[RESOLVED] Help instantiating objects embedded in object

[pdidow]

I am having some real issues with this one. I have a class which contains two other objects...but I cannot seem to instantiate those sub objects. Here is the code for my class:

   
Option Explicit On
Public Class Boot
    'A collection of Heads and Shells
#Region "Private Variables"
    Private _oHead As New WQS_BusinessEntity.Head
    Private _oShell As New WQS_BusinessEntity.Shell
    Private _iBootID As Integer
    Private _iBootTypeID As Integer
    Private _iVesselID As Integer



#End Region

#Region "Constructors"
    Public Sub New()

    End Sub
    Public Sub New(ByVal iBootID As Integer, ByVal iBootTypeID As Integer, ByVal iVesselID As Integer)
        _oHead = New WQS_BusinessEntity.Head
        _oShell = New WQS_BusinessEntity.Shell
        _iBootID = iBootID
        _iBootTypeID = iBootTypeID
        _iVesselID = iVesselID

    End Sub
#End Region

#Region "Public Properties"
    Public Property oHead() As Head
        Get
            Return _oHead
        End Get
        Set(ByVal oValue As Head)
            _oHead = oValue
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property oShell() As Shell
        Get
            Return _oShell
        End Get
        Set(ByVal oValue As Shell)
            _oShell = oValue
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property iBootID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iBootID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iBootID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property iBootTypeID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iBootTypeID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iBootTypeID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property iVesselID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iVesselID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iVesselID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
#End Region
End Class


Public Class BootSet
    Inherits Collections.ArrayList

    Public Shadows Function Add(ByVal oValue As Boot) As Integer
        If Not oValue Is Nothing Then
            MyBase.Add(oValue)
          
        End If
    End Function

    Default Public Shadows Property Item(ByVal iIndex As Integer) As Boot
        Get
            Return CType(MyBase.Item(iIndex), Boot)

        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Boot)
            MyBase.Item(iIndex) = Value
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

When I am using my Boot Object, I do so Here in my DAL:

  Dim oRow As DataRow
        Dim oSet As New WQS_BusinessEntity.BootSet
        Dim iCount As Integer = 0
        'Dim iTable As Integer
        'iTable = oDS.Tables.Count - 1
        For Each oRow In oDS.Tables(1).Rows
            Dim oItem As New WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot
         
            With oItem

              
                'Boot Data
                .iBootID = oDS.Tables(0).Rows(iCount).Item("BootID")
                .iBootTypeID = oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("BootFunctionTypeId")
                .iVesselID = oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("VesselId")
                '1 head, 1 shell per boot now.

                'Head Data
                oItem.oHead.iHeadID = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadId"))
                oItem.oHead.iVesselID = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("VesselId"))
                oItem.oHead.iMaterialID = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadMaterialId"))
                oItem.oHead.iLocationID = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadLocationId"))
                oItem.oHead.strMaterial = oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadMaterialName")
                oItem.oHead.dDiameter = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadDiameter"))
                oItem.oHead.dCurrentThickness = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadCurrentThickness"))
                oItem.oHead.dNominalThickness = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadNominalThickness"))
                oItem.oHead.strShape = oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadShapeName")
                oItem.oHead.iShapeID = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadShapeId"))
                oItem.oHead.strLocation = EmptyIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("HeadLocationOnVesselName"))
                'Shell(Data)
                oItem.oShell.iShellID = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("ShellId"))
                oItem.oShell.iVesselID = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("VesselId"))
                oItem.oShell.iMaterialID = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("ShellMaterialId"))
                oItem.oShell.strMaterial = EmptyIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("ShellMaterialName"))
                oItem.oShell.dDiameter = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("ShellDiameter"))
                oItem.oShell.dCurrentThickness = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("ShellCurrentThickness"))
                oItem.oShell.dNominalThickness = ZeroIfNull(oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("ShellNominalThickness"))
                Select Case oDS.Tables(1).Rows(iCount).Item("ShellOrientation")
                    Case 0.0
                        oItem.oShell.cOrientation = "H"
                    Case 90.0
                        oItem.oShell.cOrientation = "V"
                    Case Else
                        'default to horizontal
                        oItem.oShell.cOrientation = "H"
                End Select

            End With
            'Add the Boot to the BootSet
            oSet.Add(oItem)
            iCount = iCount + 1

        Next

        Return oSet
    End Function

However, when I place a breakpoint on the 'Return oSET' line, and add a watch, this is what I see:

-		oSet	Count = 5	WQS_BusinessEntity.BootSet
-		(0)	{WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot}	Object
-		WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot	{WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot}	WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot
		_iBootID	220	Integer
		_iBootTypeID	0	Integer
		_iVesselID	30	Integer
+		_oHead	Count = 0	WQS_BusinessEntity.Head
+		_oShell	Count = 0	WQS_BusinessEntity.Shell
		iBootID	220	Integer
		iBootTypeID	0	Integer
		iVesselID	30	Integer
+		oHead	Count = 0	WQS_BusinessEntity.Head
+		oShell	Count = 0	WQS_BusinessEntity.Shell
+		(1)	{WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot}	Object
+		(2)	{WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot}	Object
+		(3)	{WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot}	Object
+		(4)	{WQS_BusinessEntity.Boot}	Object

Notice the count for my two objects, Ohead, and oShell, is zero. Im not sure why this doesnt instantiate properly, as I believe is what is going on. I could really use some help!

[Craig Gemmill]

How are the following defined?
WQS_BusinessEntity.Head
WQS_BusinessEntity.Shell

I suspect you defined these with some type of list inheritance, which is causing the output to display COUNT. I do not see that you actually add any items to the head/shell lists, just assign values to the other properties. So in that regard, it will always display COUNT=0, but if you expand the node in your watch, I bet it shows values for the other properties (assuming there are values).

For example: iHeadID, iVesselID, etc.

[pdidow]

Thank you for responding. Yes, I do see values for the other properties of the boot. I have been working with the code a bit, and have simplified it to illustrate the issue I am having.

So, I have three classes. One is called Head,One is Shell and one is boot.
The boot as you saw is to contain a headset, and a shellset, and has a couple of other properties. The headset and shellset can contain one to many heads/shells.

Here is my simplified head class:

Option Explicit On
Public Class Head
    Inherits BusinessEntity.HeadSet
#Region "Private Variables"
    Private _iVesselID As Integer
    Private _iHeadID As Integer
#End Region

#Region "Constructors"
    Public Sub New()

    End Sub
    Public Sub New(ByVal iVesselID As Integer, ByVal iHeadID As Integer)
        _iVesselID = iVesselID
        _iHeadID = iHeadID
    End Sub
#End Region

#Region "Public Properties"
    Public Property iVesselID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iVesselID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iVesselID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property iHeadID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iHeadID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iHeadID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
#End Region

End Class
Public Class HeadSet
    Inherits Collections.ArrayList

    Public Shadows Function Add(ByVal oValue As Head) As Integer
        If Not oValue Is Nothing Then
            MyBase.Add(oValue)
        End If
    End Function

    Default Public Shadows Property Item(ByVal iIndex As Integer) As Head
        Get
            Return CType(MyBase.Item(iIndex), Head)

        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Head)
            MyBase.Item(iIndex) = Value
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

and here is my Shell class

Option Explicit On
Public Class Shell
    Inherits BusinessEntity.ShellSet

#Region "Private Variables"
    Private _iVesselID As Integer
    Private _iShellID As Integer
#End Region

#Region "Constructors"
    Public Sub New()

    End Sub
    Public Sub New(ByVal iVesselID As Integer, ByVal iShellID As Integer)
        _iVesselID = iVesselID
        _iShellID = iShellID
    End Sub
#End Region

#Region "Public Properties"
    Public Property iVesselID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iVesselID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iVesselID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property iShellID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iShellID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iShellID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
#End Region
End Class

Public Class ShellSet
    Inherits Collections.ArrayList

    Public Shadows Function Add(ByVal oValue As Shell) As Integer
        If Not oValue Is Nothing Then
            MyBase.Add(oValue)
        End If
    End Function

    Default Public Shadows Property Item(ByVal iIndex As Integer) As Shell
        Get
            Return CType(MyBase.Item(iIndex), Shell)

        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Shell)
            MyBase.Item(iIndex) = Value
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

and Finally, my boot class:

Option Explicit On
Public Class Boot
    'Contains a head and shell
#Region "Private Variables"
    Private _oHeadSet As New HeadSet
    Private _oShellSet As New ShellSet
    Private _iBootID As Integer
    Private _iVesselID As Integer
#End Region

#Region "Constructors"
    Public Sub New()
        _oHeadSet = New BusinessEntity.HeadSet
        Dim oHead As New Head
        _oHeadSet.Add(oHead)
        _oShellSet = New BusinessEntity.ShellSet
        Dim oShell As New Shell
        _oShellSet.Add(oShell)

    End Sub
    Public Sub New(ByVal oHeadSet As HeadSet, ByVal oShellSet As ShellSet, ByVal iBootID As Integer, ByVal iVesselID As Integer)
        _oHeadSet = New BusinessEntity.HeadSet
        _oShellSet = New BusinessEntity.ShellSet
        Dim oHead As New Head
        Dim oShell As New Shell
        _oHeadSet.Add(oHead)
        _oShellSet.Add(oShell)
        _iBootID = iBootID
        _iVesselID = iVesselID

    End Sub
#End Region

#Region "Public Properties"
    Public Property oHeadSet() As BusinessEntity.HeadSet
        Get
            Return _oHeadSet
        End Get
        Set(ByVal oValue As HeadSet)
            _oHeadSet = oValue
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property oShellSet() As BusinessEntity.ShellSet
        Get
            Return _oShellSet
        End Get
        Set(ByVal oValue As ShellSet)
            _oShellSet = oValue
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property iBootID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iBootID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iBootID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
  
    Public Property iVesselID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _iVesselID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iValue As Integer)
            _iVesselID = iValue
        End Set
    End Property
#End Region
End Class


Public Class BootSet
    Inherits Collections.ArrayList

    Public Shadows Function Add(ByVal oValue As Boot) As Integer
        If Not oValue Is Nothing Then
            MyBase.Add(oValue)

        End If
    End Function

    Default Public Shadows Property Item(ByVal iIndex As Integer) As Boot
        Get
            Return CType(MyBase.Item(iIndex), Boot)

        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Boot)
            MyBase.Item(iIndex) = Value
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

and a method which builds the boot (still not working correctly, same counts)

Partial Public Class _Default
    Inherits System.Web.UI.Page

    Public oHead As BusinessEntity.Head
    Public oHeadSet As BusinessEntity.HeadSet
    Public oShell As BusinessEntity.Shell
    Public oShellSet As BusinessEntity.ShellSet
    Public oBoot As BusinessEntity.Boot
    Public oBootSet As BusinessEntity.BootSet

    Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
   
        BuildEM()


    End Sub
    Public Function BuildEM() As BusinessEntity.BootSet
        oHead = New BusinessEntity.Head
        oHeadSet = New BusinessEntity.HeadSet
        oShell = New BusinessEntity.Shell
        oShellSet = New BusinessEntity.ShellSet
        oBootSet = New BusinessEntity.BootSet

        oHead.iHeadID = 1
        oHeadSet.Add(oHead)
        oShell.iShellID = 1
        oShellSet.Add(oShell)
        oBoot = New BusinessEntity.Boot
     
        oBoot.iBootID = 1

        oBoot.iVesselID = 30

        oBootSet.Add(oBoot)
        Return oBootSet
    End Function
End Class

Thanks for your assistance!

[Craig Gemmill]

The code you posted is doing exactly what it should, so can you explain what you're trying to achieve?

Just one quick note:

In your "BuildEM" method, you create an ohead,oheadset,oshell, and oshellset, but you don't do anything with them after they are created. Did you mean to add them to your oboot object?

[pdidow]

Yes, what I am trying to do is

1) Create a BootSet,HeadSet, and ShellSet object. A bootset contains a boot, which is to contain a headset and a shellset.
A headset can contain one or more heads. A shellset can contain one or more shells.

2) Add the head to the headset, add the shell to the shellset.
3) add the Headset, with the contained head, to the boot
4) add the Shellset, with the contained shell, to the boot
5) add the boot to the bootset

What I expect to see in my watch on the BootSet is 1 boot, with a shellset and headset, each containing one shell and one head respectivly. Im not sure why I cant get this to work, but I always see a count of zero for heads and shells in their respective sets. I need to be able to access the properties of the head and shells from the bootset.

[Craig Gemmill]

Ok, I think I've got it.

Are you talking about the 0's highlighted in the attached picture?

The Head and Shell object are still there, but their properties are not displayed because of the way you have things declared.

For the sake of clarity, remove the inheritance from the SHELL and HEAD classes.

For example:

    Public Class Head
        Inherits BusinessEntity.HeadSet

Should be:

    Public Class Head
        'COMMENTED OUT: Inherits BusinessEntity.HeadSet

[pdidow]

Well. That did it! Thanks so much. Commenting out the inheritance did allow me to see the shell and head object properties through a watch. And after that, I figured out all I had to do was type in the following into the command window

? oBootSet(0).oShellSet(0).iShellID

Which did return the shellid, with the inheritance lines uncommented as well! Your help is most appreciated!

[HanneSThEGreaT]

Great thread.

It is always nice to see new members following forum rules and protocols. Thank you for using CODE tags pdidow

Great answers as usual Craig!

pdidow, seeing the fact that this thread is resolved, please mark it as such, have a look at this post explaining the method :

http://www.codeguru.com/forum/showthread.php?t=403073