c# - Flatten/Unflatten data from Entities to Models with AutoMapper -

i flatten/unflatten classes using automapper, not sure if possible. have listdefo , valuedefo, how list , values defined. user can add them data object. not worried storing valuedefo id against datavalue, need string value. here classes

public class listdefo {     public long id { get; set; }     public virtual icollection<valuedefo> values { get; set; } }  public class valuedefo {     public long id { get; set; }     public string value { get; set; } }  public class data {     public long id { get; set; }     public icollection<datavalue> values { get; set; } }  public class datavalue {     public long id { get; set; }     public virtual listdefo listdefo { get; set; }     public string value { get; set; } } 

currently if use automapper, have following models, data object values property, , each datavalue have id, listdefoid , value.

public class datamodel {     public long id { get; set; }     public icollection<datavaluemodel> values { get; set; } }  public class datavaluemodel {     public long id { get; set; }     public long listid { get; set; }     public string value{ get; set; } } 

this fine suppose, thought cleaner, if instead data object has list of lists, each list has values. this

public class datamodel {     public long id { get; set; }     public icollection<datalistmodel> lists { get; set; } }  public class datalistmodel {     public long id { get; set; }     public string name { get; set; }     public icollection<datavaluemodel> values { get; set; } }  public class datavaluemodel {     public long id { get; set; }     public string value{ get; set; } } 

is possible using automapper? again well

i if changed entities store data models, pointless have list record links data record , value records

you can use custom mapping/resolvers flatten/unflatten classes automapper, more hierarchy classes have more complex resolver be.

you can keep same hierarchy of models(dtos) remove properties think client shouldn't set, when want map-back original entity dto, can ignore these properties , map properties model (dto) has.