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C# Linq using variable for Model

Trying to write a piece of code that is dynamic in that it can accept any number of possible model definitions.
Current hard code is:
var items = _context.Events.ToList();
foreach (var item in items)
{
(...)
}
What I would like to do is to make the _context.Events.ToList(); be more like _context.{variable that holds model name}.ToList();
Something like:
var modelName = "Table1"
var items = _context.modelName.ToList();
foreach (var item in items)
{
(...)
}
I thought about declaring items as a generic variable, that way it was available to the entire method even if set inside an if or switch, but no idea on what to declare it as.
Is something like this possible?

Try this :
var table = (ITable)context.GetType()
.GetProperty(modelName)
.GetValue(context, null);
I hope be helpful :)

Entity Framework has a generic Set<TEntity> accessor, but the type must be known at compile-time:
var foo = _context.Set<Foo>();
If you have the type as a string variable, though, your options are extremely limited. You can technically use reflection to get at the right DbSet, but you're going to lose the generic IQueryable<TEntity> interface, and you'll be stuck with the much more limited IQueryable interface, and by "much more limited", I mean you basically can't do anything but materialize the set.
If you want to type it via a string variable, but still have at least some querying ability, you'll need to employ a base class that's shared between all the entity types you'd want to use in this way. For example, if you have different "event" types, and you can make them all inherit from Event, then you could do something like:
MethodInfo method = typeof(Queryable).GetMethod("OfType");
MethodInfo generic = method.MakeGenericMethod(new Type[] { eventType });
var set = (IQueryable<Event>)generic.Invoke(null, new object[] { _context.Events });
If your eventType was "Film", for example, that would effectively give you the same queryset as something like _context.Set<Film>() (where Film would be a derived class of Event). You could then utilize your normal LINQ query functionality like Where, Select, etc. on set.

Can roslyn generate enums?

So, I feel like it's possible, but i don't have the chops to put it together. I have lookup tables (with ID and Name fields). I have enums that I keep in sync with the lookups. What I'd like is to make a list of SQL tables, and have roslyn create the enums during/before compile. this way I know my enums are always in sync, and it's one more thing off my plate.
Could someone out there show me the way, or tell me why it would be a bad idea? I feel like the solution isn't really a lot of code...
Thanks!

This is how you create enums with roslyn;
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
var member1 = Syntax.EnumMemberDeclaration(
identifier: Syntax.Identifier("Member1")
);
var declaration = Syntax.EnumDeclaration(
identifier: Syntax.Identifier("MyEnum"),
modifiers: Syntax.TokenList(Syntax.Token(SyntaxKind.PublicKeyword)),
members: Syntax.SeparatedList(member1)
);
Console.WriteLine(declaration.Format());
Console.ReadLine();
}
}
this returns:
public enum MyEnum
{
Member1
}
Now to your question, I don't know if this is what you really need.
First I think there is not yet any built in functionality to do this at precompile, so you'd need to create a console exe and call it in your prebuild events.
So at this point probably it is a better idea to do this manually via code generation and not on every build, unless these tables are changing very frequently.
An in this case you don't really need roslyn to do it for you, you can just spit it out with any code generation software, or roll your own...

Here is some code updated for the current version of Roslyn and also shows adding attributes and values to the enum items.
public EnumDeclarationSyntax GenerateEnum()
{
var loanPurpose = new[]
{
"Business Launching",
"HomePurchase",
"HomeImprovement"
};
var enumDescriptions = new[]
{
"Launch a new business",
"Buy a home",
"Make home improvements"
};
var i = 0;
var members = new List<EnumMemberDeclarationSyntax>();
foreach (var item in loanPurpose)
{
var attribute = SyntaxFactory.Attribute(
SyntaxFactory.IdentifierName("Description"));
var attributeArgument = SyntaxFactory.AttributeArgument(
SyntaxFactory.LiteralExpression(
SyntaxKind.StringLiteralExpression,
SyntaxFactory.Literal(enumDescriptions[i ])));
attribute = attribute.WithArgumentList(
SyntaxFactory.AttributeArgumentList(
SyntaxFactory.SingletonSeparatedList(attributeArgument)));
var attributes = SyntaxFactory.SingletonList(
SyntaxFactory.AttributeList(SyntaxFactory
.SingletonSeparatedList(attribute)));
var objectCreationExpression = SyntaxFactory.EqualsValueClause(
SyntaxFactory.LiteralExpression(SyntaxKind.NumericLiteralExpression,
SyntaxFactory.Literal(i)));
var member = SyntaxFactory.EnumMemberDeclaration(attributes,
SyntaxFactory.Identifier(item),
objectCreationExpression);
members.Add(member);
i++;
}
var declaration = SyntaxFactory.EnumDeclaration
(new SyntaxList<AttributeListSyntax>(),
baseList: null,
identifier: SyntaxFactory.Identifier("LoanPurpose"),
modifiers: SyntaxFactory.TokenList(SyntaxFactory.Token(SyntaxKind.PublicKeyword)),
members: SyntaxFactory.SeparatedList(members)
);
return declaration;
}
The syntax for adding the attributes gets a little awkward but I find that I often need some attributes added. You probably already have the data for the attributes and values in the lookup tables driving the code generation.

The Answer provided by Sebastian 6 years ago likely used to work but no longer does.
New set of sample code to accomplish the same thing as of 18/12/2017
EnumMemberDeclarationSyntax member1 = EnumMemberDeclaration(identifier: Identifier("Member1"));
var members =new SyntaxNodeOrToken[]{member1};
var declaration = EnumDeclaration(
identifier: Identifier("MyEnum")).WithMembers(
members: SeparatedList< EnumMemberDeclarationSyntax>(members));

Calling custom (formatting) method on LINQ to Entities

I'm using EF 4.1 and I'm trying to enumerate a company list for a grid. I have two options in the current project: select all companies from the DbContext (Entities) and load them into an object from a non-anonymous type (let's say EmpresaGrid) or select all companies into anonymous type objects with the same structure like Empresa (which is the entity I'm selecting from).
The first option (creating a model class for that) would require a little more work, but can be, eventually, more readable. Still, I'm not sure about that. The second option is what I'm using right now.
So, first question: it's better to create a model class only for displaying data or use anonymous type? Doing a direct select is out of question: a SELECT * is too big and that might make everything damn slow (I guess). So selection into another type creates a custom query with only the needed fields.
Using the second option (anonymous type), I have this code (simplified version):
public static IEnumerable<object> Grid()
{
Entities db = new Entities();
var empresas = db.Empresas
.Select(e => new
{
Cgc = e.Cgc, // PK
(...)
Address = new
{
AddressLine = e.EnderecoSede.AddressLine,
(...)
}
},
Contato = e.Contato,
(...)
})
.ToList();
return empresas;
}
The anonymous type I'm creating has around 40 lines of code, so it's kinda big, but it recreates part of the Empresa class struct (since the grid is waiting for a Empresa object). Anyway, I have a problem with the data format. For example, I would like to format the Cgc property using a custom string format. I have a public method for this, FormataCgc. This method receives a string and returns it formatted using some internal conditions.
So, my problem is how to that. For example, I have tried this:
var empresas = db.Empresas
.Select(e => new
{
Cgc = FormataCgc(e.Cgc),
}
But that doesn't work because FormataCgc cannot be translated into SQL (and I don't want to convert it). I also tried this:
var empresas = db.Empresas
.Select(e => new
{
(...)
}
.ToList();
foreach (var e in empresas) {
e.Cgc = FormataCgc(e.Cgc);
}
But it cannot be done since anonymous types have only read-only properties.
So, my second question is: how exactly can I do that? I need to change the data after selecting it, but using anonymous types? I've done a little research, and the best thing I've found was this: Calling a custom method in LINQ query. In that solution, Ladislav suggested doing a second select from the IEnumerable, but since the grid is excepting Empresa I cannot do that (I need to change or add properties, not encapsulate them).
I'm not sure if I was clear enough, but feel free to ask any questions. Also, the grid I'm currently using is a Telerik ASP.NET MVC Grid, which receives a IEnumerable (where T is a class) as model data and them iterates each object, doing its magic.

Since you're already converting this into an IEnumerable<T>, you can do the custom formatting as you stream the results in the client. Do your db.Select, and then convert to the appropriate format afterwards, ie:
var empresas = db.Empresas
.Select(e => new
{
(...)
})
.ToList();
foreach (var e in empresas) {
yield return new {
Cgc = FormataCgc(e.Cgc),
// Copy other properties here, as needed...
};
}
That being said, I'd personally recommend making a custom class, and not return an anonymous type. Your conversion would then be:
foreach (var e in empresas) {
yield return new YourClass(FormataCgc(e.Cgc), ...); // Construct as needed
}
This will dramatically improve the usability of this method, as you will have proper, named access to your properties from the caller of the method.

I think the solution to both of your questions is to create a model class. Sure it is a little bit more work up front, but it will allow you greater flexibility in the long run. Your custom model class can then handle the formatting for you.
public class EmpresaGridModel
{
public string Cgc { get; set; }
public string CgcFormatted
{
return FormataCgc(this.Cgc);
}
//properties for the other fields will have to be created as well obviously
}
Your telerik grid can then bind directly to the CgcFormatted property

WCF Web Service - List<> Return type

List<CertMail> lsRecipetNumber = new List<CertMail>();
CertMail class is in data access layer which returns a List<CertMail>. I need to
convert this to the object of my class and return that
List<CertMailReceiptNumbers> lsReceiptNumbers = new List<CertMailReceiptNumbers>();
CertMailReceipt.lsCMRN = lsReceiptNumbers; //---- > return this.
How do i add all the rows in the CertMail list to CertMailRecieptNumbers and return that from CertMailRecieptNumbers class?

If you only need to map from CertMail to CertMailReceipt and the two types are very similar, you could use an automagic helper like AutoMapper to help you with the mapping.
Basically, AutoMapper will handle much of the boring and error-prone left-right code - assigning one property on the target to a property on the source object.
In your case, if the two types are somewhat similar, you could do something like:
using AutoMapper;
Mapper.CreateMap<CertMail, CertMailReceipt>();
sourceList.ForEach(certMail =>
{
lsReceiptNumbers.Add(Mapper.Map<CertMail, CertMailReceipt>(certMail))
});
or if you prefer:
using AutoMapper;
Mapper.CreateMap<CertMail, CertMailReceipt>();
foreach(certMail cm in sourceList)
{
lsReceiptNumbers.Add(Mapper.Map<CertMail, CertMailReceipt>(cm));
}
This is basically the same idea that NPayette mentioned, just using an half-automatic mapper, instead of having to write the whole mapping process yourself.
And with a bit of luck (and depending on your types of data structures), you might even get the benefit of Automapper being able to even map entire lists from one type to another:
lsReceiptNumbers = Mapper.Map<List<CertMail>,
List<CertMailReceipt>>(sourceList);
Automapper will go through the list of items itself, and apply its mapping to each item, and add those to the resulting output list.

If I understand correctly your need it's a simple mather of mapping from one to another.
Well you need to go throu your CertMail list and then for each of them create a new CertMailReceiptNumbers
Ex.
...
lsReceiptNumber.ForEach(certMail =>
{
lsReceiptNumbers.Add(convertToCertMailReceiptNumber(certMail));
});
return lsReceiptNumber
}
Public CertMailReceiptNumbers convertToCertMailReceiptNumber(CertMail cm)
{
var cmrn = new ertMailReceiptNumber();
cmrn.xxx = cm.xxxx;
...;
return cmrn;
}

Strongly typed object from string type name (C#)

if you take a look at the following code, you will (hopefully) see what I am trying to archieve. Basically this code does:
A query for generic storag items (they store their type as string)
If the item is a subclass of SearchCriteria, create the correct instance
Add the instance to the list (SearchCriteria is superclass)
Not very elegant is, of course, the pseudo-switch case, which I would have to update for all different criteria I create.
So, my question, is there a "generic" way to create an instance which is strongly typed using a string as "source" for the type.
I know I can use Reflection to create an instance, but this is of type object, so I would not be able to add it to the list. Oh, just got an idea... Create object using reflection, cast it to supertype (SearchCrit), add to list. Real type should still be the "correct subtype" I hope...
Will try it, and update this post with results. Any better ideas?
Chris
private IList<SearchCriteria> _searchCriteriaAll;
public IList<SearchCriteria> SearchCriteriaAll
{
get
{
if (_searchCriteriaAll == null)
{
_searchCriteriaAll = new List<SearchCriteria>();
var tN = typeof (SearchCriteria).ToString();
foreach (var o in DataStorage.LinkedObjects)
{
if (tN.StartsWith(o.TypeName))
{
if (o.TypeName == typeof(StringSearchCriteria).ToString())
_searchCriteriaAll.Add(new StringSearchCriteria(o));
}
}
}
return _searchCriteriaAll;
}
}
EDIT:
Thanks for the tips, the "correct" way would definitly be the factory pattern. I will look into that. For now, I use this hack, because the subclasses are so small, I dont want a factory for each one.. (and this place is currently the only one with such a "fancy" feature)
private IList<SearchCriteria> _searchCriteriaAll;
public IList<SearchCriteria> SearchCriteriaAll
{
get
{
if (_searchCriteriaAll == null)
{
_searchCriteriaAll = new List<SearchCriteria>();
var tN = typeof (SearchCriteria).ToString();
foreach (var o in DataStorage.LinkedObjects)
{
if (tN.StartsWith(o.TypeName))
{
var newO = Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(SearchCriteria).Assembly.FullName, o.TypeName);
var newCrit = newO.Unwrap() as SearchCriteria;
newCrit.DataStorage = o;
_searchCriteriaAll.Add(newCrit);
}
}
}
return _searchCriteriaAll;
}
}

Generics and reflection don't make good friends. A simpler approach here is to use the non-generic list interface:
_searchCriteriaAll = new List<SearchCriteria>();
IList list = (IList) _searchCriteriaAll;
...
Type type = typeof(SearchCriteria).Assembly.GetType(o.TypeName);
list.Add(Activator.CreateInstance(type));
(where o.TypeName includes the namespace information, but doesn't have to be assembly-qualified)
This is still runtime type-safe (it'll throw at runtime if it is wrong), and still adjusts the same list.
Note also that we only look inside Assembly directly via Assembly.GetType().

I'd say you're looking for the Factory Method Pattern.
There's a C# sample here - the first link explains the pattern better, the second is the right language for you.

It's not entirely clear to me what you are trying to achieve, but you can create a Type from a string like this:
var t = Type.GetType(typeName);
If you want to examine whether it's a proper subtype, you can use the IsAssignableFrom method.