Variables Within Variables

Variables can reference other variables. This allows for composing of your data and preventing repeated code.

An example

The following code shows us setting up a FirstName variable and a LastName variable. We also setup a FullName variable that uses both FirstName and LastName to resolve its content:

var replacer = new VariableReplacerFactory()
    .Build(c => c.AddVariables(new Dictionary<string, object>
    {
        ["FirstName"] = "Al",
        ["LastName"] = "Jones",
        ["FullName"] = "$(FirstName) $(LastName)"
    }));

var result = replacer.ReplaceVariables(
    "Hello $(FullName). Can I call you $(FirstName)?"
);
// result will be "Hello Al Jones. Can I call you Al?"

Cyclic References

When resolving a variable, if a cyclic dependency is detected then a CyclicReferenceException is thrown that highlights the cyclic path.

Note

Versions 1.0.30 and earlier would throw an ArgumentException

This example shows this in effect:

var replacer = new VariableReplacerFactory()
    .Build(c => c.AddVariables(new Dictionary<string, object>
    {
        ["FirstName"] = "Al",
        ["LastName"] = "Jones",
        ["FullName"] = "$(FirstName) $(LastName) $(Other)",
        ["Other"] = "Stuff $(Another)",
        ["Another"] = "$(FullName)"
    }));

// This wil throw an exception
var result = replacer.ReplaceVariables(
    "Hello $(FullName). Can I call you $(FirstName)?"
);