Looping Class Property with Do While Loops - vb.net

Question

I have a code like below to find a category property with named "Model" and after that i will get the Model's name.
But as you can see "parent" property shows the upper level of parameter. My parameters in parameter groups and its like cascaded. And i don't know in which level they are currently i'm using below code but it's not sufficient because if i have a parameter very in lower levels i had to write this elseif conditions.
Is there any quick solution to make it easier and wise way?
Public Class ParameterInfoClass
Public Shared Sub GetSubvar(ByVal ParameterGroups As IScrNamedObjectList)
Dim ParameterGroup As IScrParameterGroup
Dim nParameterGroup As Integer
Dim ParameterClass As String
nParameterGroup = ParameterGroups.count
For i As Integer = 0 To nParameterGroup - 1
ParameterGroup = ParameterGroups.item(i)
If ParameterGroup.parent.category.name = "Model" Then
ParameterClass = ParameterGroup.parent.name
ElseIf ParameterGroup.parent.parent.category.name = "Model" Then
ParameterClass = ParameterGroup.parent.parent.name
ElseIf ParameterGroup.parent.parent.parent.category.name = "Model" Then
ParameterClass = ParameterGroup.parent.parent.parent.name
'...
'This should be continue like this because i don't know in which level i will find the category name as "Model"
'.
End If
DataGridView1.Rows.Add(ParameterClass, ParameterGroup.name)
Next
End Sub
End Class
It would be great to make this section with correct solution. I thought like do-while loops can be one option but i dont know how to apply because focus is in here to look upper levels of parameter to find "Model" category after that i'm writing that Model's name.
For i As Integer = 0 To nParameterGroup - 1
ParameterGroup = ParameterGroups.item(i)
If ParameterGroup.parent.category.name = "Model" Then
ParameterClass = ParameterGroup.parent.name
ElseIf ParameterGroup.parent.parent.category.name = "Model" Then
ParameterClass = ParameterGroup.parent.parent.name
ElseIf ParameterGroup.parent.parent.parent.category.name = "Model" Then
ParameterClass = ParameterGroup.parent.parent.parent.name
'...
'This should be continue like this because i don't know in which level i will find the category name as "Model"
'.
End If

Answer 1

I don't have a lot of time to dig into the details, but recursion is something I love so I'm giving you a hint (I would help more but that's the time I have right now).
Instead of iterating through every possible parent level, you should create a simple recursive function which will look if it finds the "Model", then either return it or else look for it's parent by calling itself to look for it.
You would have to use this new function instead of your If ElseIf ElseIf... potentially infinite function.
I drafted something which kinda looks like what I mean:
Private Function GetParameterClass(rootClassName As rootClass) As String
If ParameterGroup.category.name = "Model" Then
Return ParameterGroup.category.name
End If
If ParameterGroup.parent IsNot Nothing Then
Return GetParameterClass(ParameterGroup.parent)
End If
Return ""
End Function
By calling a similar function, you will iterate recursively through every parent until it finds none, and the first time it finds "Model", it'll stop the recursion and return it.
Sorry for not being more precise, as I have to get back to work myself! I'll look on your thread this evening when I can, just in case. Have fun!
EDIT:
I'm not familiar with the class you're working with, so there's a good amount of guesswork in this edit. Here's how I would try to solve your issue:
Public Class ParameterInfoClass
Public Shared Sub GetSubvar(ByVal ParameterGroups As IScrNamedObjectList)
For Each parameterGroup As IScrParameterGroup In ParameterGroups
Dim parameterClass As String = GetParameterClassName(parameterGroup)
If parameterName <> "" Then
DataGridView1.Rows.Add(parameterClass, parameterGroup.Name)
End If
Next
End Sub
Private Shared Function GetParameterClassName(parameterGroup As IScrParameterGroup) As String
If parameterGroup.category.name = "Model" Then
Return parameterGroup.name
End If
If parameterGroup.parent IsNot Nothing Then
Return GetParameterClass(parameterGroup.parent)
End If
Return ""
End Function
End Class
The main idea behind GetParameterClassName is that it'll either find the parameterGroup.category.name = "Model", or else it'll return an empty string. I replaced the way you were planning to iterate with a For Each loop, which should work well with most lists, but you might need to ajust that part is IScrNamedObjectList is not or doesn't contains a list or array or something.
Whenever a GetParameterClassName is found, then the parameterClass is not empty, so we can add these informations to the DataGridView1.
You can ask your questions in the comments if you have any, and I'll be happy to oblige. I love recursion!