Represents a multicast delegate; that is, a delegate that can have more than one element in its invocation list.
For a list of all members of this type, see MulticastDelegate Members.
System.Object
System.Delegate
System.MulticastDelegate
Derived classes
[Visual Basic]
<Serializable>
MustInherit Public Class MulticastDelegate
Inherits Delegate
[C#]
[Serializable]
public abstract class MulticastDelegate : Delegate
[C++]
[Serializable]
public __gc __abstract class MulticastDelegate : public Delegate
[JScript]
public
Serializable
abstract class MulticastDelegate extends Delegate
Thread Safety
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.
Remarks
MulticastDelegate is a special class. Compilers and other tools can derive from this class, but you cannot derive from it explicitly. The same is true of the Delegate class.
A MulticastDelegate has a linked list of delegates, called an invocation list, consisting of one or more elements. When a multicast delegate is invoked, the delegates in the invocation list are called synchronously in the order in which they appear. If an error occurs during execution of the list then an exception is thrown.
Example
[Visual Basic, C#, C++] The following example demonstrates the use of a class that is derived from MulticastDelegate.
[Visual Basic]
Imports System
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
' This class contains strings. It has a member method that
' accepts a multicast delegate as a parameter and calls it
Class HoldsStrings
' This delegate is declared as a void, so the compiler automatically
' generates a new class, named CheckAndPrintDelegate, that inherits from
' System.MulticastDelegate.
' If this delegate were declared with a Boolean return value, it
' would inherit from System.Delegate and be a singlecast delegate.
Delegate Sub CheckAndPrintDelegate(ByVal str As String)
' An ArrayList that holds strings
Private myStringArray As New System.Collections.ArrayList()
Public Sub addstring(ByVal str As String)
myStringArray.Add(str)
End Sub 'addstring
' Iterate through the strings and invoke the method(s) that the delegate points to
Public Sub PrintAllQualified(ByVal myDelegate As CheckAndPrintDelegate)
Dim str As String
For Each str In myStringArray
myDelegate(str)
Next str
End Sub 'PrintAllQualified
End Class 'end of class HoldsStrings
' This class contains a few sample methods
Class StringFuncs
' This method prints a string that it is passed if the string starts with a vowel
Public Shared Sub ConStart(ByVal str As String)
If Not (str.Chars(0) = "a"c Or str.Chars(0) = "e"c Or str.Chars(0) = "i"c Or str.Chars(0) = "o"c Or str.Chars(0) = "u"c) Then
Console.WriteLine(str)
End If
End Sub 'ConStart
' This method prints a string that it is passed if the string starts with a consonant
Public Shared Sub VowelStart(ByVal str As String)
If (str.Chars(0) = "a"c Or str.Chars(0) = "e"c Or str.Chars(0) = "i"c Or str.Chars(0) = "o"c Or str.Chars(0) = "u"c) Then
Console.WriteLine(str)
End If
End Sub 'VowelStart
End Class 'StringFuncs
' This class demonstrates using Delegates, including using the Remove and
' Combine methods to create and modify delegate combinations.
Class Test
Public Shared Sub Main()
' Declare the HoldsStrings class and add some strings
Dim myHoldsStrings As New HoldsStrings()
myHoldsStrings.addstring("this")
myHoldsStrings.addstring("is")
myHoldsStrings.addstring("a")
myHoldsStrings.addstring("multicast")
myHoldsStrings.addstring("delegate")
myHoldsStrings.addstring("example")
' Create two delegates individually using different methods
Dim ConStartDel = New HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate(AddressOf StringFuncs.ConStart)
Dim VowStartDel As New HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate(AddressOf StringFuncs.VowelStart)
' Demonstrate that MulticastDelegates may store only one delegate
Dim DelegateList() As [Delegate]
' Returns an array of all delegates stored in the linked list of the
' MulticastDelegate. In these cases the lists will hold only one (Multicast) delegate
DelegateList = ConStartDel.GetInvocationList()
Console.WriteLine("ConStartDel contains " + DelegateList.Length.ToString() + " delegate(s).")
DelegateList = VowStartDel.GetInvocationList()
Console.WriteLine(("ConStartVow contains " + DelegateList.Length.ToString() + " delegate(s)."))
' Determine whether the delegates are System.Multicast delegates
If TypeOf ConStartDel Is System.MulticastDelegate And TypeOf VowStartDel Is System.MulticastDelegate Then
Console.WriteLine("ConStartDel and ConStartVow are System.MulticastDelegates")
End If
' Run the two single delegates one after the other
Console.WriteLine("Running ConStartDel delegate:")
myHoldsStrings.PrintAllQualified(ConStartDel)
Console.WriteLine("Running VowStartDel delegate:")
myHoldsStrings.PrintAllQualified(VowStartDel)
' Create a new, empty MulticastDelegate
Dim MultiDel As HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate
' Delegate.Combine receives an unspecified number of MulticastDelegates as parameters
MultiDel = CType([Delegate].Combine(ConStartDel, VowStartDel), HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate)
' How many delegates is this delegate holding?
DelegateList = MultiDel.GetInvocationList()
Console.WriteLine((ControlChars.Cr + "MulitDel contains " + DelegateList.Length.ToString() + " delegates."))
' What happens when this mulitcast delegate is passed to PrintAllQualified
Console.WriteLine("Running the multiple delegate that combined the first two")
myHoldsStrings.PrintAllQualified(MultiDel)
' The Remove and Combine methods modify the multiple delegate
MultiDel = CType([Delegate].Remove(MultiDel, VowStartDel), HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate)
MultiDel = CType([Delegate].Combine(MultiDel, ConStartDel), HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate)
' Finally, pass the combined delegates to PrintAllQualified again
Console.WriteLine(ControlChars.Cr + "Running the multiple delegate that contains two copies of ConStartDel:")
myHoldsStrings.PrintAllQualified(MultiDel)
Return
End Sub 'end of main
End Class 'end of Test
[C#]
using System;
// This class contains strings. It has a member method that
// accepts a multicast delegate as a parameter and calls it.
class HoldsStrings
{
// This delegate is declared as a void, so the compiler automatically
// generates a new class, named CheckAndPrintDelegate, that inherits from
// System.MulticastDelegate.
// If this delegate were declared with a Boolean return value, it
// would inherit from System.Delegate and be a singlecast delegate.
public delegate void CheckAndPrintDelegate(string str);
// An ArrayList that holds strings
private System.Collections.ArrayList myStringArray = new System.Collections.ArrayList();
// A method that adds more strings to the Collection
public void addstring( string str) {
myStringArray.Add(str);
}
// Iterate through the strings and invoke the method(s) that the delegate points to
public void PrintAllQualified(CheckAndPrintDelegate myDelegate) {
foreach (string str in myStringArray) {
myDelegate(str);
}
}
} //end of class HoldsStrings
// This class contains a few sample methods
class StringFuncs
{
// This method prints a string that it is passed if the string starts with a vowel
public static void ConStart(string str) {
if (!(str[0]=='a'||str[0]=='e'||str[0]=='i'||str[0]=='o'||str[0]=='u'))
Console.WriteLine(str);
}
// This method prints a string that it is passed if the string starts with a consonant
public static void VowelStart(string str) {
if ((str[0]=='a'||str[0]=='e'||str[0]=='i'||str[0]=='o'||str[0]=='u'))
Console.WriteLine(str);
}
}
// This class demonstrates using Delegates, including using the Remove and
// Combine methods to create and modify delegate combinations.
class Test
{
static public void Main()
{
// Declare the HoldsStrings class and add some strings
HoldsStrings myHoldsStrings = new HoldsStrings();
myHoldsStrings.addstring("This");
myHoldsStrings.addstring("is");
myHoldsStrings.addstring("a");
myHoldsStrings.addstring("multicast");
myHoldsStrings.addstring("delegate");
myHoldsStrings.addstring("example");
// Create two delegates individually using different methods
HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate ConStartDel =
new HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate(StringFuncs.ConStart);
HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate VowStartDel =
new HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate(StringFuncs.VowelStart);
// Demonstrate that MulticastDelegates may store only one delegate
Delegate [] DelegateList;
// Returns an array of all delegates stored in the linked list of the
// MulticastDelegate. In these cases the lists will hold only one (Multicast) delegate
DelegateList = ConStartDel.GetInvocationList();
Console.WriteLine("ConStartDel contains " + DelegateList.Length + " delegate(s).");
DelegateList = VowStartDel.GetInvocationList();
Console.WriteLine("ConStartVow contains " + DelegateList.Length + " delegate(s).");
// Determine whether the delegates are System.Multicast delegates
// if (ConStartDel is System.MulticastDelegate && VowStartDel is System.MulticastDelegate) {
Console.WriteLine("ConStartDel and ConStartVow are System.MulticastDelegates");
// }
// Run the two single delegates one after the other
Console.WriteLine("Running ConStartDel delegate:");
myHoldsStrings.PrintAllQualified(ConStartDel);
Console.WriteLine("Running VowStartDel delegate:");
myHoldsStrings.PrintAllQualified(VowStartDel);
// Create a new, empty MulticastDelegate
HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate MultiDel;
// Delegate.Combine receives an unspecified number of MulticastDelegates as parameters
MultiDel = (HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate) Delegate.Combine(ConStartDel, VowStartDel);
// How many delegates is this delegate holding?
DelegateList = MultiDel.GetInvocationList();
Console.WriteLine("\nMulitDel contains " + DelegateList.Length + " delegates.");
// What happens when this mulitcast delegate is passed to PrintAllQualified
Console.WriteLine("Running the multiple delegate that combined the first two");
myHoldsStrings.PrintAllQualified(MultiDel);
// The Remove and Combine methods modify the multiple delegate
MultiDel = (HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate) Delegate.Remove(MultiDel, VowStartDel);
MultiDel = (HoldsStrings.CheckAndPrintDelegate) Delegate.Combine(MultiDel, ConStartDel);
// Finally, pass the combined delegates to PrintAllQualified again
Console.WriteLine("\nRunning the multiple delegate that contains two copies of ConStartDel:");
myHoldsStrings.PrintAllQualified(MultiDel);
return;
} //end of main
} //end of Test
[C++]
#using <mscorlib.dll>
using namespace System;
// This class contains strings. It has a member method that
// accepts a multicast delegate as a parameter and calls it.
__gc class HoldsStrings {
// This delegate is declared as a void, so the compiler automatically
// generates a new class, named CheckAndPrintDelegate, that inherits from
// System::MulticastDelegate::
// If this delegate were declared with a Boolean return value, it
// would inherit from System::Delegate and be a singlecast delegate.
public:
__delegate void CheckAndPrintDelegate(String* str);
// An ArrayList that holds strings
private:
System::Collections::ArrayList* myStringArray;
public:
HoldsStrings() {
myStringArray = new System::Collections::ArrayList();
};
// A method that adds more strings to the Collection
void addstring(String* str) {
myStringArray->Add(str);
};
// Iterate through the strings and invoke the method(s) that the delegate points to
void PrintAllQualified(CheckAndPrintDelegate* myDelegate) {
System::Collections::IEnumerator* myEnum = myStringArray->GetEnumerator();
while (myEnum->MoveNext()) {
String* str = __try_cast<String*>(myEnum->Current);
myDelegate(str);
};
};
}; //end of class HoldsStrings
// This class contains a few sample methods
__gc class StringFuncs {
public:
// This method prints a String* that it is passed if the String* starts with a vowel
static void ConStart(String* str) {
if (!(str->Chars[0]=='a'||str->Chars[0]=='e'||str->Chars[0]=='i'||str->Chars[0]=='o'||str->Chars[0]=='u'))
Console::WriteLine(str);
}
// This method prints a String* that it is passed if the String* starts with a consonant
static void VowelStart(String* str) {
if ((str->Chars[0]=='a'||str->Chars[0]=='e'||str->Chars[0]=='i'||str->Chars[0]=='o'||str->Chars[0]=='u'))
Console::WriteLine(str);
}
};
// This function demonstrates using Delegates, including using the Remove and
// Combine methods to create and modify delegate combinations.
int main() {
// Declare the HoldsStrings class and add some strings
HoldsStrings* myHoldsStrings = new HoldsStrings();
myHoldsStrings->addstring(S"This");
myHoldsStrings->addstring(S"is");
myHoldsStrings->addstring(S"a");
myHoldsStrings->addstring(S"multicast");
myHoldsStrings->addstring(S"delegate");
myHoldsStrings->addstring(S"example");
// Create two delegates individually using different methods
HoldsStrings::CheckAndPrintDelegate* ConStartDel = new HoldsStrings::CheckAndPrintDelegate(0, StringFuncs::ConStart);
HoldsStrings::CheckAndPrintDelegate* VowStartDel = new HoldsStrings::CheckAndPrintDelegate(0, StringFuncs::VowelStart);
// Demonstrate that MulticastDelegates may store only one delegate
Delegate* DelegateList[];
// Returns an array of all delegates stored in the linked list of the
// MulticastDelegate. In these cases the lists will hold only one (Multicast) delegate
DelegateList = ConStartDel->GetInvocationList();
Console::WriteLine(S"ConStartDel contains {0} delegate(s).", __box( DelegateList->Length));
DelegateList = VowStartDel->GetInvocationList();
Console::WriteLine(S"ConStartVow contains {0} delegate(s).", __box( DelegateList->Length));
// Determine whether the delegates are System::Multicast delegates
if (dynamic_cast<System::MulticastDelegate *>(ConStartDel) && dynamic_cast<System::MulticastDelegate*>(VowStartDel)) {
Console::WriteLine(S"ConStartDel and ConStartVow are System::MulticastDelegates");
}
// Run the two single delegates one after the other
Console::WriteLine(S"Running ConStartDel delegate:");
myHoldsStrings->PrintAllQualified(ConStartDel);
Console::WriteLine(S"Running VowStartDel delegate:");
myHoldsStrings->PrintAllQualified(VowStartDel);
// Create a new, empty MulticastDelegate
HoldsStrings::CheckAndPrintDelegate* MultiDel;
// Delegate::Combine receives an unspecified number of MulticastDelegates as parameters
MultiDel = dynamic_cast<HoldsStrings::CheckAndPrintDelegate*> (Delegate::Combine(ConStartDel, VowStartDel));
// How many delegates is this delegate holding?
DelegateList = MultiDel->GetInvocationList();
Console::WriteLine(S"\nMulitDel contains {0} delegates.", __box( DelegateList->Length));
// What happens when this mulitcast delegate is passed to PrintAllQualified
Console::WriteLine(S"Running the multiple delegate that combined the first two");
myHoldsStrings->PrintAllQualified(MultiDel);
// The Remove and Combine methods modify the multiple delegate
MultiDel = dynamic_cast<HoldsStrings::CheckAndPrintDelegate*> (Delegate::Remove(MultiDel, VowStartDel));
MultiDel = dynamic_cast<HoldsStrings::CheckAndPrintDelegate*> (Delegate::Combine(MultiDel, ConStartDel));
// Finally, pass the combined delegates to PrintAllQualified again
Console::WriteLine(S"\nRunning the multiple delegate that contains two copies of ConStartDel:");
myHoldsStrings->PrintAllQualified(MultiDel);
} //end of main
[JScript] No example is available for JScript. To view a Visual Basic, C#, or C++ example, click the Language Filter button .gif)
in the upper-left corner of the page.
Requirements
Namespace: System
Platforms: Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003 family, .NET Compact Framework
Assembly: Mscorlib (in Mscorlib.dll)
See Also
MulticastDelegate Members | System Namespace