Linq Query Group By and Selecting First Items

Question

I have a String array kinda like this:

// icon, category, tool
String[,] subButtonData = new String[,]
{
    {\"graphics/gui/brushsizeplus_icon\", \"Draw\",          


        

Answer 1

First of all, I wouldn't use a multi-dimensional array. Only ever seen bad things come of it.

Set up your variable like this:

IEnumerable> data = new[] {
    new[]{"...", "...", "..."},
    ... etc ...
};

Then you'd simply go:

var firsts = data.Select(x => x.FirstOrDefault()).Where(x => x != null); 

The Where makes sure it prunes any nulls if you have an empty list as an item inside.

Alternatively you can implement it as:

string[][] = new[] {
    new[]{"...","...","..."},
    new[]{"...","...","..."},
    ... etc ...
};

This could be used similarly to a [x,y] array but it's used like this: [x][y]