Is there a way to convert Data Type in a FA?

[CRohm42]

I'm guessing there isn't a way to convert data types in the assertion, but wanted to make sure we're not missing a better way to perform an assertion for a specific scenario.

We commonly perform grid column sort order tests with List.Should().BeInDescending/AscendingOrder(). The grid column values are always strings (grabbing off GUI), so the process is as follows:

-Sort column
-Logic to determine column data type
-Create list, converting from string to "target" data type of int/currency/date/etc. when needed (if not converted, FA's fail/pass unexpectedly)
-Perform FA

Is there a way for us to simply create the list of strings and then perform the FA and give it the "target" data type so the string list is evaluated as an int/currency/date/etc?

[jnyrup]

If you create passing and failing code examples, it would be easier to help you find Foo.

// passing example
var subject = new ...
var expected = new ...

subject.Should().Foo(expected);

// failing example
var subject = new ...
var unexpected = new ...

subject.Should().Foo(unexpected);

[CRohm42]

// Grid column values are strings, no conversion needed when creating list from grid
List<string> columnDataAsStrings = new List<string>() { "657147", "65803", "65807" };  

// Must convert string values to integer when creating list from grid
List<int> columnDataAsInts= new List<int>() { 657147, 65803, 65807 };  

columnDataAsStrings.Should().BeInAscendingOrder();  // Passes unexpectedly
columnDataAsInts.Should().BeInAscendingOrder();  // Fails as expected

Is there a way to change:
columnDataAsStrings.Should().BeInAscendingOrder();

so that it evaluates like:
columnDataAsInts.Should().BeInAscendingOrder();

To prevent the data conversion prior to FA.

Hopefully this helps!

[jnyrup]

You can provide a custom comparer to BeInAscendingOrder to tell it how to compare two strings.
Here's the simply example that just assumes that all items in columnDataAsStrings should be interpret as ints.
You can extend the body of Compare(string? x, string? y) to handle when items in columnDataAsStrings can be of different types.

var columnDataAsStrings = new List<string>() { "657147", "65803", "65807" };
columnDataAsStrings.Should().BeInAscendingOrder(new MyComparer());

sealed class MyComparer : IComparer<string>
{
    public int Compare(string? x, string? y) => int.Parse(x).CompareTo(int.Parse(y));
}

[IT-VBFK]

Something like:
https://fluentassertions.com/objectgraphs/#equivalency-comparison-behavior

or even
https://fluentassertions.com/objectgraphs/#auto-conversion ?