how do you read nested objects from xml? - windows-phone-7

I have an xml file that looks something like this
<questions>
<question>
<text>What color is an orange?</text>
<answer>blue</answer>
<answer>yellow</answer>
<answer>orange</answer>
</question>
<question>
<text>What color is a banana?</text> ...
I've managed to figure out how to read attributes and values into the properties using the public methods for the object, but how would i get a "Question" object that would contain "Answer" objects, would it be better to just serialize than use linq-to-xml
This is using linq:
var data = from query in questionData.Descendants("question")
select new Quiz.Question
{
QuestionTitle = (string)query.Attribute("title"),
QuestionText = query.Element("text") != null ? query.Element("text").Value.Trim() : string.Empty,
QuestionImage = query.Element("image") != null ? query.Element("image").Attribute("src").Value : string.Empty
...
in linq how do I go about serializing another node as another object, say i have a list of "answer" object in "question"?

You can use serialization for this, but if you want to have a totally custimizable way of doing this I would recommend this:
In Question class:
public static Question FromXmlElement(XElement el)
{
return new Question
{
Text = el.Element("Text").Value,
Answers = el.Elements("Answer").Select(a=>a.Value);
};
}
and when you want to read:
var xdoc = XDocument.Parse(xml);
var questions = xdoc.Element("Questions").Elements("Question")
.Select(e=> Question.FromXmlElement(e));
from inside the FromXmlElement you can call same method of another complex type if your class has a property of a complex type and so on.

Related

Is it Possible to use reflection on LINQ to Entities to query a dynamic table?

There are many tables in the database that are used as "lookup" tables. All the tables have the same structure, other than the ID column name.
I have found that I can use reflection to open a table and enumerate through the records. The method takes a string (tableName).
Uri serviceUri = new Uri("http://localhost/MyDataService/WcfDataService.svc");
var context = new MyEntities(serviceUri);
var eTable = typeof(MyEntities).GetProperty(tableName).GetValue(context, null) as IEnumerable<object>
foreach (object o in eTable)
...
This works fine, but I want to add a WHERE clause to the query. For example, where InactiveDate == null.
Can I do this? I have been unable to figure this one out.
How about this?
var eTable = (typeof(MyEntities).GetProperty(tableName).GetValue(context, null) as IEnumerable<object>).Where(obj => obj.GetType().GetProperty("InactiveDate").GetValue(obj) == null);
foreach (object o in eTable)
I would suggest to use generics and maybe an interface over reflection.
public function Xyz<TEntity>(Func<MyEntities, IDbSet<TEntity>> dbSetGetter, Expression<Func<TEntity, Boolean>> filter)
{
var serviceUri = new Uri("http://localhost/MyDataService/WcfDataService.svc");
using (var context = new MyEntities(serviceUri))
{
foreach (var entity in dbSetGetter(context).Where(filter))
{
DoSomethingWith(entity);
}
}
}
Usage would be like this
Xyz(context => context.Foo, foo => foo.Bar == 42);
assuming you have an entity Foo with an integer property Bar. The obvious difference to your code is that you have to know the entity type a compile time and I am not sure if you know it then.

how to copy the grid data to object

I am trying to copy the grid data to one object.
Code :
object obj = GrdReport.ItemsSource;
PrepareDataForStackedChart1(obj);
The function is defined as
private void PrepareDataForStackedChart1(object categoies)
{
var Salespersons = (from cat in categoies
select cat.Salesperson);
}
I am getting error :
Cannot convert from 'lambda expression' to 'System.Linq.Expressions.LambdaExpression'
Can anyone tell me how I can access the object in a linq query?
Edit: Just happened to learn you are using a third party control (from your duplicate question) whose ItemSource property takes System.Object and not IEnumerable. In that case either cast your object (ItemSource) back to the original type, or maintain the original collection you used to bind the control somewhere and pass that collection to your PrepareDataForStackedChart1 method.
Some guess work:
1) Either
object obj = GrdReport.ItemsSource;
PrepareDataForStackedChart1((IEnumerable<Category>)obj);
private void PrepareDataForStackedChart1(IEnumerable<Category> categories)
{
var Salespersons = (from cat in categories
select cat.Salesperson);
}
2) or when you do
GrdReport.ItemsSource = GetCategories();
Copy a back up as well like this:
categories = GetCategories(); //categories is defined in proper scope.
GrdReport.ItemsSource = categories;
And later you do;
PrepareDataForStackedChart1(categories);
private void PrepareDataForStackedChart1(IEnumerable<Category> categories)
{
var Salespersons = (from cat in categories
select cat.Salesperson);
}
3) or may be you will get the collection from Items or Rows property (perhaps) defined on your GridView. Good luck..
Pre edit:
The error is because you cant enumerate a plain object. It has to be enumerable. Why are you passing an object value to your PrepareDataForStackedChart1 method? Instead can't you pass the IEnumerable itself? Try
var categories = GrdReport.ItemsSource.OfType<Category>();
PrepareDataForStackedChart1(categories);
private void PrepareDataForStackedChart1(IEnumerable<Category> categories)
{
var Salespersons = (from cat in categories
select cat.Salesperson);
}
I am assuming you have parent class Category

Subsonic Single WHERE clause

Is it possible to apply a WHERE clause on a SubSonic query?
For example, I get get a single based on id...
db.Single<Storage>(id);
But how can I get a single based on a simple WHERE clause?
db.Single<Storage>(WHERE columnname == "value");
that's possible:
// Will return a Storage instance with property IsNew = true, if record does not exist
// since an object created with new never can be null
var storage1 = new Storage(1); // id = 1
var storage1 = new Storage(Storag.Columns.ColumnName, "value");
// Will return 0 if record not found (subsonic3 only)
var storage3 = (from s in Storage
where s.ColumnName == "value"
select s).SingleOrDefault();
// Will throw an exception if record not found (subsonic3 only)
var storage3 = (from s in Storage
where s.ColumnName == "value"
select s).Single();
Since db is a partial class you can extend it. Just create a new File within the same namespace (but another folder in your solution). This applies to subsonic 2 but will be similar to subsonic 3, I think.
public static partial class DB
{
public static T Single<T>(String columName, Object columnValue) where T: RecordBase<T>, new()
{
return Select().From<T>()
.Where(columnName).IsEqualTo(columnValue)
.ExecuteSingle<T>();
}
}
Thanks for the above, this was a help and eventually I simplified this to the below...
db.Single<Storage>(s => s.ColumnName == "value");

How to access data into IQueryable?

I have IQueryable object and I need to take the data inside the IQueryable to put it into Textboxs controls. Is this possible?
I try something like:
public void setdata (IQueryable mydata)
{
textbox1.text = mydata.????
}
Update:
I'm doing this:
public IQueryable getData(String tableName, Hashtable myparams)
{
decimal id = 0;
if (myparams.ContainsKey("id") == true)
id = (decimal)myparams["id"];
Type myType= Type.GetType("ORM_Linq." + tableName + ", ORM_Linq");
return this.GetTable(tableName , "select * from Articu where id_tipo_p = '" + id + "'");
}
public IQueryable<T> GetTable<T>(System.Linq.Expressions.Expression<Func<T, bool>> predicate) where T : class
{
return _datacontext.GetTable<T>().Where(predicate);
}
This returns a {System.Data.Linq.SqlClient.SqlProvider+OneTimeEnumerable1[ORM_Linq.Articu]}`
I don't see any method like you tell me. I see Cast<>, Expression, ToString...
EDIT: Updated based on additional info from your other posts...
Your getData method is returning IQueryable instead of a strongly typed result, which is why you end up casting it. Try changing it to:
public IQueryable<ORM_Linq.Articu> getData(...)
Are you trying to query for "Articu" from different tables?
With the above change in place, your code can be rewritten as follows:
ORM_Linq.Articu result = mydata.SingleOrDefault();
if (result != null)
{
TextBoxCode.Text = result.id.ToString();
TextBoxName.Text = result.descrip;
}
If you have a single result use SingleOrDefault which will return a default value if no results are returned:
var result = mydata.SingleOrDefault();
if (result != null)
{
textbox1.text = result.ProductName; // use the column name
}
else
{
// do something
}
If you have multiple results then loop over them:
foreach (var item in mydata)
{
string name = item.ProductName;
int id = item.ProductId;
// etc..
}
First, you should be using a strongly-typed version of IQueryable. Say that your objects are of type MyObject and that MyObject has a property called Name of type string. Then, first change the parameter mydata to be of type IQueryable<MyObject>:
public void setdata (IQueryable<MyObject> mydata)
Then we can write a body like so to actually get some data out of. Let's say that we just want the first result from the query:
public void setdata (IQueryable<MyObject> mydata) {
MyObject first = mydata.FirstOrDefault();
if(first != null) {
textbox1.Text = first.Name;
}
}
Or, if you want to concatenate all the names:
public void setdata(IQueryable<MyObject> mydata) {
string text = String.Join(", ", mydata.Select(x => x.Name).ToArray());
textbo1.Text = text;
}
Well, as the name suggests, an object implementing IQueryable is... Queryable! You'll need to write a linq query to get at the internal details of your IQueryable object. In your linq query you'll be able to pull out its data and assign bits of it where ever you'd like - like your text box.
Here's a great starting place for learning Linq.
I think you find the same mental struggle when coming from FoxPro and from DataSet. Really nice, powerful string-based capabilities(sql for query, access to tables and columns name) in these worlds are not available, but replaced with a compiled, strongly-typed set of capabilities.
This is very nice if you are statically defining the UI for search and results display against a data source known at compile time. Not so nice if you are trying to build a system which attaches to existing data sources known only at runtime and defined by configuration data.
If you expect only one value just call FirstOrDefault() method.
public void setdata (IQueryable mydata)
{
textbox1.text = mydata.FirstOrDefault().PropertyName;
}

linq and object initialisation

If I have something like:
var query = from children in _data.Children
where children.ChildId == childId
select new CustomModel.MyChild
{
ChildId = children.ChildId,
Name = children.ChildName
};
return query.FirstOrDefault();
Where I want the resultant object to be my custom model.
Can I handle the custom model instantiation in a different method, which could be reused if I had multiple linq queries that all generated a custom child model?
For example,
var query = from children in _data.Children
where children.ChildId == childId
select CreateMyCustomChild([param ??]);
return query.FirstOrDefault();
This may well be impossible, I don't know, but what would the method signature be like if it is possible?
I'm only thinking reuse for when multiple linq queries contain duplicate object initialisation code.
Thanks
It really depends on what version of LINQ you're using. If you're using LINQ to SQL, I don't believe you can call arbitrary methods in the query. The query translator wouldn't know what to do with the method call
If you're using LINQ to Objects, you're absolutely fine to do it, like this:
var query = from children in _data.Children
where children.ChildId == childId
select CreateMyCustomChild(children)
return query.FirstOrDefault();
// Elsewhere
public CustomModel.MyChild CreateMyCustomChild(OtherChild child)
{
return new CustomModel.MyChild
{
ChildId = child.ChildId,
Name = child.ChildName
};
}
(Side note: I'd call the range variable in the query "child" rather than "children" as at any one time it only represents a single child.)
If you wanted you could write "select 1" or in your case "CreateMyCustomChild(children)" since "children" is containing all your info. In your case you aren't adding a lot of info to "children", so why not "select children"?
In other words, just try it out. The return type of your value will determine over which type your LINQ enumerates.
Suppose you had a method that did the transform for you.
public static class Conversions
{
public static CustomModel.MyChild ToCustomModel(this DataModel.MyChild source)
{
return new CustomModel.MyChild()
{
ChildId = source.ChildId,
Name = source.ChildName
}
}
}
You can use such a method to do the conversion of a single item.
DataModel.MyChild myResult = getResult();
CustomModel.MyChild myConvertedResult = myResult.ToCustomModel()
Such a method can also be used in a Enumerable.Select method call.
IEnumerable<DataModel.MyChild> myQueriedResults = getResult();
IEnumerable<CustomModel.MyChild> myConvertedResults =
myQueryiedResults.Select(c => c.ToCustomModel());
While you can do with expressions, I don't think it is worth the hassle. Instead I suggest you define an extension method like:
IQueryable<CustomModel.MyChild> ToModel(this IQueryable<Child> childs)
{
return childs.Select( c=>
select new CustomModel.MyChild
{
ChildId = children.ChildId,
Name = children.ChildName
}
);
}
You can then call:
return _data.Children
.Where(c=>c.ChildId == childId)
.ToModel()
.FirstOrDefault();

Resources