Integer.TryParse - a better way? - vb.net

Question

I find myself often needing to use Integer.TryParse to test if a value is an integer. However, when you use TryParse, you have to pass a reference variable to the function, so I find myself always needing to create a blank integer to pass in. Usually it looks something like:
Dim tempInt as Integer
If Integer.TryParse(myInt, tempInt) Then
I find this to be quite cumbersome considering that all I want is a simple True / False response. Is there a better way to approach this? Why isn't there an overloaded function where I can just pass the value I want to test and get a true / false response?

Answer 1

No need to declare the integer.
If Integer.TryParse(intToCheck, 0) Then
or
If Integer.TryParse(intToCheck, Nothing) Then
If you have .Net 3.5 ability you can create an extension method for strings.
Public Module MyExtensions
<System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension()> _
Public Function IsInteger(ByVal value As String) As Boolean
If String.IsNullOrEmpty(value) Then
Return False
Else
Return Integer.TryParse(value, Nothing)
End If
End Function
End Module
And then call like:
If value.IsInteger() Then
Sorry, getting carried away I know, but also you can add this to the MyExtensions class above in .Net 3.5 and not worry unless you need validations.
<System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension()> _
Public Function ToInteger(ByVal value As String) As Integer
If value.IsInteger() Then
Return Integer.Parse(value)
Else
Return 0
End If
End Function
Then simply use
value.ToInteger()
This will return 0 if it isn't a valid Integer.

Answer 2

Since you are using VB.net you can use the IsNumeric Function
If IsNumeric(myInt) Then
'Do Suff here
End If

Answer 3

public static class Util {
public static Int32? ParseInt32(this string text) {
Int32 result;
if(!Int32.TryParse(text, out result))
return null;
return result;
}
public static bool IsParseInt32(this string text) {
return text.ParseInt32() != null;
}
}

Answer 4

Try this code.
Module IntegerHelpers
Function IsInteger(ByVal p1 as String) as Boolean
Dim unused as Integer = 0
return Integer.TryParse(p1,unused)
End Function
End Module
The nice part is that since it's declared as a Module level function it can be used without a qualifier. Example Usage
return IsInteger(mInt)

Answer 5

Why not write an extension method to clean up your code? I haven't written VB.Net for a while, but here is an example in c#:
public static class MyIntExtensionClass
{
public static bool IsInteger(this string value)
{
if(string.IsNullOrEmpty(value))
return false;
int dummy;
return int.TryParse(value, dummy);
}
}

Answer 6

J Ambrose Little performed timing tests for IsNumeric checks back in 2003. You may wish to retry the mentioned tests with v2 of the CLR.

Answer 7

A variation would be:
Int32.TryParse(input_string, Globalization.NumberStyles.Integer)