Convert Method to Indexer refactoring

This refactoring helps you convert methods that access collections into indexers and update method usages accordingly. You can apply it to:

A method with return value and one or more parameters to convert it into the get accessor of an indexer with the same set of parameters.
A method with void return type and two or more parameters (the last of which is expected to be a value and the others represent the index) to convert it into the set accessor of an indexer.

Consider the following example. If no indexer exists, the refactoring will create it:

            
class TestBookLibrary
{
  Book[] _books;

  Book GetBookAt(int index)
  {
    return _books[index];
  }

  void Insert(int index, Book book)
  {
    _books[index] = book;
  }

  void Copy(int copy, int to)
  {
    Insert(to, GetBookAt(copy));
  }
}

        

            
class TestBookLibrary
{
  Book[] _books;

  Book this[int index]
  {
    get { return _books[index]; }
  }

  void Insert(int index, Book book)
  {
    _books[index] = book;
  }

  void Copy(int copy, int to)
  {
    Insert(to, this[copy]);
  }
}

        

If an indexer with only one of the accessors exists, the refactoring will try to add the second accessor if the converted method fits:

            
class TestBookLibrary
{
  Book[] _books;

  Book this[int index]
  {
    get { return _books[index]; }
  }

  void Insert(int index, Book book)
  {
    _books[index] = book;
  }

  void Copy(int copy, int to)
  {
    Insert(to, this[copy]);
  }
}

        

            
class TestBookLibrary
{
  Book[] _books;

  Book this[int index]
  {
    get { return _books[index]; }
    set { _books[index] = value; }
  }

  void Copy(int copy, int to)
  {
    this[to] = this[copy];
  }
}

        

Convert a method into an indexer

Place the caret at the declaration or a usage of a method in the editor, or select it in the File Structure window window.
Do one of the following:
- Press Control+Shift+R and then choose Convert Method to Indexer.
- Right-click and choose Refactor | Convert Method to Indexer from the context menu.
- Choose ReSharper | Refactor | Convert | Method to Indexer… from the main menu.
If no conflicts are found, ReSharper performs the refactoring immediately. Otherwise, it prompts you to resolve conflicts.

This feature is supported in the following languages and technologies:

The instructions and examples given here address the use of the feature in C#. For more information about other languages, refer to corresponding topics in the Languages and frameworks section.

Last modified: 23 September 2024