How to insert values into C# Dictionary on instantiation?

Question

Does anyone know if there is a way I can insert values into a C# Dictionary when I create it? I can, but don\'t want to, do dict.Add(int, \"string\") for each item

Answer 1

Just so you know as of C# 6 you can now initialize it as follows

var students = new Dictionary<int, StudentName>()
{
    [111] = new StudentName {FirstName="Sachin", LastName="Karnik", ID=211},
    [112] = new StudentName {FirstName="Dina", LastName="Salimzianova", ID=317},
    [113] = new StudentName {FirstName="Andy", LastName="Ruth", ID=198}
};

Much cleaner :)

Answer 2

This isn't generally recommended but in times of uncertain crises you can use

Dictionary<string, object> jsonMock = new Dictionary<string, object>() { { "object a", objA }, { "object b", objB } };

// example of unserializing
ClassForObjectA anotherObjA = null;
if(jsonMock.Contains("object a")) {
    anotherObjA = (ClassForObjA)jsonMock["object a"];
}