AutoMapper and interface typed collections -

i'm new automapper. sorry if simple.

this sample domain:

i have basket. contains list of food. food either banana or pickle.

i have dtos mirror each class in domain. goal: basketdto, map , contents basket.

this code fails. after last line have basket, it's filled dtos instead of regular entities :(

class program {     static void main(string[] args)     {         mapper.createmap<basketdto, basket>();         mapper.createmap<pickledto, pickle>();         mapper.createmap<bananadto, banana>();          var dto = new basketdto                   {                       food = new list<ifood>                              {                                  new pickledto { name = "bigpickle" },                                  new bananadto { name = "smallbanana" },                              }                   };          var basketfromdto = mapper.map<basket>(dto);     } }  // domain classes , interfaces --------------  interface ifood {     string name { get; set; } }  class banana : ifood {     public string name { get; set; } }  class pickle : ifood {     public string name { get; set; } }  class basket {     public ilist<ifood> food { get; set; } }  // dtos -------------  class basketdto {     public ilist<ifood> food { get; set; } }  class pickledto : ifood {     public string name { get; set; } }  class bananadto : ifood {     public string name { get; set; } } 

what should map children using food ilist? mappin interfaces , hierarchies complex!

thanks lot.

the problem here automapper doesn't know how want converted. food items derive ifood, mapping performing simplest (and correct). can force appropriate mapping creating typeconverter - might work:

public class foodconverter : typeconverter<ifood, ifood> {     protected override ifood convertcore(ifood source)     {         if (source pickledto) return mapper.map<pickle>(source);         if (source bananadto) return mapper.map<banana>(source);         return null;     } } 

this can configured in mapping this:

mapper.createmap<ifood, ifood>().convertusing<foodconverter>(); 

personally take little further have have dto food items derive from:

interface ifooddto {     string name { get; set; } } 

this make intention little clearer automapper.

finally, dont forget call assertconfigurationisvalid in mapping.