C# Debug Console creation

Hey all!
Right now I'm working in C#, and I want it so that if a user presses '~' in my input text box, it will make the next input become a direct function.
for example:

Code:

---

class Form1 : Form
{
#region unnecessary
#endregion
    bool functions;
    private void on_textbox_keyentry(Object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        switch(e.KeyChar())
        {
            case '~':
            //code to run the function whos name matches the input example
            //What follows is meta-code
                functions = true;
                break;
        }
    }
    private void handle_text()//this gets called by pressing enter
// or pressing the enter button @ the textBox_input()
    {
        string inp = textBox_input.Text;
        if(!functions)
            input(inp); //this parses regular input
        else
        {
            rFunc(inp); //this should run functions
            functions = false; //reset it
        }
    }
#region input
//input function
#endregion
    private void rFunc(string inp)
    {
    //What to put here?
    }
};

---

Right now I see no way of doing this, but there must be a way, considering debug consoles exist. Please help.

You have to use reflection:

Code:

---

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Reflection;

namespace ConsoleApplication6
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            string name;

            do
            {
                Console.Write("Enter function name: ");
                name = Console.ReadLine();

                MethodInfo method = typeof(Program).GetMethods(BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.NonPublic).FirstOrDefault(mi => mi.Name == name);
                if (method == null)
                    Console.WriteLine("No method {0} exists.", name);
                else
                    method.Invoke(null, null);
            } while (name != "");
        }

        private static void Method1()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("This is method 1");
        }

        private static void Method2()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("This is method 2");
        }
    }
}

---

Output...

Code:

---

Enter function name: foo
No method foo exists.
Enter function name: Method2
This is method 2
Enter function name: bar
No method bar exists.
Enter function name: Method1
This is method 1
Enter function name:
No method  exists.
Press any key to continue . . .

---

Ok. So I use this ->

Code:

---

MethodInfo method = typeof(Program).GetMethods(BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.NonPublic).FirstOrDefault(mi => mi.Name == name);

---

Then it will return null if such a method doesnt exist.
To invoke the method I use

Code:

---

method.Invoke(null, null);

---

It would be great if you could post a link about more info about this object type.
(MethodInfo)

I'll try to decode it myself here, and please correct me if I'm wrong.

-typeof(Program)
This probably means that I'm looking for a method inside my program?

-GetMethods()
This searches through the methods in the program according to the paramteres.

-BindingFlags
These specify for what types of methods I search for. Do they have to be static though?

Code:

---

FirstOrDefault(mi => mi.Name == name)

---

this probably gets the first method in the list (or first overload) that maches the name the user put in...

Now a few questions =D

1. Can I use non-static and Public methods for this?
2. How would I reference a method from another class?
3. Is it possible to pass arguments? for example

Code:

---

Method2(string output)
{
Console.WriteLine(output);
}

---

and call it with

Code:

---

input: Method2("Read me!")

---

?

All of these questions are readily answered with simple google searches. Let me google that for you

EDIT: Alright, except the LINQ question.

For information on "FirstOrDefault(mi => mi.Name == name)", check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb340482.aspx

Code:

---

public void function(string input)//DEBUG CONSOLE
        {
            string[] parts = input.Split('|');
            List<string> all = new List<string>();
            bool rest = false;
            foreach (string part in parts)
            {
                if (rest)
                    all.Add(part);
                if (!rest)
                    rest = true;
            }
            MethodInfo method = typeof(engine).GetMethods(BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.NonPublic).FirstOrDefault(mi => mi.Name == parts[0]);
            if (method == null)
                outform.output("No such method exists: " + input);
            else
            {
                method.Invoke(null, all.ToArray());
//update info
            }
            return;
        }

---

this should be it for passing arguments =D
Thanks for the help itsme86!