C# Console - Inputting and removing from an array

for part of a small assignment I have, i've been asked to create an array to store names and addresses taken from input that the user gives and to be able to later delete a name and address from the array.

Any help or links to helping me understand how to achieve this would be highly appreaciated, thanks.

EDIT - The array is to be set up like an address book, and when printed to the screen it displays like so: "Bloggs, Joe" It must be surname then forename. I know how to acquire and store the information the user wi开发者_如何学Goll give, being their names and addresses, but I am stuck on how to add this into an array. The array doesn't have to be infinite, as I am supposed to allocate the array whatever size I wish.

At the start of the program it will be part of, the user will be given a menu, and they can choose to add a record, delete a record or print the book to the screen. So i am meant to be using methods where suitable.

Well, to start with, an array is the wrong data structure to use here.

Arrays are always a fixed size - whereas you want to be able to add elements and later remove them. Assuming you're using C# 2 or higher, you should probably use a List<T>.

Now, the next thing is to work out what T should be. It sounds like you want to store details of people - so you should create a Person class (or perhaps Contact) to encapsulate the name and address... that way you can have a List<Person>.

The next task is probably to work out how to ask the user for input and convert that input into an instance of Person.

Basically, break the task up into small bits - and then feel free to ask questions about any specific bits which you find hard.

I seem to remember this exact same assignment from my CS classes.

The prof wanted us to use linked lists. As John Skeet points out above, .NET has List<T>, which is basically a linked list (with the added feature of being able to be reference each item by index like an array)

You can use a Serializer for the saving part.

Check out the BinaryFormatter class and XmlSerializer. XmlSerializer is preferred because the file is human-readable and efficiency is usually less important considering the type and purpose of your app.

Using XmlSerializer is as simple as:

var filename = "c:\....\addressbook.xml";
if (File.Exists(filename))
   File.Delete(filename);
using (var sw = new StreamWriter(filename))
{
   var xs = new XmlSerializer(typeof(List<Person>));
   xs.Serialize(sw, myAddressBook);
}