Faking enums in Entity Framework 4.0 - c#-4.0

There are a lot of workarounds for the missing support of enumerations in the Entity Framework 4.0. From all of them I like this one at most:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/alexj/archive/2009/06/05/tip-23-how-to-fake-enums-in-ef-4.aspx?PageIndex=2#comments
This workaround allows you to use enums in your LINQ queries which is what i exactly need. However, I have a problem with this workaround. I get for every complex type I'm using a new partial autogenerated class.Therefore the code does not compile any more because I already have a wrapper class with this name in the same namespace which converts betwen the backed integer in the database and the enum in my POCO classes. If I make my wrapper a partial class, the code still does not compile as it now contains two properties with the same name "Value". The only possibility is to remove the Value property by hand everytime I generate the POCO classes because the DB model changed (which during the development phase happens very often).
Do you know how to prevent a partial class to be generated out of complex property everytime the EF model changes?
Can you recommend me some other workarounds supporting enumerations in LINQ queries?

That workaround is based on the fact that you are writing your POCO classes yourselves = no autogeneration. If you want to use it with autogeneration you must heavily modify T4 template itself.
Other workaround is wrapping enum conversion to custom extension methods.
public static IQueryable<MyEntity> FilterByMyEnum(this IQueryable<MyEntity> query, MyEnum enumValue)
{
int val = (int)enumValue;
return query.Where(e => e.MyEnumValue == val);
}
You will then call just:
var data = context.MyEntitites.FilterByMyEnum(MyEnum.SomeValue).ToList();

I am using an approach based on the one described in your link without any modifications of the T4 templates. The contents of my partial wrapper classes are as follows:
public partial class PriorityWrapper
{
public Priority EnumValue
{
get
{
return (Priority)Value;
}
set
{
Value = (int)value;
}
}
public static implicit operator PriorityWrapper(Priority value)
{
return new PriorityWrapper { EnumValue = value };
}
public static implicit operator Priority(PriorityWrapper value)
{
if (value == null)
return Priority.High;
else
return value.EnumValue;
}
}
I've only changed that instead of a back store variable with enum value I am using the autogenerated int typed Value property. Consequently Value can be an auto-implemented property and EnumValue property needs to do the conversion in getter and setter methods.

Related

How do I create a custom FilterRule with an override for ElementPasses

I want to create my own Boolean operation on an element to pass in as a FilterRule. The ElementPasses member description states:
Derived classes override this method to implement the test that determines whether the given element passes this rule or not.
I have tried to create my own derived class but I can't figure out how to implement it. I would think an interface would be available but I can't find anything. Annoyingly, I remember seeing an example of this but I can't seem to find anything.
This fails with: Static class 'ParameterDefinitionExists' cannot derive from type 'FilterRule'. Static classes must derive from object.
static public class ParameterDefinitionExists : FilterRule
{
public static bool ElementPasses(Element element)
{
return true;
}
}
And this fails with:'FilterRule' does not contain a constructor that takes 0 arguments
static public class ParameterDefinitionExists : FilterRule
{
new public bool ElementPasses(Element element)
{
return true;
}
}
What constructor arguments does it take?
There may be another way to go about it but I can't anything for FilterRules. I'm trying to define and refine a trigger in an updater but maybe I should query the element after it is passed in to the command. I imagine catching it with a filter rule is more efficient.
You have to use one of the Revit API classes derived from FilterRule:
Inheritance Hierarchy
System Object
Autodesk.Revit.DB FilterRule
Autodesk.Revit.DB FilterCategoryRule
Autodesk.Revit.DB FilterInverseRule
Autodesk.Revit.DB FilterValueRule
Autodesk.Revit.DB SharedParameterApplicableRule
Cf. http://www.revitapidocs.com/2017/a8f202ca-3c88-ecc4-fa93-549b26a412d7.htm
The Building Coder provides several examples creating and using parameter filters:
http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2010/08/elementparameterfilter-with-a-shared-parameter.html
Here is the entire topic group on filtering.

How do I call a method of an attribute derived from a generic interface, where the specific type is not known?

Core Question:
I have a generic interface IValidatingAttribute<T>, which creates the contract bool IsValid(T value); The interface is implemented by a variety of Attributes, which all serve the purpose of determining if the current value of said Field or Property they decorate is valid per the interface spec that I'm dealing with. What I want to do is create a single validation method that will scan every field and property of the given model, and if that field or property has any attributes that implement IValidatingAttribute<T>, it should validate the value against each of those attributes. So, using reflection I have the sets of fields and properties, and within those sets I can get the list of attributes. How can I determine which attributes implement IValidatingAttribute and then call IsValid(T value)?
background:
I am working on a library project that will be used to develop a range of later projects against the interface for a common third party system. (BL Server, for those interested)
BL Server has a wide range of fairly arcane command structures that have varying validation requirements per command and parameter, and then it costs per transaction to call these commands, so one of the library requirements is to easily define the valdiation requirements at the model level to catch invalid commands before they are sent. It is also intended to aid in the development of later projects by allowing developers to catch invalid models without needing to set up the BL server connections.
Current Attempt:
Here's where I've gotten so far (IsValid is an extension method):
public interface IValidatingAttribute<T>
{
bool IsValid(T value);
}
public static bool IsValid<TObject>(this TObject sourceObject) where TObject : class, new()
{
var properties = typeof(TObject).GetProperties();
foreach (var prop in properties)
{
var attributeData = prop.GetCustomAttributesData();
foreach (var attribute in attributeData)
{
var attrType = attribute.AttributeType;
var interfaces = attrType.GetInterfaces().Where(inf => inf.IsGenericType).ToList();
if (interfaces.Any(infc => infc.Equals(typeof(IValidatingAttribute<>))))
{
var value = prop.GetValue(sourceObject);
//At this point, I know that the current attribute implements 'IValidatingAttribute<>', but I don't know what T is in that implementation.
//Also, I don't know what data type 'value' is, as it's currently boxed as an object.
//The underlying type to value will match the expected T in IValidatingAttribute.
//What I need is something like the line below:
if (!(attribute as IValidatingAttribute<T>).IsValid(value as T)) //I know this condition doesn't work, but it's what I'm trying to do.
{
return false;
}
}
}
return true;
}
}
Example usage:
Just to better explain what I am trying to achieve:
public class SomeBLRequestObject
{
/// <summary>
/// Required, only allows exactly 2 alpha characters.
/// </summary>
[MinCharacterCount(2), MaxCharacterCount(2), IsRequired, AllowedCharacterSet(CharSets.Alpha))]
public string StateCode {get; set;}
}
And then, later on in code:
...
var someBLObj = SomeBLRequestObjectFactory.Create();
if(!someBLObj.IsValid())
{
throw new InvalidObjectException("someBLObj is invalid!");
}
Thank you, I'm really looking for a solution to the problem as it stands, but I'm more than willing to listen if somebody has a viable alternative approach.
I'm trying to go generic extension method with this because there are literally hundreds of the BL Server objects, and I'm going with attributes because each of these objects can have upper double digit numbers of properties, and it's going to make things much, much easier if the requirements for each object are backed in and nice and readable for the next developer to have to use this thing.
Edit
Forgot to mention : This Question is the closest I've found, but what I really need are the contents of \\Do Something in TcKs's answer.
Well, after about 6 hours and a goods nights sleep, I realized that I was over-complicating this thing. Solved it with the following (ExtValidationInfo is the class that the below two extensions are in.):
Jon Skeet's answer over here pointed me at a better approach, although it still smells a bit, this one at least works.
public static bool IsValid<TObject>(this TObject sourceObject) where TObject : class, new()
{
var baseValidationMethod = typeof(ExtValidationInfo).GetMethod("ValidateProperty", BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.Public);
var properties = TypeDataHandler<TObject>.Properties;
foreach (var prop in properties)
{
var attributes = prop.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(IValidatingAttribute<>)).ToList();
if (!attributes.Any())
{
continue; // No validators, skip.
}
var propType = prop.PropertyType;
var validationMethod = baseValidationMethod.MakeGenericMethod(propType);
var propIsValid = validationMethod.Invoke(null, prop.GetValue(sourceObject), attributes);
if(!propIsValid)
{
return false;
}
}
return true;
}
public static bool ValidateProperty<TPropType>(TPropType value, List<IValidatingAttribute<TPropType>> validators)
{
foreach (var validator in validators)
{
if (!validator.IsValid(value))
{
return false;
}
}
return true;
}

Uses and differences in properties?

whats difference between Auto-Implemented Properties and manual properties in c#?
for Example:
Manual Properties:
private int uno;
public int Uno
{
get { return uno; }
set { uno = value; }
}
Auto Implemented Prop:
public string UserLeaveCount { get; set; }
i found the difference and uses here : Auto Implemented Prop
But Here is my Specific doubt thats "there is no instance variable in auto implemented properties and how is it stored,returned values?"
It's just syntactic sugar -- the compiler inserts the backing field for you. The effect is the same, except that, of course, there's no way for you to access the backing field from your code.
From the page you linked to:
When you declare a property as shown in the following example, the compiler creates a private, anonymous backing field that can only be accessed through the property's get and set accessors.

Adding to a dictionary c#

I have a dictionary that contains classes. However, I have a lot of classes to add to the dictionary and I would like to eliminate the long list of adds, because it's starting to look messy. I was thinking of having all the data in a file and loading it to add to the dictionary, but then I realized that every time I wanted to create and add a new class, I would have to modify the file. I would prefer to have to include something in my newly created class that would automatically add it to the dictionary. I'm not even sure this is possible, so I would appreciate any help.
Try to use reflection to dynamically locate all the required classes. Create an instance of Assembly where your classes are defined and try to filter them out. An example below shows how to locate all the classes whose name ends with Task.
var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
var taskTypes = assembly.GetTypes()
.Where(t => t.Name.EndsWith("Task") && t.IsClass);
Dictionary<string, object> instances =
new Dictionary<string, object>(taskTypes.Count());
foreach (Type classType in taskTypes)
{
object instance = Activator.CreateInstance(classType);
instances.Add(classType.Name, instance);
Console.WriteLine("Registered key {0} with object of type {1})",
classType.Name,
instance);
}
I've used Activator.CreateInstance method to create instances of your classes, but this might not be possible in your case depending on whether they have parameterless contructors etc.
Another option might be to use one of the available IoC containers like autofac but I need more details on your problem before I can give a proper advice on this.
Make the dictionary a static field of some class, or make the "add class to dictionary" a static method.
Then, you can use a static constructor to add each class to the dictionary:
class ClassDict {
...
public static void AddClass(Type t) {
...
}
}
class Foo {
static Foo() {
ClassDict.AddClass(typeof(Foo));
}
}

Adding different object types to a c# 4.0 collection

I have a function that returns objects of different types based on the parameter passed to this function.
Is it possible to add these different object types to a collection based on some identifier in C# 4.0?
Usually we do something like this
List or List
but i want one collection which can add object of any type.
Instead of just making a List<object> like other posters are recommending, you may want to define an interface eg IListableObject that contains a few methods that your objects need to implement. This will make any code using these objects much easier to write and will guard against unwanted objects getting into the collection down the line.
Yes, it is called object. Eg:
var objlist = new List<object>();
objlist.Add(1);
objlist.Add(true);
objlist.Add("hello");
You could use object[], List<object>, ArrayList, IEnumerable, ... but if those types have a common base type it would be better to stick to a strongly typed collection.
Really your collection should be as specific as you can make it. When you say
objects of different types
Do these objects have anything in common? Do they implement a common interface?
If so you you can specialise the list on that interface List<IMyInterface>
Otherwise List<object> will do what you want.
Update
No, not really.
I'm sorry but I'm going to question your design.
If you have a collection of different objects, how do you decide how to use one of the objects?
You're going to have a large switch statement switching on the type of the object, then you cast to a specific object and use it.
You also have have a similar switch statement in your factory method that creates the object.
One of the benefits of Object Orientation is that if you design your objects correctly then you don't need to do these large "If it's this object do this.Method(), if it's that object do that.OtherMethod()".
Can I ask, why are you putting different objects into the same collection? What's the benefit to you?
If you want a collection which can add objects of any type then List<object> is the most appropriate type.
Collections in earlier versions of C# (not generics) can contain any kind of objects. If they're value type, they will be boxed into object.
When you need to use them, you can just cast it to the original type.
You may use List<Type> to hold the type information, if that's what you want. And Type[], Hashtable, etc. are also fine. You can use typeof operator to get the type or use Object.GetType().
Also check out Dynamic type.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd264736.aspx
It will basically do the same thing.
My Suggestion:
public class ParamValue
{
object value = null;
public ParamValue(object val)
{
value = val;
}
public string AsString()
{
return value.ToString();
}
public int AsInt()
{
return int.Parse(value.ToString());
}
public int? AsNullableInt()
{
int n;
if (int.TryParse(value.ToString(), out n))
{
return n;
}
return null;
}
public bool AsBool()
{
return bool.Parse(value.ToString());
}
public bool? AsNullableBool()
{
bool b;
if (bool.TryParse(value.ToString(), out b))
{
return b;
}
return null;
}
}
public class Params
{
Dictionary<string, object> paramCol = new Dictionary<string, object>();
public void Add(string paramName, object value)
{
paramCol.Add(paramName, value);
}
public ParamValue this[string paramName]
{
get
{
object v;
if (paramCol.TryGetValue(paramName, out v))
{
return new ParamValue(v);
}
return null;
}
}
}
Use param class as a collectio to your values, you can convert the return to every type you want.
You could use a Tuple of Genric Types
public Tuple<T, T> MySuperMethod()
{
int number = 1;
string text = "Batman";
return new Tuple<int, string>(number, text);
}
The .NET Framework directly supports tuples with one to seven
elements. In addition, you can create tuples of eight or more elements
by nesting tuple objects in the Rest property of a Tuple object.
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.tuple(v=vs.100).aspx

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