Develop Reference

Distinct method doesn't work for class with overriden Equals

I created class with overriden Equals. The problem is that Distinct method doesn't work for my class.
class MyClass
{
public int Item1 { get; private set; }
public int Item2 { get; private set; }
public MyClass(int item1, int item2)=>(Item1,Item2)=(item1,item2);
public override bool Equals(object obj)
{
var other = obj as MyClass;
if (other == null)
{
return false;
}
return (this.Item1 == other.Item1 && this.Item2 == other.Item2);
}
}
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
MyClass x = new MyClass(1, 0);
MyClass y = new MyClass(1, 0);
var list = new List<MyClass>();
list.Add(x);
list.Add(y);
bool b = x.Equals(y)); //True
var distincts = list.Distinct(); //Doesn't work, contains both
}
}
How can I fix that and why it doesn't use my Equals in Distinct?

Distinct docs:
Returns distinct elements from a sequence by using the default equality comparer to compare values.
Let's see what the default equality comparer does:
The Default property checks whether type T implements the System.IEquatable<T> interface and, if so, returns an EqualityComparer<T> that uses that implementation. Otherwise, it returns an EqualityComparer<T> that uses the overrides of Object.Equals and Object.GetHashCode provided by T.
So basically, to make this work, you either:
implement GetHashCode as well
implement IEquatable<T>
Call the overload of Distinct that accepts a custom equality comparer.
If I were you, I would choose the second one because you need to change the least of your code.
class MyClass: IEquatable<MyClass> {
...
public bool Equals(MyClass obj)
{
if (obj == null)
{
return false;
}
return (this.Item1 == obj.Item1 && this.Item2 == obj.Item2);
}
}

You have to override GetHashCode as well:
public override int GetHashCode()
{
return Item1; // or something
}
Distinct first compares the hashcodes, which should be computed faster than the actual Equals. Equals is only further evaulated if the hashcodes are equal for two instances.

You need to implement IEquatable<MyClass> in MyClass and provide your own implementation of GetHashCode and Equals method.
see this for more information.
class MyClass
{
public int Item1 { get; private set; }
public int Item2 { get; private set; }
public MyClass(int item1, int item2)=>(Item1,Item2)=(item1,item2);
public override bool Equals(object obj)
{
var other = obj as MyClass;
if (other == null)
{
return false;
}
return (this.Item1 == other.Item1 && this.Item2 == other.Item2);
}
public override int GetHashCode()
{
return this.Item1;
}
}

c# List contain Item

I have a class named accessoire :
class accessoire
{
public int value1 { get; set; }
public string Value2 { get; set; }
}
then i have a List of that product
List<accessoire> accessoires
And i have an UI where the user pick the product he wants from a DataGridview and when he selected it launch an event that add this item to the list :
private void ProductBrowser_OnItemAdded(Accessoire item)
{
if (Cart.Contains(item))
{
MessageBox.Show("Produit deja ajoutée au panier ! ");
}
else
{
Cart.Add(item);
ProductView.Rows.Add(item.Ref, item.Name, Function.CatName(item.Cat), item.SellPrice, "1", Convert.ToDouble(item.SellPrice) * Convert.ToDouble(item.QtetoSell));
TotalPriceSet();
MessageBox.Show("Produit Ajouté !");
}
}
this doesnt work , but when i change it to :
private void ProductBrowser_OnItemAdded(Accessoire item)
{
var InList = Cart.Find(product => product.Ref == item.Ref);
if (Cart.Contains(InList))
{
MessageBox.Show("Product already in list ! ");
}
else
{
Cart.Add(item);
ProductView.Rows.Add(item.Ref, item.Name, Function.CatName(item.Cat), item.SellPrice, "1", Convert.ToDouble(item.SellPrice) * Convert.ToDouble(item.QtetoSell));
TotalPriceSet();
MessageBox.Show("product added !");
}
}
it works , but i'am still wondering why the first code doesnt work it keep adding that item to the list ? in other way how does the method .Contains()works ? what does it check to know if the item is or the list on not ?

The reason it doesn't find the object in the list is because it is a reference comparison, comparing the instances of the object, not the values. You can have two instances of your class with the same values in their properties, but if you compare them, they are not equal:
accessoire item1 = new accessoire();
item1.value1 = 1;
item1.value2 = "one";
accessoire item2 = new accessoire();
item2.value1 = 1;
item2.value2 = "one";
if(item1 == item2) MessageBox.Show("Same");
else MessageBox.Show("Different");
When you select the item from the list to compare with, you are pulling the specific instance, which does exist in the list.

You need to implement the Equals method of accessoire to properly compare all properties/fields in it. The default implementation of Equals uses ReferenceEquals, which only works if the two instances are in fact the same.

if (Cart.Contains(item))
is matching by equality.
If object.Equals(T) is not satisified, it will fail. That means the smallest change, even whitespace in a string, will return false. You'll also get a false result if you have two instances of the same class. Contains must refer to exactly item.
var InList = Cart.Find(product => product.Ref == item.Ref) is a match by property. This means that other properties of the product/item can all be different, as long as .Ref matches. I presume Ref is a primary key, which is why you're not getting problems in your result where Find() returns the wrong item.
You can get around the difference by overriding Equals for Cart, but I don't recommend it. It can make debugging hell later.

Just implement the equals method
// override object.Equals
public override bool Equals(object obj)
{
//
// See the full list of guidelines at
// http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=85237
// and also the guidance for operator== at
// http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=85238
//
if (obj == null || GetType() != obj.GetType())
{
return false;
}
var data = (accessoire)obj;
return this.Ref.Equals(data.Ref);
}
// override object.GetHashCode
public override int GetHashCode()
{
return this.Ref.GetHashCode()
}

You were doing reference compare and the references don't match in your first example, but do in your second. You probably want to do equality comparison. Are the values of both objects the same.
Below is your class implemented with the various methods used for equality comparing. You would just need to modify them to suit your purposes.
// IEquatable<T> provides typed equality comparing
class accessoire : IEquatable<accessoire>
{
public int Value1 { get; set; }
public string Value2 { get; set; }
// you can override Equals.
public override bool Equals(object obj)
{
return this.Equals(obj as accessoire);
}
// this comes from IEquatable<T>
public bool Equals(accessoire other)
{
if (ReferenceEquals(null, other))
{
return false;
}
// return the comparison that makes them equal.
return
this.Value1.Equals(this.Value1) &&
this.Value2.Equals(this.Value2);
}
public override int GetHashCode()
{
unchecked
{
int hash = 37;
hash *= 23 + this.Value1.GetHashCode();
hash *= 23 + this.Value2.GetHashCode();
return hash;
}
}
// allows you to check equality with the == operator
public static bool operator ==(accessoire left, accessoire right)
{
if (ReferenceEquals(left, right))
{
return true;
}
if ((oject)left == null || (object)right == null)
{
return false;
}
return left.Equals(right);
}
public static bool operator !=(accessoire left, accessoire right)
{
return !left.Equals(right);
}
}

List contains list

Hi I have the following lists:
var CustomerName = new List<Customer>();
var DummyData = new List<Customer>();
How can I quickly check that DummyData is contained inside of CustomerName? Also performance is key as these lists might contain thousands of values.

Brute Force Method
Use linq all method against the DummyData variable O(N*K)
// If you override Equals and GetHashCode or are comparing by reference
DummyData.All(a=>CustomerName.Contains(a))
//If you compare by property
DummyData.All(a=>
CustomerName.Any(b=>
a.FirstName==b.FirstName &&
a.LastName == b.LastName
//repeat to include checks for all properties
)
);
Using a HashSet
Put your results into a hashset and use linq's All method again checking if hashset contains items, takes N steps to build hashset and K steps to check, complexity is O(N+K)
var hs = new HashSet<Customer>(CustomerName);
DummyData.All(a=>hs.Contains(a));
You will need to override Equals And GetHashCode
If you haven't overriden these two yet you'll need to unless you want to compare properties and this prevents you from using the hash set method as well
public class Customer
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
public string LastName { get; set; }
public override bool Equals(object obj)
{
var customer = obj as Customer;
return customer != null && Equals(customer);
}
protected bool Equals(Customer other)
{
return string.Equals(FirstName, other.FirstName) && string.Equals(LastName, other.LastName);
}
public override int GetHashCode()
{
unchecked
{
return ((FirstName?.GetHashCode() ?? 0)*397) ^ (LastName?.GetHashCode() ?? 0);
}
}
}

IEnumerable.Except() and a custom comparer

I'm having troubles with the Except() method.
Instead of returning the difference, it returns the original set.
I've tried implementing the IEquatable and IEqualityComparer in the Account class.
I've also tried creating a separate IEqualityComparer class for Account.
When the Except() method is called from main, it doesn't seem to call my custom Equals() method, but when I tried Count(), it did call the custom GetHashCode() method!
I'm sure I made a trivial mistake somewhere and I hope a fresh pair of eyes can help me.
main:
IEnumerable<Account> everyPartnerID =
from partner in dataContext.Partners
select new Account { IDPartner = partner.ID, Name = partner.Name };
IEnumerable<Account> hasAccountPartnerID =
from partner in dataContext.Partners
from account in dataContext.Accounts
where
!partner.ID.Equals(Guid.Empty) &&
account.IDPartner.Equals(partner.ID) &&
account.Username.Equals("Special")
select new Account { IDPartner = partner.ID, Name = partner.Name };
IEnumerable<Account> noAccountPartnerID =
everyPartnerID.Except(
hasAccountPartnerID,
new LambdaComparer<Account>((x, y) => x.IDPartner.Equals(y.IDPartner)));
Account:
public class Account : IEquatable<Account>
{
public Guid IDPartner{ get; set; }
public string Name{ get; set; }
/* #region IEquatable<Account> Members
public bool Equals(Account other)
{
return this.IDPartner.Equals(other.IDPartner);
}
#endregion*/
}
LambdaComparer:
public class LambdaComparer<T> : IEqualityComparer<T>
{
private readonly Func<T, T, bool> _lambdaComparer;
private readonly Func<T, int> _lambdaHash;
public LambdaComparer(Func<T, T, bool> lambdaComparer) :
this(lambdaComparer, o => o.GetHashCode())
{
}
public LambdaComparer(Func<T, T, bool> lambdaComparer, Func<T, int> lambdaHash)
{
if (lambdaComparer == null)
throw new ArgumentNullException("lambdaComparer");
if (lambdaHash == null)
throw new ArgumentNullException("lambdaHash");
_lambdaComparer = lambdaComparer;
_lambdaHash = lambdaHash;
}
public bool Equals(T x, T y)
{
return _lambdaComparer(x, y);
}
public int GetHashCode(T obj)
{
return _lambdaHash(obj);
}
}

Basically your LambdaComparer class is broken when you pass in just a single function, because it uses the "identity hash code" provider if you don't provide anything else. The hash code is used by Except, and that's what's causing the problem.
Three options here:
Implement your own ExceptBy method and then preferably contribute it to MoreLINQ which contains that sort of thing.
Use a different implementation of IEqualityComparer<T>. I have a ProjectionEqualityComparer class you can use in MiscUtil - or you can use the code as posted in another question.
Pass a lambda expression into your LambdaComparer code to use for the hash:
new LambdaComparer<Account>((x, y) => x.IDPartner.Equals(y.IDPartner)),
x => x.IDPartner.GetHashCode());

You could also quickly fix your LambdaComparer to work when only the equality parameters are supplied like this:
public LambdaComparer(Func<T, T, bool> lambdaComparer) :
this(lambdaComparer, o => 1)
{
}

Look here, how to use and implementing IEqualityComparer in way with linq.Except and beyond.
https://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/352582-linq-by-example-3-methods-using-iequalitycomparer/
public class Department {
public string Code { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
}
public class DepartmentComparer : IEqualityComparer {
// equal if their Codes are equal
public bool Equals(Department x, Department y) {
// reference the same objects?
if (Object.ReferenceEquals(x, y)) return true;
// is either null?
if (Object.ReferenceEquals(x, null) || Object.ReferenceEquals(y, null))
return false;
return x.Code == y.Code;
}
public int GetHashCode(Department dept) {
// If Equals() returns true for a pair of objects
// then GetHashCode() must return the same value for these objects.
// if null default to 0
if (Object.ReferenceEquals(dept, null)) return 0;
return dept.Code.GetHashCode();
}
}
IEnumerable<Department> deptExcept = departments.Except(departments2,
new DepartmentComparer());
foreach (Department dept in deptExcept) {
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}", dept.Code, dept.Name);
}
// departments not in departments2: AC, Accounts.

IMO, this answer above is the simplest solution compared to other solutions for this problem. I tweaked it such that I use the same logic for the Object class's Equals() and GetHasCode(). The benefit is that this solution is completely transparent to the client linq expression.
public class Ericsson4GCell
{
public string CellName { get; set; }
public string OtherDependantProperty { get; set; }
public override bool Equals(Object y)
{
var rhsCell = y as Ericsson4GCell;
// reference the same objects?
if (Object.ReferenceEquals(this, rhsCell)) return true;
// is either null?
if (Object.ReferenceEquals(this, null) || Object.ReferenceEquals(rhsCell, null))
return false;
return this.CellName == rhsCell.CellName;
}
public override int GetHashCode()
{
// If Equals() returns true for a pair of objects
// then GetHashCode() must return the same value for these objects.
// if null default to 0
if (Object.ReferenceEquals(this, null)) return 0;
return this.CellName.GetHashCode();
}
}

Distinct not working with LINQ to Objects [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
LINQ's Distinct() on a particular property
(23 answers)
Closed 23 days ago.
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
List<Book> books = new List<Book>
{
new Book
{
Name="C# in Depth",
Authors = new List<Author>
{
new Author
{
FirstName = "Jon", LastName="Skeet"
},
new Author
{
FirstName = "Jon", LastName="Skeet"
},
}
},
new Book
{
Name="LINQ in Action",
Authors = new List<Author>
{
new Author
{
FirstName = "Fabrice", LastName="Marguerie"
},
new Author
{
FirstName = "Steve", LastName="Eichert"
},
new Author
{
FirstName = "Jim", LastName="Wooley"
},
}
},
};
var temp = books.SelectMany(book => book.Authors).Distinct();
foreach (var author in temp)
{
Console.WriteLine(author.FirstName + " " + author.LastName);
}
Console.Read();
}
}
public class Book
{
public string Name { get; set; }
public List<Author> Authors { get; set; }
}
public class Author
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
public string LastName { get; set; }
public override bool Equals(object obj)
{
return true;
//if (obj.GetType() != typeof(Author)) return false;
//else return ((Author)obj).FirstName == this.FirstName && ((Author)obj).FirstName == this.LastName;
}
}
This is based on an example in "LINQ in Action". Listing 4.16.
This prints Jon Skeet twice. Why? I have even tried overriding Equals method in Author class. Still Distinct does not seem to work. What am I missing?
Edit:
I have added == and != operator overload too. Still no help.
public static bool operator ==(Author a, Author b)
{
return true;
}
public static bool operator !=(Author a, Author b)
{
return false;
}

LINQ Distinct is not that smart when it comes to custom objects.
All it does is look at your list and see that it has two different objects (it doesn't care that they have the same values for the member fields).
One workaround is to implement the IEquatable interface as shown here.
If you modify your Author class like so it should work.
public class Author : IEquatable<Author>
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
public string LastName { get; set; }
public bool Equals(Author other)
{
if (FirstName == other.FirstName && LastName == other.LastName)
return true;
return false;
}
public override int GetHashCode()
{
int hashFirstName = FirstName == null ? 0 : FirstName.GetHashCode();
int hashLastName = LastName == null ? 0 : LastName.GetHashCode();
return hashFirstName ^ hashLastName;
}
}
Try it as DotNetFiddle

The Distinct() method checks reference equality for reference types. This means it is looking for literally the same object duplicated, not different objects which contain the same values.
There is an overload which takes an IEqualityComparer, so you can specify different logic for determining whether a given object equals another.
If you want Author to normally behave like a normal object (i.e. only reference equality), but for the purposes of Distinct check equality by name values, use an IEqualityComparer. If you always want Author objects to be compared based on the name values, then override GetHashCode and Equals, or implement IEquatable.
The two members on the IEqualityComparer interface are Equals and GetHashCode. Your logic for determining whether two Author objects are equal appears to be if the First and Last name strings are the same.
public class AuthorEquals : IEqualityComparer<Author>
{
public bool Equals(Author left, Author right)
{
if((object)left == null && (object)right == null)
{
return true;
}
if((object)left == null || (object)right == null)
{
return false;
}
return left.FirstName == right.FirstName && left.LastName == right.LastName;
}
public int GetHashCode(Author author)
{
return (author.FirstName + author.LastName).GetHashCode();
}
}

Another solution without implementing IEquatable, Equals and GetHashCode is to use the LINQs GroupBy method and to select the first item from the IGrouping.
var temp = books.SelectMany(book => book.Authors)
.GroupBy (y => y.FirstName + y.LastName )
.Select (y => y.First ());
foreach (var author in temp){
Console.WriteLine(author.FirstName + " " + author.LastName);
}

There is one more way to get distinct values from list of user defined data type:
YourList.GroupBy(i => i.Id).Select(i => i.FirstOrDefault()).ToList();
Surely, it will give distinct set of data

Distinct() performs the default equality comparison on objects in the enumerable. If you have not overridden Equals() and GetHashCode(), then it uses the default implementation on object, which compares references.
The simple solution is to add a correct implementation of Equals() and GetHashCode() to all classes which participate in the object graph you are comparing (ie Book and Author).
The IEqualityComparer interface is a convenience that allows you to implement Equals() and GetHashCode() in a separate class when you don't have access to the internals of the classes you need to compare, or if you are using a different method of comparison.

You've overriden Equals(), but make sure you also override GetHashCode()

The Above answers are wrong!!!
Distinct as stated on MSDN returns the default Equator which as stated The Default property checks whether type T implements the System.IEquatable interface and, if so, returns an EqualityComparer that uses that implementation. Otherwise, it returns an EqualityComparer that uses the overrides of Object.Equals and Object.GetHashCode provided by T
Which means as long as you overide Equals you are fine.
The reason you're code is not working is because you check firstname==lastname.
see https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/bb348436(v=vs.100).aspx and https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms224763(v=vs.100).aspx

You can achieve this several ways:
1. You may to implement the IEquatable interface as shown Enumerable.Distinct Method or you can see #skalb's answer at this post
2. If your object has not unique key, You can use GroupBy method for achive distinct object list, that you must group object's all properties and after select first object.
For example like as below and working for me:
var distinctList= list.GroupBy(x => new {
Name= x.Name,
Phone= x.Phone,
Email= x.Email,
Country= x.Country
}, y=> y)
.Select(x => x.First())
.ToList()
MyObject class is like as below:
public class MyClass{
public string Name{get;set;}
public string Phone{get;set;}
public string Email{get;set;}
public string Country{get;set;}
}
3. If your object's has unique key, you can only use the it in group by.
For example my object's unique key is Id.
var distinctList= list.GroupBy(x =>x.Id)
.Select(x => x.First())
.ToList()

You can use extension method on list which checks uniqueness based on computed Hash.
You can also change extension method to support IEnumerable.
Example:
public class Employee{
public string Name{get;set;}
public int Age{get;set;}
}
List<Employee> employees = new List<Employee>();
employees.Add(new Employee{Name="XYZ", Age=30});
employees.Add(new Employee{Name="XYZ", Age=30});
employees = employees.Unique(); //Gives list which contains unique objects.
Extension Method:
public static class LinqExtension
{
public static List<T> Unique<T>(this List<T> input)
{
HashSet<string> uniqueHashes = new HashSet<string>();
List<T> uniqueItems = new List<T>();
input.ForEach(x =>
{
string hashCode = ComputeHash(x);
if (uniqueHashes.Contains(hashCode))
{
return;
}
uniqueHashes.Add(hashCode);
uniqueItems.Add(x);
});
return uniqueItems;
}
private static string ComputeHash<T>(T entity)
{
System.Security.Cryptography.SHA1CryptoServiceProvider sh = new System.Security.Cryptography.SHA1CryptoServiceProvider();
string input = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(entity);
byte[] originalBytes = ASCIIEncoding.Default.GetBytes(input);
byte[] encodedBytes = sh.ComputeHash(originalBytes);
return BitConverter.ToString(encodedBytes).Replace("-", "");
}

The Equal operator in below code is incorrect.
Old
public bool Equals(Author other)
{
if (FirstName == other.FirstName && LastName == other.LastName)
return true;
return false;
}
NEW
public override bool Equals(Object obj)
{
var other = obj as Author;
if (other is null)
{
return false;
}
if (FirstName == other.FirstName && LastName == other.LastName)
return true;
return false;
}

Instead of
var temp = books.SelectMany(book => book.Authors).Distinct();
Do
var temp = books.SelectMany(book => book.Authors).DistinctBy(f => f.Property);