Thread: Multicast delegate confusion

Consider the following code:

Code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

namespace DelegateTest {
	
	public delegate int Calc (string t);

	public class Program {
		static void Main(string[] args) {
			Program t = new Program();
			string st = "test";
			
			Calc c = new Calc(t.DoubleL);
			c += new Calc(t.HalfL);
			c += new Calc(t.Length);
			
			Console.WriteLine(c(st));   

			c -= new Calc(t.Length);

			Console.WriteLine(c(st));   

			c -= new Calc(t.HalfL);

			Console.WriteLine(c(st));   

			Console.ReadLine();
		}

		private int DoubleL(string t) {
			Console.WriteLine("DoubleL");
			return t.Length * 2;
		}

		private int HalfL(string t) {
			Console.WriteLine("HalfL");
			return t.Length / 2;
		}

		private int Length(string t) {
			Console.WriteLine("Length");
			return t.Length;
		}
	}
}

Output is:

DoubleL
HalfL
Length
4
DoubleL
HalfL
2
DoubleL
8

Now my problem with this code.

Everything does what it should, but how can I retrieve the 3 values being returned when i first call the delegate (since all 3 methods are being called when I call the delegate the first time ).

So that I'll be able to have my 3 values at the first time the delegate is being called...

I'm just wondering, since im learning for my C# exam this friday , I saw the += thing in my notes and was thinking how one should be able to get all those values at the same time.

I hope someone understands what im trying to do here.

Thanks in advance .

You can't return multiple values from a delegate. As you've shown, you can only get the return value of the last called function. If you really want to get all the values, I'd suggest something like the following:

Code:

public delegate void Calc(string t, Collection<int> retVals);

static void Main(string[] args)
{
	Program t = new Program();
	string st = "test";
	
	Calc c = new Calc(t.DoubleL);
	Collection<int> retVals = new Collection<int>();
	c += new Calc(t.HalfL);
	c += new Calc(t.Length);

	c(st, retVals);
	foreach(int i in retVals)
		Console.WriteLine(i);   

	Console.ReadLine();
}

private void DoubleL(string t, Collection<int> retVals) 
{
	Console.WriteLine("DoubleL");
	retVals.Add(t.Length * 2);
}

private void HalfL(string t, Collection<int> retVals)
{
	Console.WriteLine("HalfL");
	retVals.Add(t.Length / 2);
}

private void Length(string t, Collection<int> retVals)
{
	Console.WriteLine("Length");
	retVals.Add(t.Length);
}

In general, relying on the return value of a delegate is a bad practice. If the delegate instance is not private, then there is the possibility that other users could hook up to the delegate, becoming the last in line and hence returning their value. If the delegate instance is private, then it becomes a code maintainence issue. It's very easy for someone else to come back around to your piece of code and subscribe a few more functions to your delegate without understanding that you need a specific return value.