[RESOLVED] Overload ToString for Byte array

[wolf99]

Hi folks

First let me say that Im still a newb at VB

I would like to overload the ToString() method for a byte array, or better yet, overload the Tostring() method for a UInt16 but only within a certain class (i.e. when I call UInt16.ToString withn Foo class it uses my overload, when I call it outside of Foo class it uses the standard method)

First, is the latter possible?

Secondly My reason for wanting to overload this is so that I can have it make a string of the hex values of each byte with some pretty formatting, e.g. if my array of two bytes is {&HA5, &H5A} Then MyArray.ToString will return a string = "5A A5" (Little-endian). Is overloads the way to go? Or an Override, or an Extension?

Thirdly I have tried Overloading as follows but the call in the same class still seems to use the normal ToString meaning it results in the name of the type ("System.Byte[]"), rather than anything useful.

Public Class Foo
    Public Sub Bar ()
        Dim MyInt As Integer = 42330
        Dim MyString As New String(BitConverter.GetBytes(MyInt).ToString) ' Should use my Overload below
        Dim BetterString As New String(MyInt.ToString) ' Should be "5A A5" not "42330"
    End Sub
 
    Public Overloads Function ToString(Of T)(a As Byte()) As String
        Dim RetVal As New System.Text.StringBuilder(a.Length * 3)
        Dim ByteStr As String
        Dim Last As Integer = a.Length - 1
 
        For i As Integer = 0 To Last
            ByteStr = New String(Conversion.Hex(a(i)))
            If ByteStr.Length = 1 Then
                RetVal.Append("0")
            End If
            RetVal.Append(ByteStr)
            If i <> Last Then
                RetVal.Append(" ")
            End If
        Next
        Return RetVal.ToString
    End Function
End Class
 
Public Class Wiz
    Public Sub Foo
        Dim MyInt As Integer = 42330
        Dim MyString As NewString(MyInt.ToString) ' Should always be "42330"
    End Sub
End Class

Thanks!