StringQueryMap (SQM)

A lightweight library for serializing and deserializing key-value pairs as strings. All data is stored internally as strings, and parsing to the requested type T happens on retrieval.

Compatible with all .NET versions >= netstandard2.0

NOTE: Designed to be stable and low-maintenance. Unit tests guarantee safe and predictable usage.

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Installation

You can install the package via NuGet:

dotnet add package StringQueryMap

Or via the Package Manager Console:

Install-Package StringQueryMap

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Features

• Serialization: All key-value pairs are converted to string using ToString() when added.
• Deserialization: Values are parsed to the requested type T on retrieval.
• Generic support: Works with any type T that either has a built-in parser (21 types supported) or provides a public static Parse(string) method.
• Custom delimiters and joiners: Flexible string syntax.
• Safe access: ContainsKey, TryGet, and Get for safe and exact retrieval.

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Usage

Serialization

var sqm = new SQM("=", ";");
sqm.Add("one", 1);
sqm.Add("pi", 3.14);
sqm.Add("name", "Alice");

string serialized = sqm.ToString(); // "one=1;pi=3.14;name=Alice"

All values are stored internally as strings via ToString().

Deserialization

SQM provides two parsing approaches:

• Exact Parsing – Get<T>: throws exceptions if parsing fails or key not found.
• Safe Parsing – TryGet<T>: returns a boolean indicating success.

var data = "a=1;b=2;c=true";
var sqm = SQM.Parse(data, "=", ";");

// Exact parse
int a = sqm.Get<int>("a");     // 1
int b = sqm.Get<int>("b");     // 2
bool c = sqm.Get<bool>("c");   // true

// Safe parse
bool foundX = sqm.TryGet<int>("x", out int xValue); // false

Custom types must provide a public static Parse(string) method:

var customData = "item1=42;item2=100";
var customMapper = SQM.Parse(customData, "=", ";");

int value1 = customMapper.Get<CustomWithParse>("item1").Value;
int value2 = customMapper.Get<CustomWithParse>("item2").Value;

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Built-in Types with Integrated Parsing

bool, byte, sbyte, char, decimal, double, float, int, uint, long, ulong, short, ushort, string, Guid, DateTime, DateTimeOffset, TimeSpan, Version, Uri, IPAddress, BigInteger, CultureInfo, and enums (any enum type)

These 21 types plus enums are parsed directly without reflection. All other types rely on reflection to locate a public static Parse(string) method.

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API Reference

SQM

• SQM() – creates an empty mapper with default Joiner = "=" and Delimiter = ";"
• SQM(string joiner, string delimiter) – creates an empty mapper
• SQM(string data, string joiner, string delimiter) – parses from string
• string Joiner { get; } – joiner string
• string Delimiter { get; } – delimiter string
• IEnumerable<string> AllKeys { get; }
• IEnumerable<object> AllValues { get; } – all values as strings
• bool Add<T>(string key, T value) – adds or updates a key-value pair (value.ToString() internally)
• int AddRange<T>(IEnumerable<KeyValuePair<string, T>> pairs) – add multiple pairs
• bool Remove(string key) – removes a key
• int RemoveRange(IEnumerable<string> keys) – remove multiple keys
• void Clear() – clear all pairs
• bool ContainsKey(string key) – check if key exists
• bool TryGet<T>(string key, out T value) – safe retrieval
• T Get<T>(string key) – exact retrieval (throws if key missing or parse fails)
• override string ToString() – serializes all key-value pairs to string
• static SQM Parse(string data, string joiner, string delimiter) – parse string into SQM
• static bool TryParse(string data, string joiner, string delimiter, out SQM result) – safe parse

Serialization converts all values to string via ToString(). Deserialization converts string values back to type T using either built-in parsing or the public static Parse(string) method.

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Conformance

• Created for KeZero, available to the community.
• Licensed under the MIT License.
• Creator: Alecio Furanze (https://github.com/afuranze)
• Repository: kezerocom/StringQueryMap (https://github.com/kezerocom/StringQueryMap)