linq to list<object> and get values per row

Question

for a test I need to make a list with some parameter settings. This list is not per definition pre-defined as a type and / or what's in it.

bool[] trueOrFalse = new bool[] { true, false };
        int[] para1 = new int[] { 1, 2, 3 };
        int[] para2 = new int[] { 5, 6, 7 };
        int[] para3 = new int[] { 1, 2, 3 };
        int[] para4 = new int[] { 5, 7, 9 };

        List<object> test = (from a in trueOrFalse
                   from b in para1
                   from c in para2
                   from d in para3
                   from e in para4
                   let f = c - d
                   where c - d <= 3
                   select new { a, b, c, d, e, f }).AsEnumerable<object>().ToList();

the result is fine (this is just for a test) and I do get a list back with all the parameter combinations possible, which I can use as a parameter for another method. (I need it as a list, because, as far as I know, var test cannot be parsed as a parameter to another method.)

When I hover above test in debug mode, I can see each row and each row contains a to f as a separate field.

But how can I subtract the values?

let say I want to use a foreach loop over the list.

how can I set int myA = a etc? regards,

Matthijs

Answer 1

Well, you're explicitly removing type information by calling AsEnumerable<object> . Just get rid of that, and use var for the variable:

var test = (from a in trueOrFalse
            from b in para1
            from c in para2
            from d in para3
            from e in para4
            let f = c - d
            where c - d <= 3
            select new { a, b, c, d, e, f }).ToList();

Then you can do:

foreach (var item in test)
{
    Console.WriteLine(item.a); // Strongly typed at compile-time
}

Now, I had previously missed the "which I can use as a parameter for another method" part. (You can still use a list - but it's a list of an anonymous type.) Using anonymous types, you really pass the result to a method in a strongly-typed way.

Options:

• Create a named type with all the relevant data, so you can keep it in that form in a strongly typed way.
• Use type inference for the method that you're passing the data to (that may or may not be feasible; it's not clear what you're doing).
• Use dynamic typing in C# 4 to get around normal static typing in C#.
• Access the properties using reflection.

If you can tell us more about what you're doing in the other method, that would really help. If the method can be made generic, you may well still be able to use anonymous types.

Answer 2

If you are stripping out all of the compile time type information and can't use Dynamic objects then you will end up having to use reflection.

var i=test.FirstOrDefault();
if (i==null) {
  // NO ITEMS IN LIST!!!
  // So do something else!
}
var type=i.GetType();
var aGetter=type.GetProperty("a");
var bGetter=type.GetProperty("b");

foreach (var item in test) {
  bool myA = (bool)aGetter.GetValue(item,null);
  int myB=(int)bGetter.GetValue(item.null);
}

Answer 3

you can use reflection:

bool[] trueOrFalse = new bool[] { true, false };
        int[] para1 = new int[] { 1, 2, 3 };
        int[] para2 = new int[] { 5, 6, 7 };
        int[] para3 = new int[] { 1, 2, 3 };
        int[] para4 = new int[] { 5, 7, 9 };

        List<object> test = (from a in trueOrFalse
                             from b in para1
                             from c in para2
                             from d in para3
                             from g in para4
                             let f = c - d
                             where c - d <= 3
                             select new { a,  b,  c, d, g,  f }).AsEnumerable<object>().ToList();
        foreach (object item in test)
        {
            Response.Write(item.GetType().GetProperty("a").GetValue(item, null).ToString()); 
        }

you can also give names to your fields like this:

select new { aName = a, bName = b, cName = c, dName = d, gName = g, fName =  f }).AsEnumerable<object>().ToList();

and then use:

foreach (object item in test)
    {
        Response.Write(item.GetType().GetProperty("aName").GetValue(item, null).ToString()); 
    }