Dynamically sort collection navigation property using linq - c#

I am attempting to sort a collection based on a property.
So I do not know the property until runtime that I want to sort on.
The following works on the primary object but not any child objects
var prop = TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(typeof(TvRequests)).Find(sortProperty, tru
if (sortProperty.Contains('.'))
{
// This is a navigation property currently not supported
prop = TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(typeof(TvRequests)).Find("Title", true);
}
allRequests = sortOrder.Equals("asc", StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase)
? allRequests.OrderBy(x => prop.GetValue(x)).ToList()
: allRequests.OrderByDescending(x => prop.GetValue(x)).ToList();
So the sortProperty is passed into my method and is a string and can be something like title or date and it works. But if I attempt to access a child property of my TvRequests object it will not work e.g. requestedUser.username
This is a trimmed down version of my objects that I'm referring to in this question:
public class TvRequests
{
public string Title { get; set; }
[ForeignKey(nameof(RequestedUserId))]
public OmbiUser RequestedUser { get; set; }
}
public class OmbiUser
{
public string Username;
}
My question is how would I be able to access any children properties like the above dynamically?

Use EF.Property.
// Get the string name of the property here
string propertyName = "Title";
allRequests = sortOrder.Equals("asc", StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase)
? allRequests.OrderBy(x => EF.Property<string>(x, propertyName)).ToList()
: allRequests.OrderByDescending(x => EF.Property<string>(x, propertyName)).ToList();
Something along the lines may work (untested, but compiles)
// static for caching & performance
static private MethodInfo efPropertyGenericMethod = typeof(EF).GetTypeInfo().GetDeclaredMethod("Property");
Expression SortBy<TEntity>(Type type, string propertyName)
{
var xParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(TEntity), "x");
// set T generic type here for EF.Property<T>
var efPropertyMethod = efPropertyGenericMethod.MakeGenericMethod(type);
// Creates a Lambda
Expression lambda = Expression.Lambda(
// Calls a method. First parameter is null for static calls
Expression.Call(null,
efPropertyMethod, // our cosntructed generic Version of EF.Property<T>
xParam, // Pass the x Parameter
Expression.Constant(propertyName, typeof(string)) // the propertyName asconstant
),
xParam
);
return lambda;
};
To be used as
allRequests.OrderBy(SortBy<TvRequests>(propertyType, propertyName))
Please note that that SortBy isn't called within the lambda. The below would be wrong (there's no x => in the line above).
allRequests.OrderBy(x => SortBy<TvRequests>(propertyType, propertyName))
What it does? SortBy generates an expression tree equivalent of x => EF.Property<T>(x, "MyPropertyName").
Edit:
Updated the method, so x is also passed to EF.Property(x, propertyName)

you can try something like this..
public static class QueryableExtensions
{
public enum SortDirection { ASC,DESC}
static LambdaExpression CreateExpression(Type type, string propertyName)
{
var param = Expression.Parameter(type, "x");
Expression body = param;
body = propertyName.Split('.')
.Select(prop => body = Expression.PropertyOrField(body, prop))
.Last();
return Expression.Lambda(body, param);
}
public static IQueryable<T> SortBy<T>(this IQueryable<T> source,string expressionField,SortDirection sortDirection = SortDirection.ASC)
{
var lambdaExpression = CreateExpression(typeof(T), expressionField) as dynamic;
return sortDirection == SortDirection.ASC ? Queryable.OrderBy(source,lambdaExpression) : Queryable.OrderByDescending(source, lambdaExpression);
}
}
types
public class TvRequests
{
public string Title { get; set; }
public OmbiUser RequestedUser { get; set; }
public DateTime Date { get; set; }
}
public class OmbiUser
{
public string Username;
public DateTime Date { get; set; }
}
using
List<TvRequests> reqList = new List<TvRequests>();
reqList.Add(new TvRequests {
Title = "A",
Date = DateTime.Now.AddDays(-1),
RequestedUser = new OmbiUser
{
Username = "A",
Date = DateTime.Now.AddDays(-1)
}
});
reqList.Add(new TvRequests
{
Title = "C",
Date = DateTime.Now.AddDays(1),
RequestedUser = new OmbiUser
{
Username = "C",
Date = DateTime.Now.AddDays(1)
}
});
reqList.Add(new TvRequests
{
Title = "B",
Date = DateTime.Now,
RequestedUser = new OmbiUser
{
Username = "B",
Date = DateTime.Now
}
});
foreach (var item in reqList.AsQueryable().SortBy("Date", SortDirection.DESC))
Debug.WriteLine(item.Title);
foreach (var item in reqList.AsQueryable().SortBy("RequestedUser.Date"))
Debug.WriteLine(item.Title);
foreach (var item in reqList.AsQueryable().SortBy("RequestedUser.UserName",SortDirection.DESC))
Debug.WriteLine(item.Title);

Related

C#- Filter data based on child class or using string query

Hi I have a scenario to filter the data based sub-object field please help me. From controller as query I pass Expression String.
class MasterDocument
{
private Id;
public ICollection<SubDocument> documents { get; set; }
}
class SubDocument
{
private Id;
public int Age { get; set; }
}
var filterQuery = "documents.Age == 25";
var filteredResult = MasterDocument.Where(filterQuery).ToList();
to filter the Data 
how to create Expression from string to filter data from Substructure.
Well, that's quite complicated topic, but i will first give code example and later focus on caveats:
I would follow approach and define it as another extension method:
using System.Linq.Expressions;
namespace ConsoleApp2;
public static class WhereExtensions
{
public static IEnumerable<T> Where<T>(
this IEnumerable<T> collection,
string filterExpression)
{
// Most probably you'd like to have here more sophisticated validations.
var itemsToCompare = filterExpression.Split("==")
.Select(x => x.Trim())
.ToArray();
if (itemsToCompare.Length != 2)
{
throw new InvalidOperationException();
}
var source = Expression.Parameter(typeof(T));
var property = itemsToCompare[0];
var valueToCompareAgainst = itemsToCompare[1];
var memberExpr = source.GetMemberExpression(property);
var comparisonExpr = Expression.Equal(
Expression.Call(memberExpr, typeof(object).GetMethod("ToString")),
Expression.Constant(valueToCompareAgainst)
);
var predicate = Expression.Lambda<Func<T, bool>>(comparisonExpr, source);
return collection.Where(predicate.Compile());
}
public static MemberExpression GetMemberExpression(
this ParameterExpression parameter,
string memberExpression)
{
var properties = memberExpression.Split('.');
if (!properties.Any())
{
throw new InvalidOperationException();
}
var memberExpr = Expression.PropertyOrField(parameter, properties[0]);
foreach (var property in properties.Skip(1))
{
memberExpr = Expression.PropertyOrField(memberExpr, property);
}
return memberExpr;
}
}
and the usage would be:
using ConsoleApp2;
var example = new[]
{
new TestClass() { Id = 1, Description = "a" },
new TestClass() { Id = 2, Description = "a" },
new TestClass() { Id = 3, Description = "b" },
new TestClass() { Id = 4, Description = "b" },
};
var result1 = example.Where("Id == 1").ToList();
var result2 = example.Where("Description == b").ToList();
Console.WriteLine("Items with Id == 1");
result1.ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"Id: {x.Id} , Descr: {x.Description}"));
Console.WriteLine("Items with Description == b");
result2.ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine($"Id: {x.Id} , Descr: {x.Description}"));
class TestClass
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Description { get; set; }
}
This codes returns:
NOW, THE CAVEATS
It's very tricky to cast value to compare against to an arbitrary type T, that's why i reversed the problem, and I call "ToString" on whetever member we want to compare
Expression.Call(memberExpr, typeof(object).GetMethod("ToString"))
But this also could have it's own issues, as often "ToString" returns default tpye name. But works well with integers and simple value types.

How to create a dynamic LINQ select projection function from a string[] of names?

Using C#...
Is there any way to specify property names for a projection function on a LINQ select method, from an array.
public class Album
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
public short Rate { get; set; }
public string Genre { get; set; }
public short Tracks { get; set; }
}
public class Class1
{
private void Some<T>()
{
// Example of source
var names = new[] { "Id", "Name", "Tracks" };
var query = myDataContext.
GetTable<T>.
AsQueryable().
Select( /* dynamic projection from names array */ );
// something like
// Select(x => new
// {
// x.Id,
// x.Name,
// x.Tracks
// }
GoAndDoSomethingWith(query);
}
}
Could this be done without System.Linq.Dynamic?
You could use reflection and dynamic types to generate an object with only the specified fields/properties.
Below is a simple way of doing this. You can do optimizations, like having a type cache for the reflection. But this should work for simple fields/properties.
public static object DynamicProjection(object input, IEnumerable<string> properties)
{
var type = input.GetType();
dynamic dObject = new ExpandoObject();
var dDict = dObject as IDictionary<string, object>;
foreach (var p in properties)
{
var field = type.GetField(p);
if (field != null)
dDict [p] = field.GetValue(input);
var prop = type.GetProperty(p);
if (prop != null && prop.GetIndexParameters().Length == 0)
dDict[p] = prop.GetValue(input, null);
}
return dObject;
}
Usage:
//...
var names = new[] { "Id", "Name", "Tracks" };
var projection = collection.Select(x => DynamicProjection(x, names));
//...

Create predicate with nested classes with Expression

I have this :
public class Company
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
}
public class City
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
public int ZipCode { get; set; }
}
public class Person
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string FirstName { get; set; }
public string LastName { get; set; }
public int? Age { get; set; }
public City City { get; set; }
public Company Company { get; set; }
}
I'd like a some case generate the predicate like this :
var result = listPerson.Where(x => x.Age == 10).ToList<>();
Or this :
var result = listPerson.Where( x => x.Company.Name == 1234).ToList();
Or this :
var result = listPerson.Where( x => x.City.ZipCode == "MyZipCode").ToList();
Or this :
var result = listPerson.Where( x => x.Company.Name == "MyCompanyName").ToList();
Then I created a "PredicateBuilder", that's work (I get the type, if nullable or not and I build the predicate) when I do this :
BuildPredicate<Person>("Age", 10); I get this : x => x.Age == 10
But I don't how manage when there is an nested property like this :
BuildPredicate<Person>("City.ZipCode", "MyZipCode");
I'd like get this : x => x.City.ZipCode == "MyZipCode"
Or this :
BuildPredicate<Person>("City.Name", "MyName");
I'd like get this : x => x.City.Name == "MyName"
Or this :
BuildPredicate<Person>("Company.Name", "MyCompanyName");
I'd like get this : x => x.Company.Name == "MyCompanyName"
(not intending to duplicate Jon - OP contacted me to provide an answer)
The following seems to work fine:
static Expression<Func<T,bool>> BuildPredicate<T>(string member, object value) {
var p = Expression.Parameter(typeof(T));
Expression body = p;
foreach (var subMember in member.Split('.')) {
body = Expression.PropertyOrField(body, subMember);
}
return Expression.Lambda<Func<T, bool>>(Expression.Equal(
body, Expression.Constant(value, body.Type)), p);
}
The only functional difference between that and Jon's answer is that it handles null slightly better, by telling Expression.Constant what the expected type is. As a demonstration of usage:
static void Main() {
var pred = BuildPredicate<Person>("City.Name", "MyCity");
var people = new[] {
new Person { City = new City { Name = "Somewhere Else"} },
new Person { City = new City { Name = "MyCity"} },
};
var person = people.AsQueryable().Single(pred);
}
You just need to split your expression by dots, and then iterate over it, using Expression.Property multiple times. Something like this:
string[] properties = path.Split('.');
var parameter = Expression.Parameter(typeof(T), "x");
var lhs = parameter;
foreach (var property in properties)
{
lhs = Expression.Property(lhs, property);
}
// I've assumed that the target is a string, given the question. If that's
// not the case, look at Marc's answer.
var rhs = Expression.Constant(targetValue, typeof(string));
var predicate = Expression.Equals(lhs, rhs);
var lambda = Expression.Lambda<Func<T, bool>>(predicate, parameter);

Creating MemberAcces with ExpressionTree to a complex type

I'd like to dynamically create a MemberAcess Expression to a deeper level then 1 (recursively):
public class Job
{
public string Name { get; set; }
public int Salary { get; set; }
}
public class Employee
{
public string Name { get; set; }
public Job Job { get; set; }
}
And I want to dynamically create a list of MemberAccesExpressions for each property in Employee and each property in Employee's complex members, the outcome should be something like this:
MemberAccesExpression[] {
{ e => e.Name },
{ e => e.Job.Name },
{ e => e.Job.Name }
}
This is a pseudo code of what I got:
List list = new List();
public Expression<Func<TModel, dynamic>> CreateME<TModel>(TModel model)
{
var type = typeof (TModel);
var properties = type.GetProperties();
foreach (var prop in properties)
{
// I want to ignore collections
if (typeof(ICollection).IsAssignableFrom(prop.PropertyType)) continue;
// Recall for complex property
if (prop.PropertyType.Namespace != "System")
{
// CreateME(model, ) // THIS IS WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
continue;
}
var param = Expression.Parameter(type, "x");
var memberAccess = Expression.PropertyOrField(param, prop.Name);
list.Add(Expression.Lambda<Func<TModel, dynamic>>(memberAccess, param));
}
}
How do I make this a recursive method?
I thought of adding an optional parameter named
(TModel model, Expression> baseMemberAccess = null)
and somehow concat the member expression to baseMemberAccess if it's not null.
P.S.
is there's a better way to determine if a Type is not atomic type then this
(prop.PropertyType.Namespace != "System")
? (not int,float,string,etc...)
Appreciate any help,
Adam
An edit for trying to lay it more simply:
If I want to create an expression tree of a member access to Employee.Name this is what I do:
var param = Expression.Parameter(type, "x");
var memberAccess = Expression.PropertyOrField(param, memberName);
return Expression.Lambda<Func<TModel, TMember>>(memberAccess, param);
What is the equivalent to this for a member access to Employee.Job.Salary ?
public IEnumerable<Expression<Func<TModel, dynamic>>> CreateME<TModel>()
{
var stack = new Stack<StackItem>();
var type = typeof(TModel);
var parameterExpression = Expression.Parameter(type, "x");
stack.Push(new StackItem(typeof(TModel), parameterExpression));
while (stack.Count > 0)
{
var currentItem = stack.Pop();
var properties = currentItem.PropertyType.GetProperties();
foreach (var property in properties)
{
if (IsComplexProperty(property))
stack.Push(new StackItem(property.PropertyType, Expression.PropertyOrField(currentItem.AccessChainExpression, property.Name)));
else
{
yield return GetSimplePropertyExpression<TModel>(parameterExpression, currentItem.AccessChainExpression, property.Name);
}
}
}
}
private static Expression<Func<TModel, dynamic>> GetSimplePropertyExpression<TModel>(ParameterExpression lhs, Expression accessChain, string propertyName)
{
var memberAccess = Expression.Convert(Expression.PropertyOrField(accessChain, propertyName), typeof(object));
return Expression.Lambda<Func<TModel, dynamic>>(memberAccess, lhs);
}
private static bool IsComplexProperty(PropertyInfo p)
{
return !typeof (ICollection).IsAssignableFrom(p.PropertyType) && p.PropertyType.Namespace != "System";
}
class StackItem
{
public StackItem(Type propertyType, Expression accessChainExpression)
{
PropertyType = propertyType;
AccessChainExpression = accessChainExpression;
}
public Type PropertyType { get; private set; }
public Expression AccessChainExpression { get; private set; }
}
Im sure it can be improved, but this should work.

Lambda expression to access a property of an object that is property of another object in c#

I have this two classes:
public class Contratos
{
//...
public int EntidadeFinanceiraId { get; set; }
[Column("Nome")]
public EntidadesFinanceiras entidadeFinanceira { get; set; }
//...
}
public class EntidadesFinanceiras
{
[Key]
public int ID { get; set; }
public string Nome { get; set; }
//...
}
and want to dinamically filter a List of Contratos based on Contratos.entidadeFinanceira.Nome. This is part of a Method that filters the list based on a property selected by the user.
public IQueryable<Models.Contratos> applyLambdaFilter(string val, string col, string oper, IQueryable<Models.Contratos> contratosList)
{
if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(val))
{
string typeName;
string columnName;
Type propType;
string[] propName = col.Split(new[] { '.' });
if (propName.Count() > 1)
{
typeName = "GAcordos.Models." + propName[0]; //entidadeFinanceira
columnName = propName[1]; //Nome
propType = Type.GetType("GAcordos.Models.Contratos").GetProperty(propName[0]).PropertyType.GetProperty(columnName).PropertyType; //String
}
else
{
typeName = "GAcordos.Models.Contratos";
columnName = propName[0]; //Other Contratos property
propType = Type.GetType(typeName).GetProperty(columnName).PropertyType;
}
if (propType != null)
{
var fixedItem = Comparators.getFixedItemWithType(val, propType);
var param = Expression.Parameter(typeof(GAcordos.Models.Contratos), "x");
var body = Expression.Equal(Expression.PropertyOrField(param, col.ToString()), fixedItem, false, Type.GetType("GAcordos.Helpers.Comparators").GetMethod(oper, new Type[] { propType, propType }));
var lambda = Expression.Lambda<Func<GAcordos.Models.Contratos, bool>>(body, param);
contratosList = contratosList.Where(lambda.Compile()).AsQueryable();
}
}
return contratosList;
}
When the Method executes it throws an exception 'entidadeFinanceira.Nome' is not a member of type 'GAcordos.Models.Contratos' on the line
var body = Expression.Equal(Expression.PropertyOrField(param, col.ToString()), fixedItem, false, Type.GetType("GAcordos.Helpers.Comparators").GetMethod(oper, new Type[] { propType, propType }));
But if I write the expression directly:
contratosList = contratosList.Where(x => x.entidadeFinanceira.Nome == val);
it works fine.
So, how can I build the lambda expression x => x.property.property == constVal?
Simply, you need two uses of PropertyOrField.
Constructed manually, x => x.Foo.Bar == constVal is:
var param = Expression.Parameter(typeof(ObjectType), "x");
var lambda = Expression.Lambda<Func<ObjectType, bool>>(
Expression.Equal(
Expression.PropertyOrField(
Expression.PropertyOrField(param, "Foo"), "Bar"
), Expression.Constant(constVal, constValType)
), param);
(note that it is important to include constValType in case constVal is null; this avoids a lot of unexpected problems)
Seems that when calling
Expression.PropertyOrField(param, col.ToString())
the variable col contains "entidadeFinanceira.Nome". You may reuse all the splitting of col you did above and do something like:
Expression property = param;
foreach(var pName in propName) {
property = Expression.PropertyOrField(property, pName);
}
Now the expression property should be correct and you can use it to build the body expression:
var body = Expression.Equal(
property,
fixedItem,
false,
Type
.GetType("GAcordos.Helpers.Comparators")
.GetMethod(oper, new Type[] { propType, propType })
);

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