Add offset to IntPtr

Question

I'm looking for a way to perform pointer operations in C# or .NET in particular.

I want to do something very simple

Having a pointer IntPtr I want to get IntPtr object which points to 2 bytes ahead.

I read some post that the foolowing snippet will work...

IntPtr ptr = new IntPtr(oldptr.ToInt32() + 2);

But I have doubts whether this statement is also valid for 64-bit machine (since addressing is in 64-bits there)..

I found this elegant method to add offset, but unfortunately is in .NET 4.0 only http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.intptr.add%28VS.100%29.aspx

Solution 1

I suggest you to use ToInt64() and long to perform your computation. This way you will avoid problem on 64 bits version of the .NET framework.

IntPtr ptr = new IntPtr(oldptr.ToInt64() + 2);

This add a bit of overhead on 32 bits system, but it is safer.

Solution 2

In .net 4 static Add() and Subtract() methods have been added.

IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Add(oldPtr, 2);

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.intptr.add.aspx

Solution 3

For pointer arithmetic in C# you should use proper pointers inside an unsafe context:

class PointerArithmetic
{
    unsafe static void Main() 
    {
        int* memory = stackalloc int[30];
        long* difference;
        int* p1 = &memory[4];
        int* p2 = &memory[10];

        difference = (long*)(p2 - p1);

        System.Console.WriteLine("The difference is: {0}", (long)difference);
    }
}

The IntPtr type is for passing around handles or pointers and also for marshalling to languages that support pointers. But it's not for pointer arithmetic.

Solution 4

I found that I can avoid pointer operations by using Marshal.ReadByte(), Marshal.ReadInt16() etc. methods. This group of methods allow to specify offset in releation to the IntPtr...

Solution 5

public static class IntPtrExtensions
{
    #region Methods: Arithmetics
    public static IntPtr Decrement(this IntPtr pointer, Int32 value)
    {
        return Increment(pointer, -value);
    }

    public static IntPtr Decrement(this IntPtr pointer, Int64 value)
    {
        return Increment(pointer, -value);
    }

    public static IntPtr Decrement(this IntPtr pointer, IntPtr value)
    {
        switch (IntPtr.Size)
        {
            case sizeof(Int32):
                return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt32() - value.ToInt32()));

            default:
                return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt64() - value.ToInt64()));
        }
    }

    public static IntPtr Increment(this IntPtr pointer, Int32 value)
    {
        unchecked
        {
            switch (IntPtr.Size)
            {
                case sizeof(Int32):
                    return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt32() + value));

                default:
                    return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt64() + value));
            }
        }
    }

    public static IntPtr Increment(this IntPtr pointer, Int64 value)
    {
        unchecked
        {
            switch (IntPtr.Size)
            {
                case sizeof(Int32):
                    return (new IntPtr((Int32)(pointer.ToInt32() + value)));

                default:
                    return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt64() + value));
            }
        }
    }

    public static IntPtr Increment(this IntPtr pointer, IntPtr value)
    {
        unchecked
        {
            switch (IntPtr.Size)
            {
                case sizeof(int):
                    return new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt32() + value.ToInt32());
                default:
                    return new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt64() + value.ToInt64());
            }
        }
    }
    #endregion

    #region Methods: Comparison
    public static Int32 CompareTo(this IntPtr left, Int32 right)
    {
        return left.CompareTo((UInt32)right);
    }

    public static Int32 CompareTo(this IntPtr left, IntPtr right)
    {
        if (left.ToUInt64() > right.ToUInt64())
            return 1;

        if (left.ToUInt64() < right.ToUInt64())
            return -1;

        return 0;
    }

    public static Int32 CompareTo(this IntPtr left, UInt32 right)
    {
        if (left.ToUInt64() > right)
            return 1;

        if (left.ToUInt64() < right)
            return -1;

        return 0;
    }
    #endregion

    #region Methods: Conversion
    public unsafe static UInt32 ToUInt32(this IntPtr pointer)
    {
        return (UInt32)((void*)pointer);
    }

    public unsafe static UInt64 ToUInt64(this IntPtr pointer)
    {
        return (UInt64)((void*)pointer);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Methods: Equality
    public static Boolean Equals(this IntPtr pointer, Int32 value)
    {
        return (pointer.ToInt32() == value);
    }

    public static Boolean Equals(this IntPtr pointer, Int64 value)
    {
        return (pointer.ToInt64() == value);
    }

    public static Boolean Equals(this IntPtr left, IntPtr ptr2)
    {
        return (left == ptr2);
    }

    public static Boolean Equals(this IntPtr pointer, UInt32 value)
    {
        return (pointer.ToUInt32() == value);
    }

    public static Boolean Equals(this IntPtr pointer, UInt64 value)
    {
        return (pointer.ToUInt64() == value);
    }

    public static Boolean GreaterThanOrEqualTo(this IntPtr left, IntPtr right)
    {
        return (left.CompareTo(right) >= 0);
    }

    public static Boolean LessThanOrEqualTo(this IntPtr left, IntPtr right)
    {
        return (left.CompareTo(right) <= 0);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Methods: Logic
    public static IntPtr And(this IntPtr pointer, IntPtr value)
    {
        switch (IntPtr.Size)
        {
            case sizeof(Int32):
                return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt32() & value.ToInt32()));

            default:
                return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt64() & value.ToInt64()));
        }
    }

    public static IntPtr Not(this IntPtr pointer)
    {
        switch (IntPtr.Size)
        {
            case sizeof(Int32):
                return (new IntPtr(~pointer.ToInt32()));

            default:
                return (new IntPtr(~pointer.ToInt64()));
        }
    }

    public static IntPtr Or(this IntPtr pointer, IntPtr value)
    {
        switch (IntPtr.Size)
        {
            case sizeof(Int32):
                return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt32() | value.ToInt32()));

            default:
                return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt64() | value.ToInt64()));
        }
    }

    public static IntPtr Xor(this IntPtr pointer, IntPtr value)
    {
        switch (IntPtr.Size)
        {
            case sizeof(Int32):
                return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt32() ^ value.ToInt32()));

            default:
                return (new IntPtr(pointer.ToInt64() ^ value.ToInt64()));
        }
    }
    #endregion
}

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