I have a dynamic list of data with a dynamic number of columns being created by a PIVOT function. Everything more or less works, but I wanted to apply some custom formatting to some of the columns. I figured out how to get a list of the columns by just taking the first row and casting it like so:
var columns = Model.Comparisons.Select(x => x).FirstOrDefault() as IDictionary<string, object>;
Next I decided to create my List by looping over the "columns", which works as long as I reference the dynamic fields in the "format:" clause by their dynamic field name directly for example:
foreach (var c in columns)
{
switch (c.Key)
{
case "Cost":
cols.Add(grid.Column(
columnName: c.Key,
header: c.Key,
format: (item) => Convert.ToDecimal(item.Cost).ToString("C")));
break;
default:
cols.Add(grid.Column(columnName: c.Key, header: c.Key, format: item => item[c.Key]));
break;
}
}
The "default" does not dynamically get the value of each record. I believe it has to do with the "item[c.Key]" vs item.Cost. The problem is I don't want to have to write different case for each field, primarily because I don't know them ahead of time as the data can change. There are about 6 fields that will always be present. I do know however the datatype, which is why I wanted to put a custom format on them.
EDIT
I managed to solve this by writing an extension method.
public static class DynamicDataHelper
{
public static WebGridColumn GetColumn(this HtmlHelper helper, string vendor)
{
return new WebGridColumn()
{
ColumnName = vendor,
Header = vendor,
Format = (item) => helper.ActionLink(
(string)Convert.ToDecimal(item[vendor]).ToString("C"),
"VendorSearch",
"Compare",
new { Vendor = vendor, mpn = item.MPN },
new { target = "_blank" })
};
}
}
