How to Dynamically Access Properties in C# using Expression Trees

Learn how to use C# expression trees to dynamically access class properties based on dictionary values. Perfect for developers looking to enhance their LINQ and lambda skills.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: get parameter base on value of another property c# expression tree

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Solving Dynamic Property Access with C# Expression Trees

When working with C# classes and properties, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to dynamically access properties based on conditions or external data, such as a dictionary. This challenge often arises in data manipulation, filtering, and querying scenarios. In this guide, we will explore how to achieve this using C# expression trees, making dynamic property access as seamless as possible.

The Problem: Accessing Class Properties Dynamically

Let's consider a practical example where we have two classes: JoinedMapVoucher and DL. The JoinedMapVoucher class holds multiple properties, and we want to ensure that certain properties (like Code1, Code2, etc.) are not null based on some criteria defined in a dictionary of DLTypeRef values.

Here’s a quick look at the classes involved:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Your goal is to fetch property names dynamically from a dictionary based on DLTypeRef values (like getting Code1 for DLTypeRef of 5). Then you want to validate if these dynamic properties are not null.

The Solution: Leveraging SwitchExpression in C#

To tackle this problem, we can utilize the SwitchExpression feature in C# . This allows us to create a switch statement that directs the program flow depending on the values in our dictionary.

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Dictionary Setup

First, we set up a dictionary that maps DLTypeRef values to property names:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Using Expression Trees

Next, we create an expression tree that uses Expression.Call to retrieve the corresponding property name based on DLTypeRef. Then, we implement a switch statement to access these properties dynamically:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

3. Implementing the Lambda Expression

The generated expression can now be used within a lambda function that handles the filtering based on our created switch expression:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Visualization of the Generated Code

The resulting switch expression could look similar to this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can efficiently access class properties dynamically in C# using expression trees. This approach not only enhances your code's flexibility but also optimizes your querying capabilities with LINQ and lambda expressions. Understanding how to manipulate expression trees can give you an edge in handling complex data structures in your applications.

This method of dynamic property access is particularly useful in scenarios where the properties to be accessed are not known at compile time and can greatly reduce the complexity of your codebase.

Feel free to dive deeper into C# expression trees and learn about more advanced features to further enhance your programming skills.