Get property of generic class - c#

I have a generic class, and an object value where obj.GetType().GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(Foo<>).
class Foo<T>
{
public List<T> Items { get; set; }
}
How do I get the value of Items from obj? Remember, obj is an Object, I can't cast obj as Foo because I don't know what T is.
I was hoping to use reflection for this, but each time I do GetProperty("Items") it returns null. However, if someone knows a good way to do this without reflection, by all means.
Let's say my code looks like this:
//just to demonstrate where this comes from
Foo<int> fooObject = new Foo<int>();
fooObject.Items = someList;
object obj = (object)fooObject;
//now trying to get the Item value back from obj
//assume I have no idea what <T> is
PropertyInfo propInfo = obj.GetType().GetProperty("Items"); //this returns null
object itemValue = propInfo.GetValue(obj, null); //and this breaks because it's null

You should be able to use:
Type t = obj.GetType();
PropertyInfo prop = t.GetProperty("Items");
object list = prop.GetValue(obj);
You will not be able to cast as a List<T> directly, of course, as you don't know the type T, but you should still be able to get the value of Items.
Edit:
The following is a complete example, to demonstrate this working:
// Define other methods and classes here
class Foo<T>
{
public List<T> Items { get; set; }
}
class Program
{
void Main()
{
//just to demonstrate where this comes from
Foo<int> fooObject = new Foo<int>();
fooObject.Items = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3};
object obj = (object)fooObject;
//now trying to get the Item value back from obj
//assume I have no idea what <T> is
PropertyInfo propInfo = obj.GetType().GetProperty("Items"); //this returns null
object itemValue = propInfo.GetValue(obj, null);
Console.WriteLine(itemValue);
// Does not print out NULL - prints out System.Collections.Generic.List`1[System.Int32]
IList values = (IList)itemValue;
foreach(var val in values)
Console.WriteLine(val); // Writes out values appropriately
}
}

#ReedCopsey is absolutely correct, but in case you're really asking the question "How do I fish out the generic details of a type?", here's some "Fun with Reflection":
public void WhatsaFoo(object obj)
{
var genericType = obj.GetType().GetGenericTypeDefinition();
if(genericType == typeof(Foo<>))
{
// Figure out what generic args were used to make this thing
var genArgs = obj.GetType().GetGenericArguments();
// fetch the actual typed variant of Foo
var typedVariant = genericType.MakeGenericType(genArgs);
// alternatively, we can say what the type of T is...
var typeofT = obj.GetType().GetGenericArguments().First();
// or fetch the list...
var itemsOf = typedVariant.GetProperty("Items").GetValue(obj, null);
}
}

Something like this should do the trick:
var foo = new Foo<int>();
foo.Items = new List<int>(new int[]{1,2,3});
// this check is probably not needed, but safety first :)
if (foo.GetType().GetProperties().Any(p => p.Name == "Items"))
{
var items = foo.GetType().GetProperty("Items").GetValue(foo, null);
}

You have to use System.Reflection namespace to execute the program successfully.
This program gives you Property Name and Value of any Generic Class
You can check this code fiddle on C# Online Rexter Tool Compiler at
using System;
using System.Reflection;
namespace GenericPropertyExample
{
//Declaring a Sample Class
public class class1
{
public string prop1 { get; set; }
public string prop2 { get; set; }
}
public class Program
{
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
//Creating Class Object
class1 objClass1 = new class1 { prop1 = "value1", prop2 = "value2" };
//Passing Class Object to GenericPropertyFinder Class
GenericPropertyFinder<class1> objGenericPropertyFinder = new GenericPropertyFinder<class1>();
objGenericPropertyFinder.PrintTModelPropertyAndValue(objClass1);
Console.ReadLine();
}
//Declaring a Generic Handler Class which will actually give Property Name,Value for any given class.
public class GenericPropertyFinder<TModel> where TModel : class
{
public void PrintTModelPropertyAndValue(TModel tmodelObj)
{
//Getting Type of Generic Class Model
Type tModelType = tmodelObj.GetType();
//We will be defining a PropertyInfo Object which contains details about the class property
PropertyInfo[] arrayPropertyInfos = tModelType.GetProperties();
//Now we will loop in all properties one by one to get value
foreach (PropertyInfo property in arrayPropertyInfos)
{
Console.WriteLine("Name of Property is\t:\t" + property.Name);
Console.WriteLine("Value of Property is\t:\t" + property.GetValue(tmodelObj).ToString());
Console.WriteLine(Environment.NewLine);
}
}
}
}
}

Hey guys ive been struggeling with the same issue with generic typs and finally found the solution that gets the value
--------Small code snippet of the method that does the trick ------------------
public void printFields()
{
// Is the list empty
if (this.list_.Count == 0)
{
//Y => Forced exit no object info
return;
}
try
{
// Get first item from list
T item = this.list_[0];
// Get the type of object
//**Type thisType = item.GetType();
// Get array of all fields
FieldInfo[] thisFieldInfo = item.GetType().GetFields(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance);
// Loop through all fields and show its info
for (int ix = 0; ix < thisFieldInfo.Length; ix++)
{
// Get Field value
String strVal = thisFieldInfo[ix].GetValue(item).ToString();
// Display item
Console.WriteLine("'{0}' is a {1} and has value {2}", thisFieldInfo[ix].Name, thisFieldInfo[ix].FieldType, strVal);
}
}
catch (SecurityException e)
{
Console.WriteLine("Exception: " + e.Message);
}
}

Related

Get members of custom class to read their values

Let say I have class:
public class TestClass
{
public string Prop1 { get; set; }
public int Field1 = 1234567890;
public string Method1() { return "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVXYZ"; }
}
... class instance and list:
TestClass TC = new TestClass();
List<object> TCValues = new List<object>();
... and populate the list with values in loop:
foreach (var v in TC.GetType().GetProperties()) // or .GetFields()
{
TCValues.Add(v.GetValue(TC, null));
}
... problem is that in my particular case I need to get list of all class members first, then filter them to properties and fields (ignoring methods of course) and then read their values as I did in first example:
foreach (var v in TC.GetType().GetMembers())
{
if (v.MemberType == System.Reflection.MemberTypes.Property || v.MemberType == System.Reflection.MemberTypes.Field)
{
TCValues.Add(v.?????????); // Can't get values !
}
}
... I understand that GetMembers() returns class MemberInfo which unlike PropertyInfo and FieldInfo doesn't contain method GetValue(). Is there any way to read values from filtered property and field members inside the loop iterating through MemberInfo collection ?
In your foreach-Loop try
foreach (var v in TC.GetType().GetMembers())
{
if (v is PropertyInfo)
{
var value = ((PropertyInfo)v).GetValue(TC, null);
TCValues.Add(value);
}
else if (v is FieldInfo)
{
var value = ((FieldInfo) v).GetValue(TC);
TCValues.Add(value);
}
}
TC.GetType().GetProperty(propName).GetValue(TC);
You have to cast the members to the correct type:
foreach (var v in TC.GetType().GetMembers())
{
if (v.MemberType == System.Reflection.MemberTypes.Property)
{
TCValues.Add(((System.Reflection.PropertyInfo)v).GetValue(TC,null));
}
else if (v.MemberType == System.Reflection.MemberTypes.Field)
{
TCValues.Add(((System.Reflection.FieldInfo)v).GetValue(TC));
}
}

SetValue Method throw Exception when using reflection

I'm trying to set value to properties in many objects.
I've a function that receive 2 parameters MyStructuredObjects and MyObject
MyStructuredObjects has a list of MyObjects.
This Function is a re-factory to remove a lot of 'if's.
I'd like to use ever the same object because the function it is used in a loop.If it is possible.
I've getting ever the exception 'Object does not match target'.
Sorry posting this, but I don't found problems like this, using List inside a Object structure.
Take a look :
public class MyStructuredObjects
{
public List<MyObject1> Object1 { get; set; }
public List<MyObject2> Object2 { get; set; }
public List<MyObject3> Object3 { get; set; }
public List<MyObject4> Object4 { get; set; }
public List<MyObject5> Object5 { get; set; }
}
private void SetValuesToObjectsToIntegrate<T>(ref MyStructuredObjects returnedObject, T obj)
{
Type t = obj.GetType();
var propertyInfo = new ObjectsToIntegrate().GetType().GetProperties();
var instance = Activator.CreateInstance(t);
foreach (var item in returnedObject.GetType().GetProperties())
{
var itemType = item.PropertyType;
if (t == itemType) // PASSING BY HERE OK , it finds the same type :P
{
item.SetValue(t, Convert.ChangeType(obj, item.PropertyType), null);
}
}
}
Update: The code should be:
item.SetValue(instance, Convert.ChangeType(obj, item.PropertyType), null);
I think I understand what you're trying to do.
It appears that you're trying to set properties like this:
var o2 = new List<MyObject2>();
var mso = new MyStructuredObjects();
SetValuesToObjectsToIntegrate(ref mso, o2);
So that mso will have its property Object2 set because the type of o2 matches the property type.
If that's the case, then you only need this code:
private void SetValuesToObjectsToIntegrate<T>(MyStructuredObjects returnedObject, T obj)
{
foreach (var propertyInfo in typeof(MyStructuredObjects).GetProperties())
{
if (typeof(T) == propertyInfo.PropertyType)
{
propertyInfo.SetValue(returnedObject, obj, null);
}
}
}
There's no need to pass MyStructuredObjects returnedObject by ref as you're not changing the instance of returnedObject.
Use this to call this code:
var o2 = new List<MyObject2>();
var mso = new MyStructuredObjects();
SetValuesToObjectsToIntegrate(mso, o2);
After this call I now get:

Copying All Class Fields and Properties To Another Class

I have a class which normally contains Fields, Properties. What i want to achieve is instead of this:
class Example
{
public string Field = "EN";
public string Name { get; set; }
public int? Age { get; set; }
public List<string> A_State_of_String { get; set; }
}
public static void Test()
{
var c1 = new Example
{
Name = "Philip",
Age = null,
A_State_of_String = new List<string>
{
"Some Strings"
}
};
var c2 = new Example();
//Instead of doing that
c2.Name = string.IsNullOrEmpty(c1.Name) ? "" : c1.Name;
c2.Age = c1.Age ?? 0;
c2.A_State_of_String = c1.A_State_of_String ?? new List<string>();
//Just do that
c1.CopyEmAll(c2);
}
What i came up with but doesn't work as expected.
public static void CopyEmAll(this object src, object dest)
{
if (src == null) {
throw new ArgumentNullException("src");
}
foreach (PropertyDescriptor item in TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(src)) {
var val = item.GetValue(src);
if (val == null) {
continue;
}
item.SetValue(dest, val);
}
}
Problems:
Although i checked for null, it seems to bypass it.
Doesn't seem to copy Fields.
Notes:
I don't want to use AutoMapper for some technical issues.
I want the method to copy values and not creating new object. [just mimic the behavior i stated in the example]
I want the function to be recursive [if the class contains another classes it copies its values too going to the most inner one]
Don't want to copy null or empty values unless i allow it to.
Copies all Fields, Properties, or even Events.
Based on Leo's answer, but using Generics and copying also the fields:
public void CopyAll<T>(T source, T target)
{
var type = typeof(T);
foreach (var sourceProperty in type.GetProperties())
{
var targetProperty = type.GetProperty(sourceProperty.Name);
targetProperty.SetValue(target, sourceProperty.GetValue(source, null), null);
}
foreach (var sourceField in type.GetFields())
{
var targetField = type.GetField(sourceField.Name);
targetField.SetValue(target, sourceField.GetValue(source));
}
}
And then just:
CopyAll(f1, f2);
You can use serialization to serialize object A and deserialize as object B - if they have very same structure, you can look here for object deep copy.
Deep cloning objects
I know you don't want to use Automapper, but if the types have only SIMILAR structure, you should maybe use Automapper which is based on reflection. You can download a nuget and find some information here:
https://www.nuget.org/packages/AutoMapper/
your code then will look like
public TOutput CopyAll<TInput, TOutput>(TInput input)
{
var config = new MapperConfiguration(cfg => cfg.CreateMap<TInput, TOutput>());
IMapper mapper = config.CreateMapper();
return mapper.Map<TOutput>(vstup);
}

Refelection Converting Property into another instance

i am trying to "upcast" a Entity. The Entity B have just a few more propeties.
Entities:
public class A
{
public String Name { get; set; }
}
public class B : A
{
public String ForeName { get; set; }
}
I am trying to conver the value of A.Name into B.Name programmatically.
I´ve written a little function for that case:
public static T Upcast<T>(Type typeOf, Object obj) where T : new()
{
var target = new T();
var props = obj.GetType().GetProperties();
var targetProps = target.GetType().GetProperties();
foreach (var prop in props)
{
foreach (var tp in targetProps)
{
if (prop.Name.Equals(tp.Name))
{
var val = prop.GetValue(props, null);
tp.SetValue(null, val, null);
}
}
}
return target;
}
In this case: my target is class B and my obj is class A
But it fires a Exception in the second loop:
var val = prop.GetValue(props, null);
The Exception "Object does not match target type".
i am calling the function on a normal way:
static void Main(string[] args)
{
var a = new A {Name = "Smith"};
var resp = Upcast<B>(a.GetType(), a);
Console.ReadLine();
}
Replace prop.GetValue(props, null); with prop.GetValue(obj, null);
It gives me "Smith".
You must call prop.GetValue(...); with the target object as argument, not with the property collection:
prop.GetValue(obj, null);
Starting with .NET 4.5 you can write
var val = prop.GetValue(obj);
You are trying the read the value out of an instance of PropertyInfo class. But what you want is to read the value out of your instance of A.
Another hint, for cleaner code:
Don't pass the type of A as argument. If you pass an instance of A, your method can make obj.GetType().
But: why are you doing that???

Loop through constant members of a class

I have a class with constant strings in it. I'd like to throw all of those strings into a drop down collection. What is the best way to do this? This is what I have now and in theory, I would think that it would be the best way to do this.
public class TestClass
{
private const string _testA = "Test A";
private const string _testB = "Test B";
public string TestA
{
get { return _testA; }
}
public string TestB
{
get { return _testB; }
}
}
public DropDownItemCollection TestCollection
{
DropDownItemCollection collection = new DropDownItemCollection();
TestClass class = new TestClass();
foreach (string testString in class)
{
DropDownItem item = new DropDownItem();
item.Description = testString;
item.Value = testString;
collection.Add(item);
}
return collection;
}
The problem is that this returns an error on the foreach: "...does not contain a public definition for GetEnumerator." I've tried to create a GetEnumerator but I've been unsuccessful and I haven't worked with GetEnumerator in the past.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
A little late but wouldn't this be a better solution?
http://weblogs.asp.net/whaggard/archive/2003/02/20/2708.aspx
private FieldInfo[] GetConstants(System.Type type)
{
ArrayList constants = new ArrayList();
FieldInfo[] fieldInfos = type.GetFields(
// Gets all public and static fields
BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Static |
// This tells it to get the fields from all base types as well
BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy);
// Go through the list and only pick out the constants
foreach(FieldInfo fi in fieldInfos)
// IsLiteral determines if its value is written at
// compile time and not changeable
// IsInitOnly determine if the field can be set
// in the body of the constructor
// for C# a field which is readonly keyword would have both true
// but a const field would have only IsLiteral equal to true
if(fi.IsLiteral && !fi.IsInitOnly)
constants.Add(fi);
// Return an array of FieldInfos
return (FieldInfo[])constants.ToArray(typeof(FieldInfo));
}
If you need the names you can do
fi.GetValue(null)
inside the loop.
I just had the same challenge; to get all constants of my class (not properties!). Based on the most popular answer (for properties) and John's answer (for constants) I wrote this. I tested it and it works well.
private List<string> lstOfConstants= new List<string>();
foreach (var constant in typeof(TestClass).GetFields())
{
if (constant.IsLiteral && !constant.IsInitOnly)
{
lstOfConstants.Add((string)constant.GetValue(null));
}
}
You could implement a method that yields the strings:
public Ienumerable<string> GetStrings(){
yield return TestA;
yield return TestB;
}
Else you should look into reflection to return the properties that are static and string and then get the values by calling them.
Regards GJ
You could use reflection to loop through all the properties:
public DropDownItemCollection TestCollection
{
var collection = new DropDownItemCollection();
var instance = new TestClass();
foreach (var prop in typeof(TestClass).GetProperties())
{
if (prop.CanRead)
{
var value = prop.GetValue(instance, null) as string;
var item = new DropDownItem();
item.Description = value;
item.Value = value;
collection.Add(item);
}
}
return collection;
}
You can use reflection to loop trought the class properties:
var instance = new TestClass();
foreach(PropertyInfo pi in typeof(TestClass))
{
var val = pi.GetValue(instance,null);
}
You need to use reflection to get name of each String from your custom type, and then also/optionally get the value of each one of those Strings...
Something like this:
TestClass theClass = new TestClass();
foreach (PropertyInfo property in theClass.GetType().GetProperties())
{
Console.WriteLine(property.Name);
Console.WriteLine(property.GetValue(theClass, null));
}

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