[2.0] static variables in an app that can only open one file at a time

[zildjohn01]

if my app can only have one file open at a time, is it a good idea to start sticking static methods all over my code? such as:

internal static class Program {
	public static MyFileClass curFile;

	// ...
}

internal class MainForm : Form {
	public static MainForm inst;

	public MainForm() {
		inst = this;

		InitializeComponent();
	}

	// ...
}

i know that seems kind of vague, but i began coding a project and didn't plan well, so some methods took a MyFileClass as a parameter while some just used the static variable. Which would be a better idea?

Thanks in advance,
John

[jmcilhinney]

The "static" key word doesn't just exist for convenience. If a variable, property or method is logically a member of the class, rather than a member of an instance of that class, then it should be declared static.

[mendhak]

Implement a Singleton.
http://www.yoda.arachsys.com/csharp/singleton.html

[zildjohn01]

doh! thanks. btw that's the best discussion of singletons in c# i've seen so far. thanks

[mendhak]

Yoda is wise.