How to get list of data items list from CRM Metadata Source in code behind?

Question

How to get list of data items list from CRM Metadata Source in code behind?

I have a CRm Metadata Source like

<crm:CrmMetadataDataSource ID="dsquestionOptionset" runat="server" EntityName="contact"
     AttributeName="securityquestion"/>

in the html.

I would like to get list of data items in the code behind from the datasource.

"securityquestion" is an intger value and this is linked to an option set.

I tried like

 var listOfItems=dsquestionOptionset.Items;

But not possible

Any help is appreciated

Vinu

Answer 1

You'll want to query the Metadata. An example (from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg509035.aspx) would be something like:

RetrieveAttributeRequest retrieveAttributeRequest =
    new RetrieveAttributeRequest
{
    EntityLogicalName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    LogicalName = "new_picklist",
    RetrieveAsIfPublished = true
};

// Execute the request.
RetrieveAttributeResponse retrieveAttributeResponse =
    (RetrieveAttributeResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(
    retrieveAttributeRequest);

// Access the retrieved attribute.
PicklistAttributeMetadata retrievedPicklistAttributeMetadata =
    (PicklistAttributeMetadata)
    retrieveAttributeResponse.AttributeMetadata;

// Get the current options list for the retrieved attribute.
OptionMetadata[] optionList =
    retrievedPicklistAttributeMetadata.OptionSet.Options.ToArray();