Lambda Expressions Extension Method 8 - Select() with Anonymous Type Creation

Select() with Anonymous Type Creation

As a continuation of Select() method, we can have anonymous type creation as well.  The anonymous type are those without a name in our c# source code and the compiler will generate an automatic name for it.

 
It is convenient that we are free from creating a class and properties.  The following example shows

• How to specify an anonymous class  in the Select Method
• How to create the properties of anonymous class
• How to retrieve the properties of anonymous class

Parameters: Input type and Transformation Method

Return Value: List of Items

Example

In the following example we are using a list of integers and converting them to a class having 2 properties:

• Value which is the actual value of integer
• Index  which is the index of the element

The statement _list.Select((i, ix) => new { Value = i, Index = ix }) will do the job.

After converting we are storing the result in a var type.

For retrieving the properties back we use the same var keyword and iterate through a foreach.  The var type allows us to read the properties Value and Index with automatic type inference by IDE.

Code

private IList _list = new List();

  public InitializeList()
  {
  // Set data
  _list.Add(1);
  _list.Add(2);
  _list.Add(3);
  _list.Add(4);
  _list.Add(5);
  _list.Add(6); 
  }

  private void SelectAnonymousButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
  {
  var result = _list.Select((i, ix) => new { Value = i, Index = ix });

  foreach (var v in result)  {
  string messsage = "Value={0} at Index={1}";
  MessageBox.Show(string.Format(messsage, v.Value, v.Index));
  }
  }