Convert List<Model> to array list

Question

i have a model class which look like this

[Table("Agency")]  
        public partial class Agency  
        {  
            [Key]  
            [Column("AgencyID")]  
            public Guid AgencyId { get; set; }  
            [StringLength(200)]  
            [DisplayName("Agency Name")]  
            public string AgencyName { get; set; } = null!;        
            [StringLength(100)]  
            public string? Acronym { get; set; }  
            [DisplayName("Entity Type")]  
            public short? EntityType { get; set; }         
            [StringLength(300)]  
            [EmailFormat]  
            [DisplayName("Agency Email Address")]  
            public string? EmailAddress { get; set; }  
    }  

I am getting the data from DB into list
List<Agency> lstAgencies

would like to check can I convert the List<Agency> to an arraylist or dictionary so that I am able to exist this property of item as such
string strAgenciyName ="AgencyName";

for(int i=0;i<arrAgencies;i++)  
{  
string name = arrAgencies[i][strAgenciyName];  
}  

Answer 1

@Benjamin Chew , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, after my attempt, I find it is hard to access property's value by using the index and property via ArrayList or Dictionary. If you really want to do it, I recommend that you could convert your list to datatable, which may get you what you wanted.

Here is a code example you could refer to.

 static void Main(string[] args)  
        {  
            List<Agency> list = new List<Agency>();  
            list.Add(new Agency { AgencyId = new Guid(), AgencyName = "test1", Acronym = "aa", EntityType = 1, EmailAddress = "******@hotmail.com" });  
            list.Add(new Agency { AgencyId = new Guid(), AgencyName = "test2", Acronym = "bb", EntityType = 2, EmailAddress = "******@hotmail.com" });  
            list.Add(new Agency { AgencyId = new Guid(), AgencyName = "test3", Acronym = "cc", EntityType = 3, EmailAddress = "******@hotmail.com" });  
            DataTable table = ToDataTable<Agency>(list);  
            string strAgenciyName = "AgencyName";  
            for (int i = 0; i < table.Rows.Count; i++)  
            {  
                Console.WriteLine(table.Rows[i][strAgenciyName]);  
            }  
  
        }  
        public static DataTable ToDataTable<T>(List<T> items)  
        {  
            DataTable dataTable = new DataTable(typeof(T).Name);  
  
            //Get all the properties  
            PropertyInfo[] Props = typeof(T).GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance);  
            foreach (PropertyInfo prop in Props)  
            {  
                //Defining type of data column gives proper data table   
                var type = (prop.PropertyType.IsGenericType && prop.PropertyType.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(Nullable<>) ? Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(prop.PropertyType) : prop.PropertyType);  
                //Setting column names as Property names  
                dataTable.Columns.Add(prop.Name, type);  
            }  
            foreach (T item in items)  
            {  
                var values = new object[Props.Length];  
                for (int i = 0; i < Props.Length; i++)  
                {  
                    //inserting property values to datatable rows  
                    values[i] = Props[i].GetValue(item, null);  
                }  
                dataTable.Rows.Add(values);  
            }  
            //put a breakpoint here and check datatable  
            return dataTable;  
        }  
   

Result:

Best Regards,
Jack

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