How do I generate a compiled lambda with method calls?

Question

I'm generating compiled getter methods at runtime for a given member. Right now, my code just assumes that the result of the getter method is a string (worked good for testing). However, I'd like to make this work with a custom converter class I've written, see below, "ConverterBase" reference that I've added.

I can't figure out how to add the call to the converter class to my expression tree.

    public Func<U, string> GetGetter<U>(MemberInfo info)
    {
        Type t = null;
        if (info is PropertyInfo) 
        {
            t = ((PropertyInfo)info).PropertyType;
        }
        else if (info is FieldInfo)
        {
            t = ((FieldInfo)info).FieldType;
        }
        else
        {
            throw new Exception("Unknown member type");
        }

        //TODO, replace with ability to specify in custom attribute
        ConverterBase typeConverter = new ConverterBase();

        ParameterExpression target = Expression.Parameter(typeof(U), "target");
        MemberExpression memberAccess = Expression.MakeMemberAccess(target, info);

        //TODO here, make the expression call "typeConverter.FieldToString(fieldValue)"

        LambdaExpression getter = Expression.Lambda(memberAccess, target);

        return (Func<U, string>)getter.Compile();
    }

I'm looking for what to put in the second TODO area (I can handle the first :)).

The resulting compiled lambda should take an instance of type U as a param, call the specified member access function, then call the converter's "FieldToString" method with the result, and return the resulting string.

Answer 1

You need to wrap the object in an ExpressionConstant, e.g. by using Expression.Constant. Here's an example:

class MyConverter
{
    public string MyToString(int x)
    {
        return x.ToString();
    }
}

static void Main()
{
    MyConverter c = new MyConverter();

    ParameterExpression p = Expression.Parameter(typeof(int), "p");
    LambdaExpression intToStr = Expression.Lambda(
        Expression.Call(
            Expression.Constant(c),
            c.GetType().GetMethod("MyToString"),
            p),
        p);

    Func<int,string> f = (Func<int,string>) intToStr.Compile();

    Console.WriteLine(f(42));
    Console.ReadLine();
}

Answer 2

Can you illustrate what (if it was regular C#) you want the expression to evaluate? I can write the expression easily enough - I just don't fully understand the question...

(edit re comment) - in that case, it'll be something like:

    ConverterBase typeConverter = new ConverterBase();
    var target = Expression.Parameter(typeof(U), "target");
    var getter = Expression.MakeMemberAccess(target, info);
    var converter = Expression.Constant(typeConverter, typeof(ConverterBase));

    return Expression.Lambda<Func<U, string>>(
    Expression.Call(converter, typeof(ConverterBase).GetMethod("FieldToString"),
        getter), target).Compile();

Or if the type refuses to bind, you'll need to inject a cast/convert:

    MethodInfo method = typeof(ConverterBase).GetMethod("FieldToString");
    return Expression.Lambda<Func<U, string>>(
        Expression.Call(converter, method,
            Expression.Convert(getter, method.GetParameters().Single().ParameterType)),
            target).Compile();