How to get a string representation of a property name of a Model in MVC3? - string

Question

I have the following model:
Public Class MyModel
Public Property MyModelId As Integer
Public Property Description As String
Public Property AnotherProperty As String
End Class
Is there a method to get a property name of the Model as a string representation like the following code?
Dim propertyName as String = GetPropertyNameAsStringMethod(MyModel.Description)
So the propertyName variable has "Description" as value.

Answer 1

Check the Darin Dimitrov' answer on this SO thread - Reflection - get property name.
class Foo
{
public string Bar { get; set; }
}
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
var result = Get<Foo, string>(x => x.Bar);
Console.WriteLine(result);
}
static string Get<T, TResult>(Expression<Func<T, TResult>> expression)
{
var me = expression.Body as MemberExpression;
if (me != null)
{
return me.Member.Name;
}
return null;
}
}
Hope this help..

Answer 2

Here is a helper extension method you can use for any property:
public static class ReflectionExtensions
{
public static string PropertyName<T>(this T owner,
Expression<Func<T, object>> expression) where T : class
{
if (owner == null) throw new ArgumentNullException("owner");
var memberExpression = (MemberExpression)expression.Body;
return memberExpression.Member.Name;
}
}
However, this will only work on instances of a class. You can write a similar extension method that will operate directly on the type instead.

Answer 3

You need to do it using reflection.
There are already loads of posts on stack overflow like this:
How to get current property name via reflection?
Reflection - get property name
Get string name of property using reflection
Reflection - get property name
I believe that the answer will be along the lines of:
string prop = "name";
PropertyInfo pi = myObject.GetType().GetProperty(prop);

Answer 4

Create an extension method and then use it where needed.
Private Shared Function GetPropertyName(Of T)(exp As Expression(Of Func(Of T))) As String
Return (DirectCast(exp.Body, MemberExpression).Member).Name
End Function
have a look at this post as well.

Answer 5

I have solved this issue editing a bit #NiranjanKala's source example,
converting the code in vb.Net like this
<System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension()> _
Public Function GetPropertyName(Of T, TResult)(expression As Expression(Of Func(Of T, TResult))) As String
Dim [me] = TryCast(expression.Body, MemberExpression)
If [me] IsNot Nothing Then
Return [me].Member.Name
End If
Return Nothing
End Function
Then I am able to call the extension like this
Dim propertyName as String = GetPropertyName(Of MyModel, String)(Function(x) x.Description)
Then propertyName variable has "Description" as string value.