Translating VB DeepData.DTO.OrderDto.LineItems Setter to C#

tsaltd posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007

I've run the DeepData app in VB debugger a few times and have not hit the OrderDto Setter method ... I'm looking into the "back-door" ? approach to setting _lineItems.

So #1 I'm curious about the Use Case where 

 OrderDTO.LineItems =  _LineItemDTOArray

Would be called ....

And am I converting/translating  that OrderDTO.LineItems setter method correctly from VB to C# ???

Thanks,

Steve

VB

Private _lineItems As List(Of LineItemDto)
  <Xml.Serialization.XmlIgnore()> _
  Public ReadOnly Property LineItemsList() As List(Of LineItemDto)
    Get
      If _lineItems Is Nothing Then
        _lineItems = New List(Of LineItemDto)
      End If
      Return _lineItems
    End Get
  End Property

  Public Property LineItems() As LineItemDto()
    Get
      Return LineItemsList.ToArray
    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As LineItemDto())
      _lineItems = New List(Of LineItemDto)(value)
    End Set
  End Property

C#

private List<LineItemDto> _lineItems ;
       
        [System.Xml.Serialization.XmlIgnore()]
        public List<LineItemDto> LineItemsList           
        {
            get
            {
                if (_lineItems == null)
                {
                    _lineItems = new List<LineItemDto>();

                }
                return _lineItems;
            }
        }
           
  
        public LineItemDto[] LineItems
        {
            get
            {
                return LineItemsList.ToArray();
               
            }
    
            set
            {
                _lineItems = new List<LineItemDto>(value);
               
            }
        }
    }

RockfordLhotka replied on Tuesday, September 18, 2007

That code exists to support the serialization process. If you aren't serializing your DTOs (like sending them through a web service) then this code would never be run.

Remember, DeepData illustrates a lot of things, including direct use of a DTO, using a DTO via a web service and using the DTOs created by LINQ. The DTO code supports the first two scenarios, and it is the web service part that you are seeing here.

Web services like arrays better than lists (they often can't serialize lists). But lists are much easier to work with than arrays. So as a pattern, I expose a list for my internal use, and the array property for the XmlSerializer to use.

But if you are using the direct DTO approach, then you'd never serialize the DTOs and this code has no value.

tsaltd replied on Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Thanks, Rocky ...

Our plan may include a web service interface, but we are definitely going to  be using a remote data portal ....

We'll be passing back a serialized business object, right ?? ... and the framework takes care of that work, right ???

That method is not used for remote calls via WCF ????

Steve

PS .. re the code I supplied ... I was confused by the VB Setter method having a parameter in the signature ... 

       x.EquipmentItems = SomeEquipmentDTO_GenericList

will work ???  The C# Setter method is coded correctly ????

RockfordLhotka replied on Tuesday, September 18, 2007