• Article

Guid.CompareTo Method (Object)

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Compares this instance to a specified object and returns an indication of their relative values.

Namespace:  System
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

'Declaration
Public Function CompareTo ( _
    value As Object _
) As Integer

public int CompareTo(
    Object value
)

Parameters

  • value
    Type: System.Object
    An object to compare, or nulla null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic).

Return Value

Type: System.Int32
A signed number indicating the relative values of this instance and value.

Value

Description

A negative integer

This instance is less than value.

Zero

This instance is equal to value.

A positive integer

This instance is greater than value.

-or-

value is nulla null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic).

Implements

IComparable.CompareTo(Object)

Exceptions

Exception Condition
ArgumentException

value is not a Guid.

Remarks

Any instance of Guid, regardless of its value, is considered greater than nulla null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic).

value must be nulla null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic) or an instance of Guid; otherwise, an exception is thrown.

Examples

The following code sample demonstrates how to attach and read a Guid object as an attribute on a user-defined class or interface.

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices

' Guid for the interface IMyInterface.
<Guid("F9168C5E-CEB2-4faa-B6BF-329BF39FA1E4")> _
Interface IMyInterface
   Sub MyMethod()
End Interface

' Guid for the coclass MyTestClass.
<Guid("936DA01F-9ABD-4d9d-80C7-02AF85C822A8")> _
Public Class Example
   Implements IMyInterface

   Public Sub MyMethod() Implements IMyInterface.MyMethod
   End Sub

   Public Shared Sub Demo(ByVal outputBlock As System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock)
      Dim IMyInterfaceAttribute As Attribute = Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(GetType(IMyInterface), GetType(GuidAttribute))

      ' The Value property of GuidAttribute returns a string. 
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("IMyInterface Attribute: " + CType(IMyInterfaceAttribute, GuidAttribute).Value) & vbCrLf

      ' Using the string to create a guid.
      Dim myGuid1 As New Guid(CType(IMyInterfaceAttribute, GuidAttribute).Value)
      ' Using a byte array to create a guid.
      Dim myGuid2 As New Guid(myGuid1.ToByteArray())

      ' Equals is overridden and so value comparison is done though references are different.
      If myGuid1.Equals(myGuid2) Then
         outputBlock.Text &= "myGuid1 equals myGuid2" & vbCrLf
      Else
         outputBlock.Text &= "myGuid1 not equals myGuid2" & vbCrLf
      End If
      ' Equality operator can also be used to determine if two guids have same value.
      If myGuid1.ToString() = myGuid2.ToString() Then
         outputBlock.Text &= "myGuid1 == myGuid2" & vbCrLf
      Else
         outputBlock.Text &= "myGuid1 != myGuid2" & vbCrLf
      End If
   End Sub
End Class
' The example displays the following output:
'       IMyInterface Attribute: F9168C5E-CEB2-4faa-B6BF-329BF39FA1E4
'       myGuid1 equals myGuid2
'       myGuid1 == myGuid2

using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

// Guid for the interface IMyInterface.
[Guid("F9168C5E-CEB2-4faa-B6BF-329BF39FA1E4")]
interface IMyInterface
{
   void MyMethod();
}

// Guid for MyTestClass.
[Guid("936DA01F-9ABD-4d9d-80C7-02AF85C822A8")]
public class Example : IMyInterface
{
   public void MyMethod() { }

   public static void Demo(System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock outputBlock)
   {
      Attribute IMyInterfaceAttribute = Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(typeof(IMyInterface), typeof(GuidAttribute));

      // The Value property of GuidAttribute returns a string. 
      outputBlock.Text += "IMyInterface Attribute: " + ((GuidAttribute)IMyInterfaceAttribute).Value + "\n";

      // Using the string to create a guid.
      Guid myGuid1 = new Guid(((GuidAttribute)IMyInterfaceAttribute).Value);
      // Using a byte array to create a guid.
      Guid myGuid2 = new Guid(myGuid1.ToByteArray());

      // Equals is overridden and so value comparison is done though references are different.
      if (myGuid1.Equals(myGuid2))
         outputBlock.Text += "myGuid1 equals myGuid2" + "\n";
      else
         outputBlock.Text += "myGuid1 not equals myGuid2" + "\n";

      // Equality operator can also be used to determine if two guids have same value.
      if (myGuid1 == myGuid2)
         outputBlock.Text += "myGuid1 == myGuid2" + "\n";
      else
         outputBlock.Text += "myGuid1 != myGuid2" + "\n";
   }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       IMyInterface Attribute: F9168C5E-CEB2-4faa-B6BF-329BF39FA1E4
//       myGuid1 equals myGuid2
//       myGuid1 == myGuid2

Version Information

Silverlight

Supported in: 5, 4, 3

Silverlight for Windows Phone

Supported in: Windows Phone OS 7.1, Windows Phone OS 7.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: Xbox 360, Windows Phone OS 7.0

Platforms

For a list of the operating systems and browsers that are supported by Silverlight, see Supported Operating Systems and Browsers.