Get class properties by class name as string in C#

Question

Can I get class properties if i have class name as string? My entities are in class library project and I tried different methods to get type and get assembly but i am unable to get the class instance.

var obj = (object)"User";
var type = obj.GetType();
System.Activator.CreateInstance(type);

object oform;
var clsName = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().CreateInstance("[namespace].[formname]");

Type type = Type.GetType("BOEntities.User");
Object user = Activator.CreateInstance(type);

nothing is working

Just to be sure, the User type is not in an assembly you already reference? Because then you should simply use var type = typeof(User); as your first step. — Jeppe Stig Nielsen
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen, Commented Feb 20, 2013 at 11:38

Jon Skeet · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-20 11:32:09Z

4

I suspect you're looking for:

Type type = Type.GetType("User");
Object user = Activator.CreateInstance(type);

Note:

This will only look in mscorlib and the currently executing assembly unless you also specify the assembly in the name
It needs to be a namespace-qualified name, e.g. MyProject.User

EDIT: To access a type in a different assembly, you can either use an assembly-qualified type name, or just use Assembly.GetType, e.g.

Assembly libraryAssembly = typeof(SomeKnownTypeInLibrary).Assembly;
Type type = libraryAssembly.GetType("LibraryNamespace.User");
Object user = Activator.CreateInstance(type);

(Note that I haven't addressed getting properties as nothing else in your question talked about that. But Type.GetProperties should work fine.)

edited Feb 20, 2013 at 11:32

answered Feb 20, 2013 at 11:22

Jon Skeet

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4 Comments

Imran Rashid Over a year ago

this is not working me i have mentioned my class is in different project how can i get the reference of that assembly?

Jon Skeet Over a year ago

@ImranRashid: You mentioned that it was in a class library project, but you didn't say where this code was running. That's why it's important to be clear. Will edit.

Imran Rashid Over a year ago

Type.GetType("BOEntities.User") is returning null. I am running it in Unit Test project

Jon Skeet Over a year ago

@ImranRashid: Did you read my edit? And if you know the name at compile-time, why don't you just use typeof?

Darin Dimitrov · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-20 11:22:19Z

2

Can I get class properties if i have class name as string?

Of course:

var type = obj.GetType();
PropertyInfo[] properties = type.GetProperties();

This will get a list of public instance properties. If you need to access private or static properties you might need to indicate that:

var type = obj.GetType();
PropertyInfo[] properties = type.GetProperties(BindingFlags.NonPublic);

answered Feb 20, 2013 at 11:22

Darin Dimitrov

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Comments

Tomtom · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-20 11:23:35Z

0

Try

Type type = Type.GetType("Assembly with namespace");

answered Feb 20, 2013 at 11:23

Tomtom

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