Question

I’m trying to output an object graph via reflection. In it there are several generic types (lists, dictionaries). I do not know the types (string, object, etc.) they contain but want to list them (using .ToString()).

So, is there a way to output a generic list / dictionary in generic way, that means without writing overloaded functions for each key <-> value combintation?

I think it will be possible with .NET 4.0, but that’s currently not yet here..

Answer 1

If you are using reflection, generics gets very tricky. Can you simply use the non-generic interfaces? IDictionary/IList? It would be a lot easier… something like:

static void Write(object obj) {     if (obj == null) { }     else if (obj is IDictionary) { Write((IDictionary)obj); }     else if (obj is IList) { Write((IList)obj); }     else { Console.WriteLine(obj); } } static void Write(IList data) {     foreach (object obj in data) {         Console.WriteLine(obj);     } } static void Write(IDictionary data) {     foreach (DictionaryEntry entry in data) {         Console.WriteLine(entry.Key + '=' + entry.Value);     } }