Anonymous types in LINQ - linq

Question

I am using the following code to get a record from my database table tblDatabases. I then populate Controls on a Form based on the value. I have used some functions to get the values needed for displaying in a text box (e.g. the display value is different than the value.
The DetailData is an object in my base form class. Initially I just got the record from the table as is and I was able to cast the DetailData to the tblDatabases and use reflection to get all of the values for the data and populate the controls on my form.
I am no longer able to cast the DetailData to my table because of the anonymous types.
I would like to be able to use reflection on the DetailData to get the values.
Thanks,
Brad
DetailData = (from db in priorityDataContext.tblDatabases
where db.DatabaseID == Id
select new
{
db.DatabaseID,
db.DatabaseName,
db.Purpose,
db.BackEnd,
db.FrontEnd,
db.Version,
db.ProducesReports,
db.MultiUser,
db.UserDescription,
Developer = priorityDataContext.func_get_employee_name(db.Developer),
DeptOwner = priorityDataContext.func_get_dept_name(db.DeptOwner),
db.Source_Code_Path,
db.Notes,
db.Active,
db.row_entry_time_stamp,
row_oper_name = priorityDataContext.func_get_employee_name(db.Developer),
db.row_last_chng_time_stamp,
row_last_chng_oper_name = priorityDataContext.func_get_employee_name(db.Developer)
}).SingleOrDefault();
protected virtual void PopulateDetailControlsA(List<Control> controlContainers, string srcDataTableName)
{
switch (srcDataTableName)
{
case "tblDatabase" :
break;
}
var database = (tblDatabase) DetailData;
var type = typeof(tblDatabase);
var properties = type.GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance);
foreach (var controlContainer in controlContainers)
{
foreach (var propertyInfo in properties)
{
if (!ControlExists(controlContainer, propertyInfo.Name)) continue;
var txtExtControl = controlContainer.Controls[propertyInfo.Name] as ExtendedTextBox;
if (txtExtControl != null)
{
try
{
var value = propertyInfo.GetValue(database, null).ToString();
txtExtControl.Text = value;
}
catch (NullReferenceException)
{
}
continue;
}
var lnklblControl = controlContainer.Controls[propertyInfo.Name] as ExtendedLinkLabel;
if (lnklblControl != null)
{
try
{
var value = propertyInfo.GetValue(database, null).ToString();
lnklblControl.Text = value;
}
catch (NullReferenceException)
{
}
continue;
}
var chkControl = controlContainer.Controls[propertyInfo.Name] as ExtendedCheckBox;
if (chkControl != null)
{
try
{
var value = propertyInfo.GetValue(database, null).ToString();
switch (value)
{
case "True":
chkControl.CheckState = CheckState.Checked;
break;
case "False":
chkControl.CheckState = CheckState.Unchecked;
break;
}
}
catch (NullReferenceException)
{
chkControl.CheckState = CheckState.Indeterminate;
}
continue;
}
var cmbControl = controlContainer.Controls[propertyInfo.Name] as ExtendedComboBox;
if (cmbControl != null)
{
try
{
var value = propertyInfo.GetValue(database, null).ToString();
cmbControl.ValueMember = value;
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
}
continue;
}
}
}
}

Answer 1

What technology are you using for your UI? If you could use binding you would not need to worry about reflection on the anonymous type and then could also use converters if you need to format/calculate values from this.
From your response can't you just use the connection to the linq and then bind this to the combo box?
private void Form1_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
var item = new DataClassesDataContext();
var stuff = item.Entity.Where(c => c.Property.Contains("something"));
comboBox1.DataSource = stuff;
comboBox1.DisplayMember = "Name";
comboBox1.ValueMember = "PIN";
}