ReSharper 2021.1 Help

Convert Method to Indexer refactoring

ReSharper | Refactor | Convert | Method to Indexer…
ReSharper_Function2Indexer

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

  1. Place the caret at the declaration or a usage of a method in the editor, or select it in the File Structure window.

  2. 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 in the context menu.

    • Choose ReSharper | Refactor | Convert | Method to Indexer… in the main menu.

  3. 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:

Language: C#Language: VB.NETLanguage: C++Language: HTMLLanguage: ASP.NETLanguage: RazorLanguage: JavaScriptLanguage: TypeScriptLanguage: CSSLanguage: XMLLanguage: XAMLLanguage: ResxLanguage: Build ScriptsLanguage: ProtobufLanguage: JSON
Feature is available in C#Feature is available in Visual Basic .NET Feature is not available in C++ Feature is not available in HTML Feature is not available in ASP.NET Feature is not available in Razor Feature is not available in JavaScript Feature is not available in TypeScript Feature is not available in CSS Feature is not available in XML Feature is not available in XAML Feature is not available in Resource files Feature is not available in build script files Feature is not available in Protobuf Feature is not available in JSON

The instructions and examples given here address the use of the feature in C#. For details specific to other languages, see corresponding topics in the ReSharper by Language section.

Last modified: 08 March 2021