Castle.Tools.DictionaryAdapter

What Is The DictionaryAdapter?

The DictionaryAdapter is a tool for runtime generation of typed wrappers around dictionaries, using a predefined interface declaration.
The most obvious use is to wrap the ASP.NET Session object, or MonoRail's PropertyBag/Flash. You can also use that to access your AppSettings from config file, and any other dictionary.

Using The DictionaryAdapter

First, create the interface:

public interface IUserAware
{
	User CurrentUser { get; set; }
	bool IsLoggedIn { get; set; }
}

Now you can create the wrapper:

IDictionaryAdapterFactory dictionaryAdapterFactory = new DictionaryAdapterFactory();
IUserAware session =  dictionaryAdapterFactory.GetAdapter<IUserAware>(Session);
if (session.IsLoggedIn)
    Response.Write(session.CurrentUser.Name);

Using a Generic Base Class For MonoRail Controllers

When using MonoRail, you'd probably want to use generic base classes for your controllers, that would help in creation of the wrappers:

public class WithWrappersController<IViewAdapter> : SmartDispatcherController
{
    private IViewAdapter typedFlash;
    private IViewAdapter typedPropertyBag;

    protected IDictionaryAdapterFactory dictionaryAdapterFactory;

    protected override void Initialize()
    {
        base.Initialize();
        dictionaryAdapterFactory = new DictionaryAdapterFactory();
    }

    protected IViewAdapter TypedFlash
    {
        get
        {
            if (typedFlash == null)
                typedFlash = dictionaryAdapterFactory.GetAdapter<IViewAdapter>(Flash);

            return typedFlash;
        }
    }

    protected IViewAdapter TypedPropertyBag
    {
        get
        {
            if (typedPropertyBag == null)
                typedPropertyBag = dictionaryAdapterFactory.GetAdapter<IViewAdapter>(PropertyBag);

            return typedPropertyBag;
        }
    }
}

public class WithWrappersController<IViewAdapter , ISessionAdapter> : WithWrappersController<IViewAdapter>
{
    private ISessionAdapter typedSession;

    protected ISessionAdapter TypedSession
    {
        get
        {
            if (typedSession == null)
                typedSession = dictionaryAdapterFactory.GetAdapter<ISessionAdapter>(Session);

            return typedSession;
        }
    }
}

And you can use it, like that:

public class CarsController : WithWrappersController<IViewCars, IUserAware>
{
    public void Index()
    {
        if (TypedSession.IsLoggedIn)
        {
            TypedPropertyBag.Message = "Hello " + TypedSession.CurrentUser.Name;
        }
    }

    public void Save([DataBind("car")]Car car)
    {
        if (HasValidationErrors(car))
        {
            TypedFlash.Car = car;
            RedirectToRefferer();
            return
        }
    }

    public void Edit(int carId)

    {
        if (TypedFlash.Car == null)
            TypedPropertyBag.Car = GetCar(carId);
    }
}

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What Is The DictionaryAdapter?

Using The DictionaryAdapter

Using a Generic Base Class For MonoRail Controllers