Get an IDataReader from a typed List

Question

I have a List<MyObject> with a million elements. (It is actually a SubSonic Collection but it is not loaded from the database).

I'm currently using SqlBulkCopy as follows:

private string FastInsertCollection(string tableName, DataTable tableData)
{
    string sqlConn = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings[SubSonicConfig.DefaultDataProvider.ConnectionStringName].ConnectionString;
    using (SqlBulkCopy s = new SqlBulkCopy(sqlConn, SqlBulkCopyOptions.TableLock))
    {
        s.DestinationTableName = tableName;
        s.BatchSize = 5000;
        s.WriteToServer(tableData);
        s.BulkCopyTimeout = SprocTimeout;
        s.Close();
    }
    return sqlConn;
}

I use SubSonic's MyObjectCollection.ToDataTable() to build the DataTable from my collection. However, this duplicates objects in memory and is inefficient. I'd like to use the SqlBulkCopy.WriteToServer method that uses an IDataReader instead of a DataTable so that I don't duplicate my collection in memory.

What's the easiest way to get an IDataReader from my list? I suppose I could implement a custom data reader (like here http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/aviwortzel/archive/2008/05/06/implementing-sqlbulkcopy-in-linq-to-sql.aspx) , but there must be something simpler I can do without writing a bunch of generic code.

Edit: It does not appear that one can easily generate an IDataReader from a collection of objects. Accepting current answer even though I was hoping for something built into the framework.

Answer 1

Get the latest version from the code on this post

Nothing like code churn in plain sight: Here is a pretty complete implementation. You can instantiate an IDataReader over IList IEnumerable, IEnumerable (ergo IQueryable). There is no compelling reason to expose a generic type parameter on the reader and by omitting it, I can allow IEnumerable<'a> (anonymous types). See tests.

The source, less xmldocs, is short enough to include here with a couple tests. The rest of the source, with xmldocs, and tests is here under Salient.Data.

---

using System;
using System.Linq;
using NUnit.Framework;

namespace Salient.Data.Tests
{
    [TestFixture]
    public class EnumerableDataReaderEFFixture
    {
        [Test]
        public void TestEnumerableDataReaderWithIQueryableOfAnonymousType()
        {
            var ctx = new NorthwindEntities();

            var q =
                ctx.Orders.Where(o => o.Customers.CustomerID == "VINET").Select(
                    o =>
                    new
                        {
                            o.OrderID,
                            o.OrderDate,
                            o.Customers.CustomerID,
                            Total =
                        o.Order_Details.Sum(
                        od => od.Quantity*((float) od.UnitPrice - ((float) od.UnitPrice*od.Discount)))
                        });

            var r = new EnumerableDataReader(q);
            while (r.Read())
            {
                var values = new object[4];
                r.GetValues(values);
                Console.WriteLine("{0} {1} {2} {3}", values);
            }
        }
    }
}

---

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data;
using NUnit.Framework;

namespace Salient.Data.Tests
{
    public class DataObj
    {
        public string Name { get; set; }
        public int Age { get; set; }
    }

    [TestFixture]
    public class EnumerableDataReaderFixture
    {

        private static IEnumerable<DataObj> DataSource
        {
            get
            {
                return new List<DataObj>
                           {
                               new DataObj {Name = "1", Age = 16},
                               new DataObj {Name = "2", Age = 26},
                               new DataObj {Name = "3", Age = 36},
                               new DataObj {Name = "4", Age = 46}
                           };
            }
        }

        [Test]
        public void TestIEnumerableCtor()
        {
            var r = new EnumerableDataReader(DataSource, typeof(DataObj));
            while (r.Read())
            {
                var values = new object[2];
                int count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(2, count);

                values = new object[1];
                count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(1, count);

                values = new object[3];
                count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(2, count);

                Assert.IsInstanceOf(typeof(string), r.GetValue(0));
                Assert.IsInstanceOf(typeof(int), r.GetValue(1));

                Console.WriteLine("Name: {0}, Age: {1}", r.GetValue(0), r.GetValue(1));
            }
        }

        [Test]
        public void TestIEnumerableOfAnonymousType()
        {
            // create generic list
            Func<Type, IList> toGenericList =
                type => (IList)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(List<>).MakeGenericType(new[] { type }));

            // create generic list of anonymous type
            IList listOfAnonymousType = toGenericList(new { Name = "1", Age = 16 }.GetType());

            listOfAnonymousType.Add(new { Name = "1", Age = 16 });
            listOfAnonymousType.Add(new { Name = "2", Age = 26 });
            listOfAnonymousType.Add(new { Name = "3", Age = 36 });
            listOfAnonymousType.Add(new { Name = "4", Age = 46 });

            var r = new EnumerableDataReader(listOfAnonymousType);
            while (r.Read())
            {
                var values = new object[2];
                int count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(2, count);

                values = new object[1];
                count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(1, count);

                values = new object[3];
                count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(2, count);

                Assert.IsInstanceOf(typeof(string), r.GetValue(0));
                Assert.IsInstanceOf(typeof(int), r.GetValue(1));

                Console.WriteLine("Name: {0}, Age: {1}", r.GetValue(0), r.GetValue(1));
            }
        }

        [Test]
        public void TestIEnumerableOfTCtor()
        {
            var r = new EnumerableDataReader(DataSource);
            while (r.Read())
            {
                var values = new object[2];
                int count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(2, count);

                values = new object[1];
                count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(1, count);

                values = new object[3];
                count = r.GetValues(values);
                Assert.AreEqual(2, count);

                Assert.IsInstanceOf(typeof(string), r.GetValue(0));
                Assert.IsInstanceOf(typeof(int), r.GetValue(1));

                Console.WriteLine("Name: {0}, Age: {1}", r.GetValue(0), r.GetValue(1));
            }
        } 
        // remaining tests omitted for brevity
    }
}

---

/*!
 * Project: Salient.Data
 * File   : EnumerableDataReader.cs
 * http://spikes.codeplex.com
 *
 * Copyright 2010, Sky Sanders
 * Dual licensed under the MIT or GPL Version 2 licenses.
 * See LICENSE.TXT
 * Date: Sat Mar 28 2010 
 */


using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace Salient.Data
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Creates an IDataReader over an instance of IEnumerable&lt;> or IEnumerable.
    /// Anonymous type arguments are acceptable.
    /// </summary>
    public class EnumerableDataReader : ObjectDataReader
    {
        private readonly IEnumerator _enumerator;
        private readonly Type _type;
        private object _current;

        /// <summary>
        /// Create an IDataReader over an instance of IEnumerable&lt;>.
        /// 
        /// Note: anonymous type arguments are acceptable.
        /// 
        /// Use other constructor for IEnumerable.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="collection">IEnumerable&lt;>. For IEnumerable use other constructor and specify type.</param>
        public EnumerableDataReader(IEnumerable collection)
        {
            // THANKS DANIEL!
            foreach (Type intface in collection.GetType().GetInterfaces())
            {
                if (intface.IsGenericType && intface.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof (IEnumerable<>))
                {
                    _type = intface.GetGenericArguments()[0]; 
                }
            }

            if (_type ==null && collection.GetType().IsGenericType)
            {
                _type = collection.GetType().GetGenericArguments()[0];

            }


            if (_type == null )
            {
                throw new ArgumentException(
                    "collection must be IEnumerable<>. Use other constructor for IEnumerable and specify type");
            }

            SetFields(_type);

            _enumerator = collection.GetEnumerator();

        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Create an IDataReader over an instance of IEnumerable.
        /// Use other constructor for IEnumerable&lt;>
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="collection"></param>
        /// <param name="elementType"></param>
        public EnumerableDataReader(IEnumerable collection, Type elementType)
            : base(elementType)
        {
            _type = elementType;
            _enumerator = collection.GetEnumerator();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Helper method to create generic lists from anonymous type
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="type"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public static IList ToGenericList(Type type)
        {
            return (IList) Activator.CreateInstance(typeof (List<>).MakeGenericType(new[] {type}));
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Return the value of the specified field.
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns>
        /// The <see cref="T:System.Object"/> which will contain the field value upon return.
        /// </returns>
        /// <param name="i">The index of the field to find. 
        /// </param><exception cref="T:System.IndexOutOfRangeException">The index passed was outside the range of 0 through <see cref="P:System.Data.IDataRecord.FieldCount"/>. 
        /// </exception><filterpriority>2</filterpriority>
        public override object GetValue(int i)
        {
            if (i < 0 || i >= Fields.Count)
            {
                throw new IndexOutOfRangeException();
            }

            return Fields[i].Getter(_current);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Advances the <see cref="T:System.Data.IDataReader"/> to the next record.
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns>
        /// true if there are more rows; otherwise, false.
        /// </returns>
        /// <filterpriority>2</filterpriority>
        public override bool Read()
        {
            bool returnValue = _enumerator.MoveNext();
            _current = returnValue ? _enumerator.Current : _type.IsValueType ? Activator.CreateInstance(_type) : null;
            return returnValue;
        }
    }
}

---

// <copyright project="Salient.Data" file="ObjectDataReader.cs" company="Sky Sanders">
// This source is a Public Domain Dedication.
// Please see http://spikes.codeplex.com/ for details.   
// Attribution is appreciated
// </copyright> 
// <version>1.0</version>


using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data;
using Salient.Reflection;

namespace Salient.Data
{
    public abstract class ObjectDataReader : IDataReader
    {
        protected bool Closed;
        protected IList<DynamicProperties.Property> Fields;

        protected ObjectDataReader()
        {
        }

        protected ObjectDataReader(Type elementType)
        {
            SetFields(elementType);
            Closed = false;
        }

        #region IDataReader Members

        public abstract object GetValue(int i);
        public abstract bool Read();

        #endregion

        #region Implementation of IDataRecord

        public int FieldCount
        {
            get { return Fields.Count; }
        }

        public virtual int GetOrdinal(string name)
        {
            for (int i = 0; i < Fields.Count; i++)
            {
                if (Fields[i].Info.Name == name)
                {
                    return i;
                }
            }

            throw new IndexOutOfRangeException("name");
        }

        object IDataRecord.this[int i]
        {
            get { return GetValue(i); }
        }

        public virtual bool GetBoolean(int i)
        {
            return (Boolean) GetValue(i);
        }

       public virtual byte GetByte(int i)
        {
            return (Byte) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual char GetChar(int i)
        {
            return (Char) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual DateTime GetDateTime(int i)
        {
            return (DateTime) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual decimal GetDecimal(int i)
        {
            return (Decimal) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual double GetDouble(int i)
        {
            return (Double) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual Type GetFieldType(int i)
        {
            return Fields[i].Info.PropertyType;
        }

        public virtual float GetFloat(int i)
        {
            return (float) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual Guid GetGuid(int i)
        {
            return (Guid) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual short GetInt16(int i)
        {
            return (Int16) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual int GetInt32(int i)
        {
            return (Int32) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual long GetInt64(int i)
        {
            return (Int64) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual string GetString(int i)
        {
            return (string) GetValue(i);
        }

        public virtual bool IsDBNull(int i)
        {
            return GetValue(i) == null;
        }

        object IDataRecord.this[string name]
        {
            get { return GetValue(GetOrdinal(name)); }
        }


        public virtual string GetDataTypeName(int i)
        {
            return GetFieldType(i).Name;
        }


        public virtual string GetName(int i)
        {
            if (i < 0 || i >= Fields.Count)
            {
                throw new IndexOutOfRangeException("name");
            }
            return Fields[i].Info.Name;
        }

        public virtual int GetValues(object[] values)
        {
            int i = 0;
            for (; i < Fields.Count; i++)
            {
                if (values.Length <= i)
                {
                    return i;
                }
                values[i] = GetValue(i);
            }
            return i;
        }

        public virtual IDataReader GetData(int i)
        {
            // need to think about this one
            throw new NotImplementedException();
        }

        public virtual long GetBytes(int i, long fieldOffset, byte[] buffer, int bufferoffset, int length)
        {
            // need to keep track of the bytes got for each record - more work than i want to do right now
            // http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.idatarecord.getbytes.aspx
            throw new NotImplementedException();
        }

        public virtual long GetChars(int i, long fieldoffset, char[] buffer, int bufferoffset, int length)
        {
            // need to keep track of the bytes got for each record - more work than i want to do right now
            // http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.idatarecord.getchars.aspx
            throw new NotImplementedException();
        }

        #endregion

        #region Implementation of IDataReader

        public virtual void Close()
        {
            Closed = true;
        }


        public virtual DataTable GetSchemaTable()
        {
            var dt = new DataTable();
            foreach (DynamicProperties.Property field in Fields)
            {
                dt.Columns.Add(new DataColumn(field.Info.Name, field.Info.PropertyType));
            }
            return dt;
        }

        public virtual bool NextResult()
        {
            throw new NotImplementedException();
        }


        public virtual int Depth
        {
            get { throw new NotImplementedException(); }
        }

        public virtual bool IsClosed
        {
            get { return Closed; }
        }

        public virtual int RecordsAffected
        {
            get
            {
                // assuming select only?
                return -1;
            }
        }

        #endregion

        #region Implementation of IDisposable

        public virtual void Dispose()
        {
            Fields = null;
        }

        #endregion

        protected void SetFields(Type elementType)
        {
            Fields = DynamicProperties.CreatePropertyMethods(elementType);
        }
    }
}

---

// <copyright project="Salient.Reflection" file="DynamicProperties.cs" company="Sky Sanders">
// This source is a Public Domain Dedication.
// Please see http://spikes.codeplex.com/ for details.   
// Attribution is appreciated
// </copyright> 
// <version>1.0</version>
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Reflection.Emit;

namespace Salient.Reflection
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Gets IL setters and getters for a property.
    /// 
    /// started with http://jachman.wordpress.com/2006/08/22/2000-faster-using-dynamic-method-calls/
    /// </summary>
    public static class DynamicProperties
    {
        #region Delegates

        public delegate object GenericGetter(object target);

        public delegate void GenericSetter(object target, object value);

        #endregion

        public static IList<Property> CreatePropertyMethods(Type T)
        {
            var returnValue = new List<Property>();

            foreach (PropertyInfo prop in T.GetProperties())
            {
                returnValue.Add(new Property(prop));
            }
            return returnValue;
        }


        public static IList<Property> CreatePropertyMethods<T>()
        {
            var returnValue = new List<Property>();

            foreach (PropertyInfo prop in typeof (T).GetProperties())
            {
                returnValue.Add(new Property(prop));
            }
            return returnValue;
        }


        /// <summary>
        /// Creates a dynamic setter for the property
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="propertyInfo"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public static GenericSetter CreateSetMethod(PropertyInfo propertyInfo)
        {
            /*
            * If there's no setter return null
            */
            MethodInfo setMethod = propertyInfo.GetSetMethod();
            if (setMethod == null)
                return null;

            /*
            * Create the dynamic method
            */
            var arguments = new Type[2];
            arguments[0] = arguments[1] = typeof (object);

            var setter = new DynamicMethod(
                String.Concat("_Set", propertyInfo.Name, "_"),
                typeof (void), arguments, propertyInfo.DeclaringType);
            ILGenerator generator = setter.GetILGenerator();
            generator.Emit(OpCodes.Ldarg_0);
            generator.Emit(OpCodes.Castclass, propertyInfo.DeclaringType);
            generator.Emit(OpCodes.Ldarg_1);

            if (propertyInfo.PropertyType.IsClass)
                generator.Emit(OpCodes.Castclass, propertyInfo.PropertyType);
            else
                generator.Emit(OpCodes.Unbox_Any, propertyInfo.PropertyType);

            generator.EmitCall(OpCodes.Callvirt, setMethod, null);
            generator.Emit(OpCodes.Ret);

            /*
            * Create the delegate and return it
            */
            return (GenericSetter) setter.CreateDelegate(typeof (GenericSetter));
        }


        /// <summary>
        /// Creates a dynamic getter for the property
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="propertyInfo"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public static GenericGetter CreateGetMethod(PropertyInfo propertyInfo)
        {
            /*
            * If there's no getter return null
            */
            MethodInfo getMethod = propertyInfo.GetGetMethod();
            if (getMethod == null)
                return null;

            /*
            * Create the dynamic method
            */
            var arguments = new Type[1];
            arguments[0] = typeof (object);

            var getter = new DynamicMethod(
                String.Concat("_Get", propertyInfo.Name, "_"),
                typeof (object), arguments, propertyInfo.DeclaringType);
            ILGenerator generator = getter.GetILGenerator();
            generator.DeclareLocal(typeof (object));
            generator.Emit(OpCodes.Ldarg_0);
            generator.Emit(OpCodes.Castclass, propertyInfo.DeclaringType);
            generator.EmitCall(OpCodes.Callvirt, getMethod, null);

            if (!propertyInfo.PropertyType.IsClass)
                generator.Emit(OpCodes.Box, propertyInfo.PropertyType);

            generator.Emit(OpCodes.Ret);

            /*
            * Create the delegate and return it
            */
            return (GenericGetter) getter.CreateDelegate(typeof (GenericGetter));
        }

        #region Nested type: Property

        public class Property
        {
            public GenericGetter Getter;
            public PropertyInfo Info;
            public GenericSetter Setter;

            public Property(PropertyInfo info)
            {
                Info = info;
                Setter = CreateSetMethod(info);
                Getter = CreateGetMethod(info);
            }
        }

        #endregion

        ///// <summary>
        ///// An expression based Getter getter found in comments. untested.
        ///// Q: i don't see a reciprocal setter expression?
        ///// </summary>
        ///// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
        ///// <param name="propName"></param>
        ///// <returns></returns>
        //public static Func<T> CreateGetPropValue<T>(string propName)
        //{
        //    var param = Expression.Parameter(typeof(object), "container");
        //    var func = Expression.Lambda(
        //    Expression.Convert(Expression.PropertyOrField(Expression.Convert(param, typeof(T)), propName), typeof(object)), param);
        //    return (Func<T>)func.Compile();
        //}
    }
}

---