c# object to string to display it in text format

Question

I have the next object/list "ListaDatos" and I like to get it as clear string (to visualize/send this via mail, etc)

public List<Datos> ListaDatos = new List<Datos>();

public class Datos
{
    public string Numero;
    public string Alias;
    public string URLConsumo;

    //-- Consumos ----------------------------- 
    public List<Consumo> Consumos = new List<Consumo>();
    public string ConsumoTotal;
}

public class Consumo 
{
    public string Tipo;
    public string Subtipo;
    public string Concepto;
    public string Cantidad;
    public string Importe;
    public string Total;
}

What is the easiest way to "render" this object into text to obtain a string variable with something like this:

DATOS
 Numero     : 10
 Alias      : "aaaaa"
 urlConsumo : "www.aaaaaaaaaaaaa"
 Consumos
  Tipo      : "abc"
  SubTtipo  : "aaa"
  ...
DATOS
 Numero     : 10
 Alias      : "aaaaa"
 urlConsumo : "www.aaaaaaaaaaaaa"
 Consumos
  Tipo      : "abc"
  SubTtipo  : "aaa"
  ...

What have you tried? It this question a programming one, or simply about formatting? — Oded
– Oded, Commented Jan 1, 2012 at 14:14
I suppose that have to use reflection to see each property on listaDatos and make a string of it, but not sure how is the best approach or if there exist something on the net framework 4.0 that allows me to make this in the best way — FabianSilva
– FabianSilva, Commented Jan 1, 2012 at 14:18

Divya · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-01 14:17:27Z

7

Implement a ToString() method for the Consumo class and then implement a ToString() method for the Datos class using the ToString() method for the Consumo class.

answered Jan 1, 2012 at 14:17

Divya

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1 Comment

FabianSilva Over a year ago

sounds simple and efective, I was sure that if I was used reflection was overkill :) I will wait some other answer but this seems the easiest way for now. thanks

Petr Tomicek · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-01 14:20:00Z

2

You must override a "ToString" dafault function like:

public class Consumo 
{
    public string Tipo;
    public string Subtipo;
    public string Concepto;
    public string Cantidad;
    public string Importe;
    public string Total;

   public override string ToString()
   {
   return Tipo + " \n " + Subtipo + " \n "... etc;
   }
}

refer to the escape sequences section in C# development guide... http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/h21280bw.aspx or http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa569608

answered Jan 1, 2012 at 14:20

Petr Tomicek

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Comments

Sergey Kalinichenko · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-01 14:19:14Z

1

When string representations are used for visualization and similar purposes, the best approach is to override ToString method. Start with the most nested type, and go up the hierarchy. Use ToString of nested objects to implement ToString of outer objects. One very useful method in formatting collections of objects is string.Join(): it lets you format a collection without an explicit loop.

answered Jan 1, 2012 at 14:19

Sergey Kalinichenko

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1 Comment

FabianSilva Over a year ago

thanks for point me on using string.Join for the lists, is easiest to use "string.Join("\r\n", ListaDatos);" than "ListaDatos.Aggregate("", (current, listaDato) => current + (listaDato.ToString() + "\r\n"));"

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