Why are array initializers only allowed for arrays?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Collection initialization syntax in Visual Basic 2008?

This does not compile.

Dim Tom As New List(Of String) = {"Tom", "Tom2"}

This does

Dim Tom As String() = {"Tom", "Tom2"}

IMO this features should be allowed for all collection types and not only arrays.

Can't be done in VB.NET. C# does have 'var k = new List {"1", "2", "3"};' but there's no direct equivalent in VB.NET. — Jason Evans, Mar 01 '10 at 20:42

score 4 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 18 '13 at 14:53

You cannot do this in the current version of Visual Basic, but the next version in Visual Studio 2010 allows this syntax:

Dim Tom As List(Of String) = new List(Of String) From {"Tom", "Tom2"}

C#, on the other hand, has included its collection initializer syntax in Visual Studio 2008. You can read about it Object and Collection Initializers (C# Programming Guide) (MSDN).

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:55

3

Microsoft agrees with you. It is supported starting in the next release of VB, VB 2010. See this question: Collection initialization syntax in VB 2008?.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:55

Community

answered Mar 01 '10 at 20:42

Jim Counts

2 Answers2