We Keep Coding

How to URL encode a dictionary in C# with bracket notation

Let's say I have the following class:
public class TestClass
{
public Dictionary<string, string> Property1 { get; set; }
}
If I do the following:
var dictionary = new Dictionary<string, string>();
dictionary.add("key1", "value1");
dictionary.add("key2", "value2");
var newClass = new TestClass();
newClass.Property1 = dictionary;
I am trying to URL encode this dictionary to the following:
https://baseaddress.com/resource/?Property1[key1]=value1&Property1[key2]=value2
When attempting to URL encode the dictionary via HttpUtility it is returning the ToString() method of the Dictionary which comes out as:
System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[System.String,System.String]
I am trying to pass this dictionary to a .netcore API that binds to a similar Dictionary<string, string>
Edit
I was able to get it working by using the following code:
var builder = new UriBuilder(uri);
var query = HttpUtility.ParseQueryString(string.Empty);
foreach (var propInfo in obj.GetType().GetProperties())
{
var propName = propInfo.Name;
var propValue = propInfo.GetValue(obj);
if (propValue != null)
{
var dict = propValue as IDictionary;
if (dict != null)
{
foreach (var key in dict.Keys)
{
var keyName = key;
var keyValue = dict[key];
query.Add($"{propName}[{keyName}]", keyValue.ToString());
}
}
else
{
query.Add(propName, propValue.ToString());
}
}
}
builder.Query = query.ToString();
return builder.Uri;
I was hoping there was a more efficient way to make this work.

If you want to get the standard format and avoid any problem with your QueryString you can "leverage" .net core approach which indeed is a way larger than the old approach. With that said here is what you can do:
One thing....Notice that they are strings so you can add your brackets :)
Dictionary<String,StringValues>() queryString = QueryHelpers.ParseQuery("?param1=value");
StringValues secondValue=StringValues.Concat(queryString["param2"], "my other value");
parsedQueryString["yourkey"] = secondValue;
//At this point you can start concatenating as many time as needed.
QueryString.Create(parsedQueryString).ToString();
// creates the following string "?param1=value&param2=my%20other%20value"
A plus :)
// Getting a param value
var param2Value = queryString["param2"];
param2Value.ToString(); // Get the values concatenated together
param2Value.ToArray(); // Gets an array of strings
// Modifying a parameter
queryString["param1"] = "another value";
// NOTE, if there were two values, this overwrites both and leaves a single value

Is there a built-in method to convert .NET Configuration to JSON?

It's easy to convert JSON into configuration, e.g. with
using var stream = new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(json));
var configuration = new ConfigurationBuilder().AddJsonStream(stream).Build();
which gives you an IConfigurationRoot.
Is there a method (preferably in one of the Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration packages) that does the reverse?
Context: I'm downloading a bunch of Azure App Configuration settings and want to export them as JSON. Similar functionality is available in the Azure Portal but I want to resolve key vault references as well.
I can probably do something like this:
// Convert to JSON
var jRoot = new JObject();
foreach (var setting in settings) {
Add(jRoot, setting.Key, setting.Value);
}
with the Add method defined as
private void Add(JObject jObject, string key, string value) {
var index = key.IndexOf(':');
if (index == -1) {
jObject[key] = value;
return;
}
var prefix = key[..index];
if (!jObject.ContainsKey(prefix)) {
jObject[prefix] = new JObject();
}
Add((JObject)jObject[prefix], key[(index + 1)..], value);
}
which I'd probably need to extend to support arrays, but I was hoping I'd not have to reinvent the wheel.

For now, I've expanded the Add method to support arrays:
private void Add(JToken jToken, string key, string value) {
var components = key.Split(":", 3);
if (components.Length == 1) {
// Leaf node
if (jToken is JArray jArray_) {
jArray_.Add(value);
} else {
jToken[components[0]] = value;
}
return;
}
// Next level
JToken nextToken;
var nextTokenIsAnArray = int.TryParse(components[1], out _);
if (jToken is JArray jArray) {
var index = int.Parse(components[0]);
if (jArray.Count == index) {
nextToken = nextTokenIsAnArray ? new JArray() : (JToken)new JObject();
jArray.Add(nextToken);
} else {
nextToken = jArray[index];
}
} else {
nextToken = jToken[components[0]];
if (nextToken == null) {
nextToken = jToken[components[0]] = nextTokenIsAnArray ? new JArray() : (JToken)new JObject();
}
}
Add(nextToken, key[(components[0].Length + 1)..], value);
}
which works for me, assuming arrays appear in the right order, e.g.
key "Foo:0", value "Bar"
key "Foo:1", value "Baz"
which gets serialized as
{ "Foo": ["Bar", "Baz"] }

JObject in C# for independent data fetching of JSON

I am using Json.Net to parse my JSON
This is my JSON:
"OptionType": {
"C": [
"C",
"Call"
],
"P": [
"P",
"Put"
]
}
Before this step, when processed, as a result, I would get a value from any of this.
For example Option Type: Call
Whatever value I get, I need it to be transcodified according to the above JSON.
Example: Option Type: C

First of all your sample data is not a valid JSON. You need to wrap it to the curvy braces.
If your sample is a part of the JSON object, you can map OptionType to the Dictionary<string, List<string>>.
To find valid option you will need to iterate this dictionary like in the sample below:
var valueToCheck = "Call";
string type = null;
foreach (var kvp in optionTypes)
{
if (kvp.Value.Contains(valueToCheck))
{
type = kvp.Key;
break;
}
}
Same using JObject with fixed JSON data:
var json = #"{
""OptionType"":{
""C"": [
""C"",
""Call""
],
""P"": [
""P"",
""Put""
]
}
}";
var valueToCheck = "Call";
string type = null;
var ot = JObject.Parse(json);
var objectType = ot["OptionType"];
foreach (var token in objectType)
{
var prop = token.ToObject<JProperty>();
var key = prop.Name;
var values = prop.Value.ToObject<List<string>>();
if (values.Contains(valueToCheck))
{
type = key;
break;
}
}
Code is not perfect but it is just an idea what to do.

You need to iterate over properties of JObject and then search your option type and then replace your search option with its parent key.
This is custom function can do above task.
public static JObject GetJObject(JObject jObject, List<string> optionType)
{
foreach (var type in jObject["OptionType"])
{
var key = type.ToObject<JProperty>().Name;
var values = type.ToObject<JProperty>().Value.ToObject<List<string>>();
foreach (var option in optionType)
{
if (values.Contains(option))
{
int index = values.IndexOf(option);
values.RemoveAt(index);
values.Insert(index, key);
}
}
JToken jToken = JToken.FromObject(values);
jObject.SelectToken("OptionType." + key).Replace(jToken);
}
return jObject;
}
And you can use above custom function this like
string json = File.ReadAllText(#"Path to your json file");
JObject jObject = JObject.Parse(json);
List<string> optionType = new List<string> { "Call", "Put" };
JObject result = GetJObject(jObject, optionType);
Output:

String replace with recursive dictionary values

I have config for all the root api urls in app.config file that is loaded into dictionary of key and value pair.
Dictionary<string, string> variables = new Dictionary<string, string>()
{
{ "clientRefUrl", "[clientBaseUrl]/RealtimeReferenceData"},
{ "clientRealtimeUrl", "[clientBaseUrl]/RealtimeClinicalData"},
{ "localApiUrl", "LocalApi/Generic"},
{ "integrationRootFolder", "C:\\LocalServer\\Integration"},
{ "clientBaseUrl", "https://company.com/api"},
{ "clientAuthBaseUrl", "https://auth.company.com/api"}
};
I have an api url that comes from the config file like <endpoint name="saveuser" address="[clientRefUrl]/SaveUser" />.
I want to build that url in c# code as https://company.com/api/RealtimeReferenceData/SaveUser.
I am able to do this using the following method but the problem is that client has to make sure they don't move the clientBaseUrl to the top of the list. Or, any dependent key to the top of the list.
public static string EvaluateStringWithVariables(string strExpr)
{
Dictionary<string, string> variables = new Dictionary<string, string>()
{
{ "clientRefUrl", "[clientBaseUrl]/RealtimeReferenceData"},
{ "clientRealtimeUrl", "[clientBaseUrl]/RealtimeClinicalData"},
{ "localApiUrl", "LocalApi/Generic"},
{ "integrationRootFolder", "C:\\LocalServer\\Integration"},
{ "clientBaseUrl", "https://company.com/api"},
{ "clientAuthBaseUrl", "https://auth.company.com/api"}
};
foreach (string variable in variables.Keys)
{
var pattern = #"\[" + variable + #"\]";
strExpr = Regex.Replace(strExpr, pattern, variables[variable]);
}
return strExpr;
}
Is there a better way to do the same without any restriction. I tried another solution that uses regex and recursion:
public static string EvaluateStringWithVariables(string strExpr)
{
Dictionary<string, string> variables = new Dictionary<string, string>()
{
{ "clientRefUrl", "[clientBaseUrl]/RealtimeReferenceData"},
{ "clientRealtimeUrl", "[clientBaseUrl]/RealtimeClinicalData"},
{ "localApiUrl", "LocalApi/Generic"},
{ "integrationRootFolder", "C:\\LocalServer\\Integration"},
{ "clientBaseUrl", "https://company.com/api"},
{ "clientAuthBaseUrl", "https://auth.company.com/api"}
};
Regex regEx = new Regex(#"\[(\w+)\]", RegexOptions.Compiled);
strExpr = regEx.Replace(strExpr, match =>
{
string val = String.Empty;
if (variables.TryGetValue(match.Groups[1].Value, out val))
{
return val;
}
return match.Value;
});
Match rmatch = regEx.Match(strExpr);
if (rmatch.Success)
{
return EvaluateStringWithVariables(strExpr);
}
return strExpr;
}
But, recursion didn't go well when I had to evaluate a string like:
strExpr = "[integrationRootFolder]\\myfolder\\[msg.ClientId]\\In\\[personid]_[tabid]_[documentname]_[msg.ClientId].pdf"; which keep on trying to evaluate other variables that is not part of dictionary.

I think your regex solution was quite close, you just need to check to see if you found any values in the dictionary when you did the replace and if you did then call it recursively.
public static string EvaluateStringWithVariables(string strExpr)
{
Dictionary<string, string> variables = new Dictionary<string, string>()
{
{ "clientRefUrl", "[clientBaseUrl]/RealtimeReferenceData"},
{ "clientRealtimeUrl", "[clientBaseUrl]/RealtimeClinicalData"},
{ "localApiUrl", "LocalApi/Generic"},
{ "integrationRootFolder", "C:\\LocalServer\\Integration"},
{ "clientBaseUrl", "https://company.com/api"},
{ "clientAuthBaseUrl", "https://auth.company.com/api"}
};
Regex regEx = new Regex(#"\[(\w+)\]", RegexOptions.Compiled);
bool foundMatch = false;
strExpr = regEx.Replace(strExpr, match =>
{
string val = String.Empty;
if (variables.TryGetValue(match.Groups[1].Value, out val))
{
foundMatch = true;
return val;
}
return match.Value;
});
Match rmatch = regEx.Match(strExpr);
if (rmatch.Success && foundMatch )
{
return EvaluateStringWithVariables(strExpr);
}
return strExpr;
}

There's a quick but a suboptimal solution/fix for your first approach.
string prev;
do {
prev = strExpr;
foreach (string variable in variables.Keys)
{
var pattern = #"\[" + variable + #"\]";
strExpr = Regex.Replace(strExpr, pattern, variables[variable]);
}
}
until (prev == strExpr);
It will repeat substitutions until there's no replacements in the string.
You should care about possible loops in your substitution definitions. If there's any, do-loop will never ends. Add necessary checks or limit repetition count.

Create c# dynamic object from elements of a list

how to convert :
A List :
var list = new List<string>(){"str1","str2"}
to a anonymous object :
var anonymousObject = new {str1 = "str1",str2 = "str2"}
during runtime

You can use the ExpandoObject which will give you the feature of dynamic type.
var list = new List<string>() { "str1", "str2" };
ExpandoObject obj = new ExpandoObject();
var store = (IDictionary<string, object>)obj;
list.ForEach(x => store.Add(x, x));
dynamic lst = obj;
var val = lst.str1; // Test

You can also use extension method represented below (from here).
Because converting list to dynamic object by iterating on items manually can be painful when there is many situations like this in your application.
You can use this extension method like this:
dynamic list = new List<string>() { "str1", "str2" }
.ToDictionary(dd => dd, dd => (object)dd)
.ToExpando();
The extension method:
public static ExpandoObject ToExpando(this IDictionary<string, object> dictionary)
{
var expando = new ExpandoObject();
var expandoDic = (IDictionary<string, object>)expando;
// go through the items in the dictionary and copy over the key value pairs)
foreach (var kvp in dictionary)
{
// if the value can also be turned into an ExpandoObject, then do it!
if (kvp.Value is IDictionary<string, object>)
{
var expandoValue = ((IDictionary<string, object>)kvp.Value).ToExpando();
expandoDic.Add(kvp.Key, expandoValue);
}
else if (kvp.Value is ICollection)
{
// iterate through the collection and convert any strin-object dictionaries
// along the way into expando objects
var itemList = new List<object>();
foreach (var item in (ICollection)kvp.Value)
{
if (item is IDictionary<string, object>)
{
var expandoItem = ((IDictionary<string, object>)item).ToExpando();
itemList.Add(expandoItem);
}
else
{
itemList.Add(item);
}
}
expandoDic.Add(kvp.Key, itemList);
}
else
{
expandoDic.Add(kvp);
}
}
return expando;
}