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C# Accessing custom attribute of owner object

How can I access the custom attribute of the parent or owner object.
Look at the FieldInfo property of the SQLFieldInfo struct
Here's a more detailed program that will compile and run that shows what I need.
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
Employee myclass = new Employee();
// Load from sql server...
myclass.Name = "Alain";
myclass.Age = 51;
//----
MessageBox.Show(myclass.Name.ToString()); // Should return Alain
MessageBox.Show(myclass.Age.FieldInfo.Type.ToString()); // Should output "int"
}
}
// This next class is generated by a helper exe that reads SQL table design and create the class from it
[SQLTableAttribute(DatabaseName = "Employees", Schema = "dbo", TableName = "Employees")]
public class Employee
{
[SQLFieldAttribute(FieldName = "ID", Type = SqlDbType.Int)]
public SQLFieldInfo<int> ID { get; set; }
[SQLFieldAttribute(FieldName = "Name", Type = SqlDbType.NVarChar, Size = 200)]
public SQLFieldInfo<String> Name { get; set; }
[SQLFieldAttribute(FieldName = "Age", Type = SqlDbType.Int)]
public SQLFieldInfo<int> Age { get; set; }
}
public struct SQLFieldInfo<T>
{
private readonly T value;
public SQLFieldInfo(T Value)
{
this.value = Value;
}
public static implicit operator SQLFieldInfo<T>(T Value)
{
return new SQLFieldInfo<T>(Value);
}
public T Value
{
get
{
return this.value;
}
}
public override string ToString()
{
return this.value.ToString();
}
public SQLFieldAttribute FieldInfo
{
get
{
// Need to retreive the attribute class of the parent or declaring member
return null;
}
}
}
// Holds the sql field information
public class SQLFieldAttribute : Attribute
{
public string FieldName { get; set; }
public SqlDbType Type { get; set; }
public bool AllowNull { get; set; }
public int Size { get; set; }
}
// Holds the sql table information
public class SQLTableAttribute : Attribute
{
public string DatabaseName { get; set; }
public string Schema { get; set; } = "dbo";
public string TableName { get; set; }
}
Thank you!
Alain

My data class is as follows (should be fairly translatable to A above):
public class Foo
{
[Argument(Help = "Name", AssignmentDelimiter = "=")]
public string Name
{
get;
set;
}
}
A helper class is responsible of reading attribute values of objects:
static public string GetCommandLineDelimiter<T>(Expression<Func<T>> property)
{
if(property != null)
{
var memberExpression = (MemberExpression)property.Body;
string propertyName = memberExpression.Member.Name;
PropertyInfo prop = typeof(Arguments).GetProperty(propertyName);
if(prop != null)
{
object[] dbFieldAtts = prop.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(ArgumentAttribute), true);
if(dbFieldAtts.Length > 0)
{
return ((ArgumentAttribute)dbFieldAtts[0]).AssignmentDelimiter;
}
}
}
return null;
}
To use it, simply:
string delimiter = GetCommandLineDelimiter(() => myObject.Name);
That will get the attribute value of AssignmentDelimiter on property Name, i.e. "=".

First, MSDN is your friend.
Then, if you want to get the attributes for ancestors just specify true in the inherit flag of the method:
var attribute = typeof(A).GetProperty("myprop").GetCustomAttributes(true)
.OfType<MycustomAttrib>().FirstOrDefault();

This works. I am doing a lazy initialization of a reference to the custom attribute by using reflection to look at all the properties of all the types.
public class MycustomAttribAttribute : Attribute
{
public MycustomAttribAttribute(string name)
{
this.Name=name;
}
public string Name { get; private set; }
}
class A
{
public A() { MyProp=new B(); }
[MycustomAttrib(name: "OK")]
public B MyProp { get; set; }
}
class B
{
private static Lazy<MycustomAttribAttribute> att = new Lazy<MycustomAttribAttribute>(() =>
{
var types = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().DefinedTypes;
foreach(var item in types)
{
foreach(var prop in item.DeclaredProperties)
{
var attr = prop.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(MycustomAttribAttribute), false);
if(attr.Length>0)
{
return attr[0] as MycustomAttribAttribute;
}
}
}
return null;
});
public string MyProp2
{
get
{
return att.Value.Name;
}
}
}
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
// Finds the attribute reference and returns "OK"
string name = (new A()).MyProp.MyProp2;
// Uses the stored attribute reference to return "OK"
string name2 = (new A()).MyProp.MyProp2;
}
}

Inheritance from Jobject Newtonsoft

Inheritance from Jobject(Newtonsoft) the existents properties from class not serialized.
Why were the Id and Name properties not serialized?
public class Test : JObject
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
}
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
var test = new Test();
test["new_pro"] = 123456;
test.Id = 1;
test.Name = "Dog";
var r = Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.SerializeObject(test);
// Result = { "new_pro":123456}
}
}
Any idea?

Whatever is the reason you want to do that - the reason is simple: JObject implements IDictionary and this case is treated in a special way by Json.NET. If your class implements IDictionary - Json.NET will not look at properties of your class but instead will look for keys and values in the dictionary. So to fix your case you can do this:
public class Test : JObject
{
public int Id
{
get { return (int) this["id"]; }
set { this["id"] = value; }
}
public string Name
{
get { return (string) this["name"]; }
set { this["name"] = value; }
}
}
If you just want to have both dynamic and static properties on your object - there is no need to inherit from JObject. Instead, use JsonExtensionData attribute:
public class Test {
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
[JsonExtensionData]
public Dictionary<string, JToken> AdditionalProperties { get; set; } = new Dictionary<string, JToken>();
}
var test = new Test();
test.AdditionalProperties["new_pro"] = 123456;
test.Id = 1;
test.Name = "Dog";
var r = Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.SerializeObject(test);

How to set class-property and re-use it on another class?

I got a class with inputs where I set values trough Class A. How can I access those property-values in Class B?
E.g.
namespace Example{
public class Inputs {
public string Something { get; set; }
}
Class A:
Inputs test = new Inputs();
test.Something = txtSomething.Text;
Class B:
//How do I access values I declared in class A, or did I do something wrong?

public class B{
public Inputs Test { get; set; }
}
var b = new B();
b.Test = new Inputs();
b.Test.Something = txtSomething.Text;
public class B{
public B(Inputs myB)
{ this.MyB = myB; }
public Inputs MyB { get; set; }
}
Inputs test = new Inputs();
test.Something = txtSomething.Text;
var b = new B(test );

Just give B a copy of test in its constructor.
public class A
{
private Inputs _test;
public A()
{
_test = new Inputs();
new B(_test);
}
}
public class B
{
private Inputs _input;
public B(Inputs input)
{
_input= input;
}
}
any changes to A._test.Somthing will also show up in B._input.Somthing.

How to determine if a customAttribute from a class is equals to another?

check that I have a customAttribute called ResponseAttributes. I have declared an interface and several concrete classes { Question 1, Question2, Question3 }
[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Property)]
public class ResponseAttribute : Attribute { }
public interface IQuestion { }
public class Question1 : IQuestion
{
[Response]
public string Response { get; set; }
public Question1() { Response = "2+1"; }
}
public class Question2 : IQuestion
{
[Response]
public decimal Response { get; set; }
public Question2() { Response = 5; }
}
public class Question3 : IQuestion
{
[Response]
public string Response { get; set; }
public Question3() { Response = "2+1"; }
}
Now, what I'm trying to do is how to verify a class which contains that attribute is equals to another?
I mean:
List<IQuestion> questions = new List<IQuestion>()
{
new Question1(), new Question2()
};
Question3 question3 = new Question3();
foreach (var question in questions)
{
// how to verify this condition:
// if (customAttribute from question3 is equals to customAttribute fromquestion)
// of course the question3 is equals to 1
}
As you can, they are different types, that's the reason why I set as ResponseAttribute.

you could try using an interface, with Resposnse property (type object)
if you can not, you could use a class-level attribute that tell you the "Response property" than, you can use reflection on that property
Example:
public class ResponseAttribute : Attribute {
public string PropertyName { get; set }
}
[ResponseAttribute ("CustomResponse")}
public class Question1 {
public string CustomResponse;
}
via reflection
foreach(var question in questions) {
var responseAttr = (ResponseAttribute) question.GetType().GetCustomAttributes(typeof(ResponseAttribute));
var questionResponse= question.GetType().GetProperty(responseAttr.PropertyName,question,null);
}

try overriding equals method:
public override bool Equals(object obj)
{
if (obj is IQuestion)
return this.Response == ((IQuestion)obj).Response;
else
return base.Equals(obj);
}
hope this helps

Protobuf Inheritance and Generics

I am attempting to use ProtoBuf net to serialize an object tree with the classes in the following format:
[ProtoContract]
class MySpecialCollectionList<T> : List<MySpecialCollection<T>>
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
}
[ProtoContract]
class MySpecialCollection<T> : List<Special<T>>
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
}
[ProtoContract]
class Special<T>
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
[ProtoMember(2)]
public string Description { get; set; }
[ProtoMember(3)]
private readonly T _source;
T Source { get { return _source; } }
private Special()
{
}
public Special(T source)
{
_source = source;
}
}
interface IBeast
{
string Name { get; set; }
}
[ProtoContract]
class Ant : IBeast
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
}
[ProtoContract]
class Cat : IBeast
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
}
[ProtoContract]
class Dog : IBeast
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
}
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MySpecialCollectionList<IBeast> collectionList = GetSpecialCollectionList();
using (var fs = File.Create(#"c:\temp\protobuftest.bin"))
{
Serializer.Serialize(fs, collectionList);
fs.Close();
}
}
private MySpecialCollectionList<IBeast> GetSpecialCollectionList()
{
var ant = new Ant() { Name = "Mr Ant" };
var cat = new Cat() { Name = "Mr Cat" };
var dog = new Dog() { Name = "Mr Dog" };
var Special = new Special<IBeast>(ant);
var specialCollection1 = new MySpecialCollection<IBeast>() {
{new Special<IBeast>(ant)},
{new Special<IBeast>(cat)},
{new Special<IBeast>(dog)}
};
specialCollection1.Name = "Special Collection1";
var specialCollection2 = new MySpecialCollection<IBeast>() {
{new Special<IBeast>(ant)},
{new Special<IBeast>(dog)}
};
specialCollection2.Name = "Special Collection2";
var specialCollectionList = new MySpecialCollectionList<IBeast>() {
specialCollection1, specialCollection2 };
specialCollectionList.Name = "Special Collection List";
return specialCollectionList;
}
}
Notice how the class I am serializing (MySpecialCollectionList<T>) is derived from a List<SomeOtherClass<T>>, not just List<T>.
I am struggling to work out where to put "ProtoInclude" attributes to get this to serialize all the items in the MySpecialCollectionList. Any help would be much appreciated.

Inheritance is not an issue here since even if A : B it is not true that Foo<A> : Foo<B>. Note that protobuf-net won't use a non-default constructor, although it is possible to skip the constructor, binding to the field directly (even readonly). While you may have 6 T, I can't see (from the code) that it would ever be in doubt which closed type you intend, and if the closed type is known you should be set.
If you have a Foo<SomeBaseClass> and a number of concrete types inherited from SomeBaseClass then the markers would o on SomeBaseClass.
However, if you have a concrete scenario I can use to reproduce your issue, I'll happily take a look.
Updated re edit:
There are a couple of key points drawn out in the example:
in common with most binding APIs, XmlSerializer and IIRC DataContractSerializer, an item is either a list xor an item with values; if a collection (something implementing IList) has properties itself, they will not be serialized; encapsulation is preferred over inheritance here, i.e. something that has a Name and has a list (rather than has a Name and is a list)
protobuf-net v1 does not support interface-based serialization; v2 does, but as with XmlSerializer and DataContractSerializer you need to explicitly tell it what things it needs to expect; quite nicely, though, we can move the [ProtoMember] onto the interface itself
Here's a fully working version in v2:
using System.Collections.Generic;
using ProtoBuf;
[ProtoContract]
class MySpecialCollectionList<T>
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
private readonly List<MySpecialCollection<T>> items = new List<MySpecialCollection<T>>();
[ProtoMember(2)]
public List<MySpecialCollection<T>> Items { get { return items; } }
}
[ProtoContract]
class MySpecialCollection<T>
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
private readonly List<Special<T>> items = new List<Special<T>>();
[ProtoMember(2)]
public List<Special<T>> Items { get { return items; } }
}
[ProtoContract]
class Special<T>
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
public string Name { get; set; }
[ProtoMember(2)]
public string Description { get; set; }
[ProtoMember(3)]
private readonly T _source;
T Source { get { return _source; } }
private Special()
{
}
public Special(T source)
{
_source = source;
}
}
[ProtoContract]
[ProtoInclude(2, typeof(Ant))]
[ProtoInclude(3, typeof(Cat))]
[ProtoInclude(4, typeof(Dog))]
interface IBeast
{
[ProtoMember(1)]
string Name { get; set; }
}
[ProtoContract]
class Ant : IBeast
{
public string Name { get; set; }
}
[ProtoContract]
class Cat : IBeast
{
public string Name { get; set; }
}
[ProtoContract]
class Dog : IBeast
{
public string Name { get; set; }
}
public static class Form1
{
private static void Main()
{
MySpecialCollectionList<IBeast> collectionList = GetSpecialCollectionList();
var copy = Serializer.DeepClone(collectionList);
}
private static MySpecialCollectionList<IBeast> GetSpecialCollectionList()
{
var ant = new Ant() { Name = "Mr Ant" };
var cat = new Cat() { Name = "Mr Cat" };
var dog = new Dog() { Name = "Mr Dog" };
var Special = new Special<IBeast>(ant);
var specialCollection1 = new MySpecialCollection<IBeast>() {Items =
{new Special<IBeast>(ant),
new Special<IBeast>(cat),
new Special<IBeast>(dog)}
};
specialCollection1.Name = "Special Collection1";
var specialCollection2 = new MySpecialCollection<IBeast>()
{
Items =
{new Special<IBeast>(ant),
new Special<IBeast>(dog)}
};
specialCollection2.Name = "Special Collection2";
var specialCollectionList = new MySpecialCollectionList<IBeast>()
{
Items ={
specialCollection1, specialCollection2 }
};
specialCollectionList.Name = "Special Collection List";
return specialCollectionList;
}
}