No generic implementation of OrderedDictionary?

Implementing a generic OrderedDictionary isn't terribly difficult, but it's unnecessarily time consuming and frankly this class is a huge oversight on Microsoft's part. There are multiple ways of implementing this, but I chose to use a KeyedCollection for my internal storage. I also chose to implement various methods for sorting the way that List<T> does since this is essentially a hybrid IList and IDictionary. I've included my implementation here for posterity.

Here's the interface. Notice that it includes System.Collections.Specialized.IOrderedDictionary, which is the non-generic version of this interface that was provided by Microsoft.

// http://unlicense.org
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Collections.Specialized;

namespace mattmc3.Common.Collections.Generic {

    public interface IOrderedDictionary<TKey, TValue> : IDictionary<TKey, TValue>, IOrderedDictionary {
        new TValue this[int index] { get; set; }
        new TValue this[TKey key] { get; set; }
        new int Count { get; }
        new ICollection<TKey> Keys { get; }
        new ICollection<TValue> Values { get; }
        new void Add(TKey key, TValue value);
        new void Clear();
        void Insert(int index, TKey key, TValue value);
        int IndexOf(TKey key);
        bool ContainsValue(TValue value);
        bool ContainsValue(TValue value, IEqualityComparer<TValue> comparer);
        new bool ContainsKey(TKey key);
        new IEnumerator<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>> GetEnumerator();
        new bool Remove(TKey key);
        new void RemoveAt(int index);
        new bool TryGetValue(TKey key, out TValue value);
        TValue GetValue(TKey key);
        void SetValue(TKey key, TValue value);
        KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> GetItem(int index);
        void SetItem(int index, TValue value);
    }

}

Here's the implementation along with helper classes:

// http://unlicense.org
using System;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Specialized;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;

namespace mattmc3.Common.Collections.Generic {

    /// <summary>
    /// A dictionary object that allows rapid hash lookups using keys, but also
    /// maintains the key insertion order so that values can be retrieved by
    /// key index.
    /// </summary>
    public class OrderedDictionary<TKey, TValue> : IOrderedDictionary<TKey, TValue> {

        #region Fields/Properties

        private KeyedCollection2<TKey, KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>> _keyedCollection;

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets or sets the value associated with the specified key.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="key">The key associated with the value to get or set.</param>
        public TValue this[TKey key] {
            get {
                return GetValue(key);
            }
            set {
                SetValue(key, value);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets or sets the value at the specified index.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="index">The index of the value to get or set.</param>
        public TValue this[int index] {
            get {
                return GetItem(index).Value;
            }
            set {
                SetItem(index, value);
            }
        }

        public int Count {
            get { return _keyedCollection.Count; }
        }

        public ICollection<TKey> Keys {
            get {
                return _keyedCollection.Select(x => x.Key).ToList();
            }
        }

        public ICollection<TValue> Values {
            get {
                return _keyedCollection.Select(x => x.Value).ToList();
            }
        }

        public IEqualityComparer<TKey> Comparer {
            get;
            private set;
        }

        #endregion

        #region Constructors

        public OrderedDictionary() {
            Initialize();
        }

        public OrderedDictionary(IEqualityComparer<TKey> comparer) {
            Initialize(comparer);
        }

        public OrderedDictionary(IOrderedDictionary<TKey, TValue> dictionary) {
            Initialize();
            foreach (KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> pair in dictionary) {
                _keyedCollection.Add(pair);
            }
        }

        public OrderedDictionary(IOrderedDictionary<TKey, TValue> dictionary, IEqualityComparer<TKey> comparer) {
            Initialize(comparer);
            foreach (KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> pair in dictionary) {
                _keyedCollection.Add(pair);
            }
        }

        #endregion

        #region Methods

        private void Initialize(IEqualityComparer<TKey> comparer = null) {
            this.Comparer = comparer;
            if (comparer != null) {
                _keyedCollection = new KeyedCollection2<TKey, KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>(x => x.Key, comparer);
            }
            else {
                _keyedCollection = new KeyedCollection2<TKey, KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>(x => x.Key);
            }
        }

        public void Add(TKey key, TValue value) {
            _keyedCollection.Add(new KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>(key, value));
        }

        public void Clear() {
            _keyedCollection.Clear();
        }

        public void Insert(int index, TKey key, TValue value) {
            _keyedCollection.Insert(index, new KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>(key, value));
        }

        public int IndexOf(TKey key) {
            if (_keyedCollection.Contains(key)) {
                return _keyedCollection.IndexOf(_keyedCollection[key]);
            }
            else {
                return -1;
            }
        }

        public bool ContainsValue(TValue value) {
            return this.Values.Contains(value);
        }

        public bool ContainsValue(TValue value, IEqualityComparer<TValue> comparer) {
            return this.Values.Contains(value, comparer);
        }

        public bool ContainsKey(TKey key) {
            return _keyedCollection.Contains(key);
        }

        public KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> GetItem(int index) {
            if (index < 0 || index >= _keyedCollection.Count) {
                throw new ArgumentException(String.Format("The index was outside the bounds of the dictionary: {0}", index));
            }
            return _keyedCollection[index];
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value at the index specified.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="index">The index of the value desired</param>
        /// <param name="value">The value to set</param>
        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">
        /// Thrown when the index specified does not refer to a KeyValuePair in this object
        /// </exception>
        public void SetItem(int index, TValue value) {
            if (index < 0 || index >= _keyedCollection.Count) {
                throw new ArgumentException("The index is outside the bounds of the dictionary: {0}".FormatWith(index));
            }
            var kvp = new KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>(_keyedCollection[index].Key, value);
            _keyedCollection[index] = kvp;
        }

        public IEnumerator<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>> GetEnumerator() {
            return _keyedCollection.GetEnumerator();
        }

        public bool Remove(TKey key) {
            return _keyedCollection.Remove(key);
        }

        public void RemoveAt(int index) {
            if (index < 0 || index >= _keyedCollection.Count) {
                throw new ArgumentException(String.Format("The index was outside the bounds of the dictionary: {0}", index));
            }
            _keyedCollection.RemoveAt(index);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value associated with the specified key.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="key">The key associated with the value to get.</param>
        public TValue GetValue(TKey key) {
            if (_keyedCollection.Contains(key) == false) {
                throw new ArgumentException("The given key is not present in the dictionary: {0}".FormatWith(key));
            }
            var kvp = _keyedCollection[key];
            return kvp.Value;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value associated with the specified key.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="key">The key associated with the value to set.</param>
        /// <param name="value">The the value to set.</param>
        public void SetValue(TKey key, TValue value) {
            var kvp = new KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>(key, value);
            var idx = IndexOf(key);
            if (idx > -1) {
                _keyedCollection[idx] = kvp;
            }
            else {
                _keyedCollection.Add(kvp);
            }
        }

        public bool TryGetValue(TKey key, out TValue value) {
            if (_keyedCollection.Contains(key)) {
                value = _keyedCollection[key].Value;
                return true;
            }
            else {
                value = default(TValue);
                return false;
            }
        }

        #endregion

        #region sorting
        public void SortKeys() {
            _keyedCollection.SortByKeys();
        }

        public void SortKeys(IComparer<TKey> comparer) {
            _keyedCollection.SortByKeys(comparer);
        }

        public void SortKeys(Comparison<TKey> comparison) {
            _keyedCollection.SortByKeys(comparison);
        }

        public void SortValues() {
            var comparer = Comparer<TValue>.Default;
            SortValues(comparer);
        }

        public void SortValues(IComparer<TValue> comparer) {
            _keyedCollection.Sort((x, y) => comparer.Compare(x.Value, y.Value));
        }

        public void SortValues(Comparison<TValue> comparison) {
            _keyedCollection.Sort((x, y) => comparison(x.Value, y.Value));
        }
        #endregion

        #region IDictionary<TKey, TValue>

        void IDictionary<TKey, TValue>.Add(TKey key, TValue value) {
            Add(key, value);
        }

        bool IDictionary<TKey, TValue>.ContainsKey(TKey key) {
            return ContainsKey(key);
        }

        ICollection<TKey> IDictionary<TKey, TValue>.Keys {
            get { return Keys; }
        }

        bool IDictionary<TKey, TValue>.Remove(TKey key) {
            return Remove(key);
        }

        bool IDictionary<TKey, TValue>.TryGetValue(TKey key, out TValue value) {
            return TryGetValue(key, out value);
        }

        ICollection<TValue> IDictionary<TKey, TValue>.Values {
            get { return Values; }
        }

        TValue IDictionary<TKey, TValue>.this[TKey key] {
            get {
                return this[key];
            }
            set {
                this[key] = value;
            }
        }

        #endregion

        #region ICollection<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>

        void ICollection<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>.Add(KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> item) {
            _keyedCollection.Add(item);
        }

        void ICollection<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>.Clear() {
            _keyedCollection.Clear();
        }

        bool ICollection<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>.Contains(KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> item) {
            return _keyedCollection.Contains(item);
        }

        void ICollection<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>.CopyTo(KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>[] array, int arrayIndex) {
            _keyedCollection.CopyTo(array, arrayIndex);
        }

        int ICollection<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>.Count {
            get { return _keyedCollection.Count; }
        }

        bool ICollection<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>.IsReadOnly {
            get { return false; }
        }

        bool ICollection<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>.Remove(KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> item) {
            return _keyedCollection.Remove(item);
        }

        #endregion

        #region IEnumerable<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>

        IEnumerator<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>> IEnumerable<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>>.GetEnumerator() {
            return GetEnumerator();
        }

        #endregion

        #region IEnumerable

        IEnumerator IEnumerable.GetEnumerator() {
            return GetEnumerator();
        }

        #endregion

        #region IOrderedDictionary

        IDictionaryEnumerator IOrderedDictionary.GetEnumerator() {
            return new DictionaryEnumerator<TKey, TValue>(this);
        }

        void IOrderedDictionary.Insert(int index, object key, object value) {
            Insert(index, (TKey)key, (TValue)value);
        }

        void IOrderedDictionary.RemoveAt(int index) {
            RemoveAt(index);
        }

        object IOrderedDictionary.this[int index] {
            get {
                return this[index];
            }
            set {
                this[index] = (TValue)value;
            }
        }

        #endregion

        #region IDictionary

        void IDictionary.Add(object key, object value) {
            Add((TKey)key, (TValue)value);
        }

        void IDictionary.Clear() {
            Clear();
        }

        bool IDictionary.Contains(object key) {
            return _keyedCollection.Contains((TKey)key);
        }

        IDictionaryEnumerator IDictionary.GetEnumerator() {
            return new DictionaryEnumerator<TKey, TValue>(this);
        }

        bool IDictionary.IsFixedSize {
            get { return false; }
        }

        bool IDictionary.IsReadOnly {
            get { return false; }
        }

        ICollection IDictionary.Keys {
            get { return (ICollection)this.Keys; }
        }

        void IDictionary.Remove(object key) {
            Remove((TKey)key);
        }

        ICollection IDictionary.Values {
            get { return (ICollection)this.Values; }
        }

        object IDictionary.this[object key] {
            get {
                return this[(TKey)key];
            }
            set {
                this[(TKey)key] = (TValue)value;
            }
        }

        #endregion

        #region ICollection

        void ICollection.CopyTo(Array array, int index) {
            ((ICollection)_keyedCollection).CopyTo(array, index);
        }

        int ICollection.Count {
            get { return ((ICollection)_keyedCollection).Count; }
        }

        bool ICollection.IsSynchronized {
            get { return ((ICollection)_keyedCollection).IsSynchronized; }
        }

        object ICollection.SyncRoot {
            get { return ((ICollection)_keyedCollection).SyncRoot; }
        }

        #endregion
    }

    public class KeyedCollection2<TKey, TItem> : KeyedCollection<TKey, TItem> {
        private const string DelegateNullExceptionMessage = "Delegate passed cannot be null";
        private Func<TItem, TKey> _getKeyForItemDelegate;

        public KeyedCollection2(Func<TItem, TKey> getKeyForItemDelegate)
            : base() {
            if (getKeyForItemDelegate == null) throw new ArgumentNullException(DelegateNullExceptionMessage);
            _getKeyForItemDelegate = getKeyForItemDelegate;
        }

        public KeyedCollection2(Func<TItem, TKey> getKeyForItemDelegate, IEqualityComparer<TKey> comparer)
            : base(comparer) {
            if (getKeyForItemDelegate == null) throw new ArgumentNullException(DelegateNullExceptionMessage);
            _getKeyForItemDelegate = getKeyForItemDelegate;
        }

        protected override TKey GetKeyForItem(TItem item) {
            return _getKeyForItemDelegate(item);
        }

        public void SortByKeys() {
            var comparer = Comparer<TKey>.Default;
            SortByKeys(comparer);
        }

        public void SortByKeys(IComparer<TKey> keyComparer) {
            var comparer = new Comparer2<TItem>((x, y) => keyComparer.Compare(GetKeyForItem(x), GetKeyForItem(y)));
            Sort(comparer);
        }

        public void SortByKeys(Comparison<TKey> keyComparison) {
            var comparer = new Comparer2<TItem>((x, y) => keyComparison(GetKeyForItem(x), GetKeyForItem(y)));
            Sort(comparer);
        }

        public void Sort() {
            var comparer = Comparer<TItem>.Default;
            Sort(comparer);
        }

        public void Sort(Comparison<TItem> comparison) {
            var newComparer = new Comparer2<TItem>((x, y) => comparison(x, y));
            Sort(newComparer);
        }

        public void Sort(IComparer<TItem> comparer) {
            List<TItem> list = base.Items as List<TItem>;
            if (list != null) {
                list.Sort(comparer);
            }
        }
    }

    public class Comparer2<T> : Comparer<T> {
        //private readonly Func<T, T, int> _compareFunction;
        private readonly Comparison<T> _compareFunction;

        #region Constructors

        public Comparer2(Comparison<T> comparison) {
            if (comparison == null) throw new ArgumentNullException("comparison");
            _compareFunction = comparison;
        }

        #endregion

        public override int Compare(T arg1, T arg2) {
            return _compareFunction(arg1, arg2);
        }
    }

    public class DictionaryEnumerator<TKey, TValue> : IDictionaryEnumerator, IDisposable {
        readonly IEnumerator<KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue>> impl;
        public void Dispose() { impl.Dispose(); }
        public DictionaryEnumerator(IDictionary<TKey, TValue> value) {
            this.impl = value.GetEnumerator();
        }
        public void Reset() { impl.Reset(); }
        public bool MoveNext() { return impl.MoveNext(); }
        public DictionaryEntry Entry {
            get {
                var pair = impl.Current;
                return new DictionaryEntry(pair.Key, pair.Value);
            }
        }
        public object Key { get { return impl.Current.Key; } }
        public object Value { get { return impl.Current.Value; } }
        public object Current { get { return Entry; } }
    }
}

And no implementation would be complete without a few tests (but tragically, SO won't let me post that much code in one post), so I'll have to leave you to write your tests. But, I left a few of them in so that you could get an idea of how it works:

// http://unlicense.org
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using mattmc3.Common.Collections.Generic;

namespace mattmc3.Tests.Common.Collections.Generic {
    [TestClass]
    public class OrderedDictionaryTests {

        private OrderedDictionary<string, string> GetAlphabetDictionary(IEqualityComparer<string> comparer = null) {
            OrderedDictionary<string, string> alphabet = (comparer == null ? new OrderedDictionary<string, string>() : new OrderedDictionary<string, string>(comparer));
            for (var a = Convert.ToInt32('a'); a <= Convert.ToInt32('z'); a++) {
                var c = Convert.ToChar(a);
                alphabet.Add(c.ToString(), c.ToString().ToUpper());
            }
            Assert.AreEqual(26, alphabet.Count);
            return alphabet;
        }

        private List<KeyValuePair<string, string>> GetAlphabetList() {
            var alphabet = new List<KeyValuePair<string, string>>();
            for (var a = Convert.ToInt32('a'); a <= Convert.ToInt32('z'); a++) {
                var c = Convert.ToChar(a);
                alphabet.Add(new KeyValuePair<string, string>(c.ToString(), c.ToString().ToUpper()));
            }
            Assert.AreEqual(26, alphabet.Count);
            return alphabet;
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestAdd() {
            var od = new OrderedDictionary<string, string>();
            Assert.AreEqual(0, od.Count);
            Assert.AreEqual(-1, od.IndexOf("foo"));

            od.Add("foo", "bar");
            Assert.AreEqual(1, od.Count);
            Assert.AreEqual(0, od.IndexOf("foo"));
            Assert.AreEqual(od[0], "bar");
            Assert.AreEqual(od["foo"], "bar");
            Assert.AreEqual(od.GetItem(0).Key, "foo");
            Assert.AreEqual(od.GetItem(0).Value, "bar");
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestRemove() {
            var od = new OrderedDictionary<string, string>();

            od.Add("foo", "bar");
            Assert.AreEqual(1, od.Count);

            od.Remove("foo");
            Assert.AreEqual(0, od.Count);
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestRemoveAt() {
            var od = new OrderedDictionary<string, string>();

            od.Add("foo", "bar");
            Assert.AreEqual(1, od.Count);

            od.RemoveAt(0);
            Assert.AreEqual(0, od.Count);
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestClear() {
            var od = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            Assert.AreEqual(26, od.Count);
            od.Clear();
            Assert.AreEqual(0, od.Count);
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestOrderIsPreserved() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            var alphabetList = GetAlphabetList();
            Assert.AreEqual(26, alphabetDict.Count);
            Assert.AreEqual(26, alphabetList.Count);

            var keys = alphabetDict.Keys.ToList();
            var values = alphabetDict.Values.ToList();

            for (var i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
                var dictItem = alphabetDict.GetItem(i);
                var listItem = alphabetList[i];
                var key = keys[i];
                var value = values[i];

                Assert.AreEqual(dictItem, listItem);
                Assert.AreEqual(key, listItem.Key);
                Assert.AreEqual(value, listItem.Value);
            }
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestTryGetValue() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            string result = null;
            Assert.IsFalse(alphabetDict.TryGetValue("abc", out result));
            Assert.IsNull(result);
            Assert.IsTrue(alphabetDict.TryGetValue("z", out result));
            Assert.AreEqual("Z", result);
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestEnumerator() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();

            var keys = alphabetDict.Keys.ToList();
            Assert.AreEqual(26, keys.Count);

            var i = 0;
            foreach (var kvp in alphabetDict) {
                var value = alphabetDict[kvp.Key];
                Assert.AreEqual(kvp.Value, value);
                i++;
            }
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestInvalidIndex() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            try {
                var notGonnaWork = alphabetDict[100];
                Assert.IsTrue(false, "Exception should have thrown");
            }
            catch (Exception ex) {
                Assert.IsTrue(ex.Message.Contains("index is outside the bounds"));
            }
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestMissingKey() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            try {
                var notGonnaWork = alphabetDict["abc"];
                Assert.IsTrue(false, "Exception should have thrown");
            }
            catch (Exception ex) {
                Assert.IsTrue(ex.Message.Contains("key is not present"));
            }
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestUpdateExistingValue() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            Assert.IsTrue(alphabetDict.ContainsKey("c"));
            Assert.AreEqual(2, alphabetDict.IndexOf("c"));
            Assert.AreEqual(alphabetDict[2], "C");
            alphabetDict[2] = "CCC";
            Assert.IsTrue(alphabetDict.ContainsKey("c"));
            Assert.AreEqual(2, alphabetDict.IndexOf("c"));
            Assert.AreEqual(alphabetDict[2], "CCC");
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestInsertValue() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            Assert.IsTrue(alphabetDict.ContainsKey("c"));
            Assert.AreEqual(2, alphabetDict.IndexOf("c"));
            Assert.AreEqual(alphabetDict[2], "C");
            Assert.AreEqual(26, alphabetDict.Count);
            Assert.IsFalse(alphabetDict.ContainsValue("ABC"));

            alphabetDict.Insert(2, "abc", "ABC");
            Assert.IsTrue(alphabetDict.ContainsKey("c"));
            Assert.AreEqual(2, alphabetDict.IndexOf("abc"));
            Assert.AreEqual(alphabetDict[2], "ABC");
            Assert.AreEqual(27, alphabetDict.Count);
            Assert.IsTrue(alphabetDict.ContainsValue("ABC"));
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestValueComparer() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            Assert.IsFalse(alphabetDict.ContainsValue("a"));
            Assert.IsTrue(alphabetDict.ContainsValue("a", StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
        }

        [TestMethod]
        public void TestSortByKeys() {
            var alphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            var reverseAlphabetDict = GetAlphabetDictionary();
            Comparison<string> stringReverse = ((x, y) => (String.Equals(x, y) ? 0 : String.Compare(x, y) >= 1 ? -1 : 1));
            reverseAlphabetDict.SortKeys(stringReverse);
            for (int j = 0, k = 25; j < alphabetDict.Count; j++, k--) {
                var ascValue = alphabetDict.GetItem(j);
                var dscValue = reverseAlphabetDict.GetItem(k);
                Assert.AreEqual(ascValue.Key, dscValue.Key);
                Assert.AreEqual(ascValue.Value, dscValue.Value);
            }
        }

-- UPDATE --

Source for this and other really useful missing core .NET libraries here: https://github.com/mattmc3/dotmore/blob/master/dotmore/Collections/Generic/OrderedDictionary.cs


You're right. There's no generic equivalent of OrderedDictionary in the framework itself.

(That's still the case for .NET 4 too, as far as I'm aware.)


For the record, there is a generic KeyedCollection that allows objects to be indexed by an int and a key. The key must be embedded in the value.