c# - Specify a unique identifier attribute for an object across webapi Models -

in post call webapi trying return created(newobject) thing. there no signature created in apicontroller can take object , rest.

it works fine if return like:

return created(newobject.blahid.tostring(), newobject); 

or if

return createdatroute("defaultapi", new { controller = controllercontext.controllerdescriptor.controllername, id = newobject.blahid.tostring()}, newobject); 

i want simplify to:

return created(newobject); 

i need implement method in basecontroller

public class basecontroller : apicontroller {     protected new creatednegotiatedcontentresult<t> created<t>(t content)     {         var id = getid(content);//need here         return base.created(id, content);     } } 

i don't want worry unique identifier object being called differently in different models e.g. myobjguid, someblahguid etc. want find out , mark "id".

say if model

 public class model_a {     public list<model_a> childmodels { get; set; }      [lookforthisattribute]//i want     public guid model_aguid { set; get; }      public guid ? parentguid { set; get; }      public list<someotherobject> otherobjects { set; get; } } 

is there attribute([lookforthisattribute]) or can set on models specify guy assumed unique identifier if ever it.

just [key] attribute in entity framework. no matter call it, entity framework know going primary key.

so getid(t content) method can take object , return value of property has [lookforthisattribute] set?

i ended writing own attribute , looking in basecontroller.

[attributeusage(attributetargets.property, allowmultiple = false)] public sealed class uniqueidattribute: attribute     {     } 

and in basecontroller created method:

    protected creatednegotiatedcontentresult<t> created<t>(t content)             {                             var props =typeof(t).getproperties().where(                 prop => attribute.isdefined(prop, typeof(uniqueidattribute)));             if (props.count() == 0)             {                 //log                 return base.created(request.requesturi.tostring(), content);             }             var id = props.firstordefault().getvalue(content).tostring();             return base.created(new uri(request.requesturi + id), content); } 

mark gravell's post here helped me getting value of property has custom attribute: how list of properties given attribute?

along corresponding unit test controllers works fine me.

now can call created(anyobject); apicontrollers without bothering different names people put ids long decorate custom attribute.