integer (or set an integer variable to null). This being the case, what is the best strategy for this situation?

Game Over, Man!

 

[LV]

if(Convert.IsDBNull(database item which can be null)){
  // you got NULL coming from the DB
}

 

[chiph]

To be totally correct, you should have a partner boolean value to indicate null-ness. But that's overkill for most applications, so I've been using int.MinValue to indicate a null.

Chip H.


If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first

 

[obislavu]

"int" is value type derived from class "object". It is not possible for any type to derive from a value type, all value types are implicitly sealed.
A variable of a value type , e.g. int always contains a value of that type.
It is not possible for a value of a value type to be null.
Assignment to a variable of a value type creates a copy of the value being assigned which differs from the assignment to a variable of a reference type.
The chiph suggestion is a solution for what you want but C# gives you all kinds of types and conversions.

-obislavu-