How to add properties to a class Dynamically at run time?

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I am trying to add properties to a class at run time that is on the fly.
As in i want some customers email-id or phone no. but not all,or i want to add some properties on the fly.Please suggest .

Posted 3-Mar-14 22:21pm

Suraj Sahoo | Coding Passion

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nandakishoreroyal 4-Mar-14 5:51am

Can you please post the code.

[no name] 4-Mar-14 6:09am

Iam not getting the logic actually....if you have any idea please let me know...Thank you

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BillWoodruff · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-04T00:29:00

Solution 1

You are not going to be able to add new Properties to a Class, or an instance of the Class, at run-time with .NET; you can use Reflection.Emit and its TypeBuilder facility at run-time to create a new Class, and make it inherit from an existing Class, and then add Properties to the new Class: [^].

Please take note that if you go into this area of programming: it is very complex, and may add substantial costs to your development efforts. I strongly advise you carefully evaluate if you really need to implement this feature.

There are other alternatives you might investigate, the most relevant of which is:

1. Use of .NET's Expando object (FrameWork 4.0) in the Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR): [^], [^]. Anoop Madhusudanan has an outstanding article on CP: [^] on programming with DLR, using Expando and DynamicObject, and his own very interesting "Elastic Object.

Also check-out:

2. Code-Weaving, AOP, Aspect Oriented Programming, in which structured comments in your code are rendered into code inserted by a compile post-processor into IL: [^], [^], [^].

Posted 4-Mar-14 0:29am

BillWoodruff

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[no name] 4-Mar-14 6:58am

Thanks a lot Bill .Will surely keep this is mind..But ya deploying this would really be complex.

BillWoodruff 4-Mar-14 13:22pm

Do keep in mind that having a lot of Properties in a Class that are never "used" in instances of the Class ... in other words, Properties whose values are null, or some other default value ... doesn't add that much memory-use to your Application. And, at run-time, simple tests for null or default values can be used in code to determine whether or not you handle them.

[no name] 4-Mar-14 23:14pm

Yes sure Bill.This would really help me.Can you give me some Codes using Reflection.Emit!!

BillWoodruff 5-Mar-14 0:13am

fyi: using the words "give" and "send me" here on QA will be perceived as negative by some here. Search CodeProject for "Reflection.Emit," and study the Microsoft example I sent you a link to which does contain an example. good luck, Bill

[no name] 5-Mar-14 0:23am

Extremely sorry Bill .New here so will surely keep in mind next...thank you

BillWoodruff 5-Mar-14 2:21am

I am going to add an example of creating a Class that has some "fixed" fields, but has one ExpandoObject in it that allows you to add additional properties of any type to it at run-time. But, first I want to explore whether/how an instance of such a Class can be serialized, and de-serialized; I think if you can't save it, and re-load it, then it's not worth considering. fyi: don't be sorry, just be mindful :) "rahi gulzar to phool khilenge" Kabir

[no name] 5-Mar-14 2:52am

Ha ha nice to hear a shayari from you Bill.:)..Thanks eagerly waiting for your example on this....

BillWoodruff 5-Mar-14 4:43am

I have succeeded in using DataContract to serialize and de-serialize a Class which contains a field of Type ExpandoObject, so I am going to write-up either a Tip/Trick, or an article, for CP, depending on feedback I get. I'll post a link when that's done.

[no name] 5-Mar-14 4:48am

Great thanks a lot for your support...

[no name] 5-Mar-14 23:26pm

Hello Bill .Do post the link if you post an article or a tip regarding this topic.Thank You

BillWoodruff 6-Mar-14 21:50pm

I am making progress with this. fyi: here's a question I posted on the C# Forum:

http://www.codeproject.com/Messages/4773935/ExpandoObject-and-Serialization-of-Anonymous-Types.aspx