How to initialize IDictionary in constructor?

Question

In TagBuilder and other classes I can write something like:

var tr = new TagBuilder("HeaderStyle"){InnerHtml = html, [IDictionary Attributes]}

but I don't know how to pass the IDictionary parameter.

How can I do that on the fly? Without creating a Dictionary variable.

EDIT TagBuilder is an example, there are other classes that accept a parameter IDictionary as well. The question is about the generic case.

Answer 1

If you're referring to the Attributes property, the setter is private, so you can't set it in an object initializer.

After you've initialized the TagBuilder, you should be able to add individual attributes with tr.Attributes.Add(key,value).

Answer 2

The following blog post has a helper method that can create Dictionary objects from anonymous types.

http://weblogs.asp.net/rosherove/archive/2008/03/11/turn-anonymous-types-into-idictionary-of-values.aspx

void CreateADictionaryFromAnonymousType() 
   { 
       var dictionary = MakeDictionary(new {Name="Roy",Country="Israel"}); 
       Console.WriteLine(dictionary["Name"]); 
   }

private IDictionary MakeDictionary(object withProperties) 
   { 
       IDictionary dic = new Dictionary<string, object>(); 
       var properties = 
           System.ComponentModel.TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(withProperties); 
       foreach (PropertyDescriptor property in properties) 
       { 
           dic.Add(property.Name,property.GetValue(withProperties)); 
       } 
       return dic; 
   }

Answer 3

Another way to create Dictionaries from Anonymous types:

new Dictionary<int, StudentName>()
{
    { 111, new StudentName {FirstName="Sachin", LastName="Karnik", ID=211}},
    { 112, new StudentName {FirstName="Dina", LastName="Salimzianova", ID=317}},
    { 113, new StudentName {FirstName="Andy", LastName="Ruth", ID=198}}
};

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb531208.aspx

Answer 4

Ok, so I was trying to do the same thing with the TagBuilder. Now my question is WHY is the Setter private on the Attributes property? Seems like it would be a nice shorthand way to use the TagBuilder to create a complete tag in one line (well, one semicolon at least...)