Exporting class containing an ObservableCollection to csv in C# - csv

Question

I've found many solutions for exporting a class to CSV but my problem is this:
The class I'm trying to export has a property that is an observablecollection. eg:
public class ShipmentForExport
{
public string WaybillNumber { get; set; }
public DateTime WaybillDate { get; set; }
public string CustomerName { get; set; }
public string CustomerCode { get; set; }
public string CollectingBranchName { get; set; }
public string CollectingBranchCode { get; set; }
public string RecipientName { get; set; }
public string RecipientPhoneNumber { get; set; }
public string RecipientCellphoneNumber { get; set; }
public string RecipientCompany { get; set; }
public string DestinationAddress1 { get; set; }
public string DestinationAddress2 { get; set; }
public string DestinationCity { get; set; }
public string DestinationSuburb { get; set; }
public string DestinationProvince { get; set; }
public string DestinationCountry { get; set; }
public string DestinationPostalCode { get; set; }
***public ObservableCollection<InHouseParcel> Parcels { get; set; }***
}
When I try export a list of shipments to csv it works but obviously the parcels do not export the way I want them to.
I have tried using Filehelpers Library and csvHelper as well.
Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Answer 1

Josh's answer is outdated nowadays. You can use a typeconverter like:
CsvHelper.TypeConversion.TypeConverterFactory.AddConverter<ObservableCollection<string>>(new CsvHelper.TypeConversion.StringListConverter());
using (var txt = new StreamReader(filename))
using (var reader = new CsvHelper.CsvReader(txt))
{ .... }
namespace CsvHelper.TypeConversion
{
public sealed class StringListConverter : DefaultTypeConverter
{
public override object ConvertFromString(TypeConverterOptions options, string text)
{
var oc = new ObservableCollection<string>();
if (text.IndexOf('|') >= 0)
{
var list = text.Split('|').ToList<string>();// base.ConvertFromString(options, text);
oc = new ObservableCollection<string>(list);
}
return oc;
}
public override string ConvertToString(TypeConverterOptions options, object value)
{
var l = value as IEnumerable<string>;
if ( l == null || l.Count() == 0)
{
return "";
}
return string.Join("|", l);
}
public override bool CanConvertFrom(Type type)
{
return type == typeof(string);
}
}
}

Answer 2

Using CsvHelper (a library I maintain)...
When writing, you'll have to write manually because writing of collection properties isn't supported.
foreach( var record in records )
{
csv.WriteField( record.WaybillNumber );
...
foreach( var parcel in record.Parcels )
{
csv.WriteField( parcel );
}
}
Reading is a little easier because you can add it in the mapping.
Map( m => m.Parcels ).ConvertUsing( row =>
{
var oc = new ObservableCollection<InHouseParcel>();
var parcel = row.GetField<InHouseParcel>( 17 );
oc.Add( parcel );
} );
You'll need to convert the field values into InHouseParcel and loop through the remainder of the fields in the row. I'll leave that task to you.