Search code examples
c#.netvalidation.net-4.0metadatatype

.NET 4 RTM MetadataType attribute ignored when using Validator


I am using VS 2010 RTM and trying to perform some basic validation on a simple type using MetadataTypeAttribute. When I put the validation attribute on the main class, everything works. However, when I put it on the metadata class, it seems to be ignored. I must be missing something trivial, but I've been stuck on this for a while now.

I had a look at the Enterprise Library validation block as a workaround, but it doesn't support validation of single properties out of the box. Any ideas?

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Stuff t = new Stuff();

        try
        {
            Validator.ValidateProperty(t.X, new ValidationContext(t, null, null) { MemberName = "X" });
            Console.WriteLine("Failed!");
        }
        catch (ValidationException)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Succeeded!");
        }
    }
}

[MetadataType(typeof(StuffMetadata))]
public class Stuff
{
    //[Required]  //works here
    public string X { get; set; }
}

public class StuffMetadata
{
    [Required]  //no effect here
    public string X { get; set; }
}

Solution

  • It seems that the Validator doesn't respect MetadataTypeAttribute:

    http://forums.silverlight.net/forums/p/149264/377212.aspx

    The relationship must be explicity registered:

     TypeDescriptor.AddProviderTransparent(
          new AssociatedMetadataTypeTypeDescriptionProvider(
              typeof(Stuff),
              typeof(StuffMetadata)), 
          typeof(Stuff)); 
    

    This helper class will register all the metadata relationships in an assembly:

    public static class MetadataTypesRegister
    {
        static bool installed = false;
        static object installedLock = new object();
    
        public static void InstallForThisAssembly()
        {
            if (installed)
            {
                return;
            }
    
            lock (installedLock)
            {
                if (installed)
                {
                    return;
                }
    
                foreach (Type type in Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetTypes())
                {
                    foreach (MetadataTypeAttribute attrib in type.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(MetadataTypeAttribute), true))
                    {
                        TypeDescriptor.AddProviderTransparent(
                            new AssociatedMetadataTypeTypeDescriptionProvider(type, attrib.MetadataClassType), type);
                    }
                }
    
                installed = true;
            }
        }
    }