How do I reference a field in an ExpandoObject dynamically?

Question

Is there a way to dynamically access the property of an expando using a "IDictionary" style lookup?

var messageLocation = "Message";
dynamic expando = new ExpandoObject();
expando.Message = "I am awesome!";
Console.WriteLine(expando[messageLocation]);

BrokenGlass · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-05 20:21:57Z

11

You have to cast the ExpandoObject to IDictionary<string, object> :

var messageLocation = "Message";
dynamic expando = new ExpandoObject();
expando.Message = "I am awesome!";

var expandoDict = (IDictionary<string, object>)expando;
Console.WriteLine(expandoDict[messageLocation]);

(Also your expando variable must be typed as dynamic so property access is determined at runtime - otherwise your sample won't compile)

answered May 5, 2011 at 20:21

BrokenGlass

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2 Comments

Jon Skeet Over a year ago

Note that the conversion can be done implicitly: IDictionary<string, object> expandoDict = expando; will work fine.

ScArcher2 Over a year ago

Thanks for the info. I really really wish i could just say expando["whatever"] though. I don't really understand why the cast is necessary especially since it is dynamic.

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