Properties cannot be passed by reference. Here are a few ways you can work around this limitation.
string GetString(string input, string output)
{
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(input))
{
return input;
}
return output;
}
void Main()
{
var person = new Person();
person.Name = GetString("test", person.Name);
Debug.Assert(person.Name == "test");
}
void GetString(string input, Action<string> setOutput)
{
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(input))
{
setOutput(input);
}
}
void Main()
{
var person = new Person();
GetString("test", value => person.Name = value);
Debug.Assert(person.Name == "test");
}
void GetString<T>(string input, T target, Expression<Func<T, string>> outExpr)
{
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(input))
{
var expr = (MemberExpression) outExpr.Body;
var prop = (PropertyInfo) expr.Member;
prop.SetValue(target, input, null);
}
}
void Main()
{
var person = new Person();
GetString("test", person, x => x.Name);
Debug.Assert(person.Name == "test");
}
void GetString(string input, object target, string propertyName)
{
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(input))
{
var prop = target.GetType().GetProperty(propertyName);
prop.SetValue(target, input);
}
}
void Main()
{
var person = new Person();
GetString("test", person, nameof(Person.Name));
Debug.Assert(person.Name == "test");
}