C # User defined mapping CSV to POCO

I have a system that reads input from a Serial / UDP / TCP source. Input data is just CSV of different data types (e.g. DateTime, double, int, string). An example line could be:

2012/03/23 12:00:00,1.000,23,information,1.234

      

        
        
        
      

    

I currently have (untested) code that allows the user to specify which value in a CSV list goes to which POCO property.

So, in the above example, I will have an object like this:

public class InputData
{
 public DateTime Timestamp{get;set;}
 public double Distance{get;set;}
 public int Metres{get;set;}
 public string Description{get;set;}
 public double Height{get;set;}
} 

      

        
        
        
      

    

Now in this class, I have a method to parse the CSV string and populate the properties. This method also requires Mapping information as there is no guarantee that the CSV data order will be received - it is up to the user to determine the correct order.

This is my mapping class:

//This general class handles mapping CSV to objects
public class CSVMapping
{
    //A dictionary holding Property Names (Key) and CSV indexes (Value)
    //0 Based index
    public IDictionary<string, int> Mapping { get; set; }
}

      

        
        
        
      

    

Now my ParseCSV () method:

//use reflection to parse the CSV survey input
public bool ParseCSV(string pCSV, CSVMapping pMapping)
{
    if (pMapping == null) return false;
    else
    {
        Type t = this.GetType();
        IList<PropertyInfo> properties = t.GetProperties();
        //Split the CSV values
        string[] values = pCSV.Split(new char[1] { ',' });
        //for each property set its value from the CSV
        foreach (PropertyInfo prop in properties)
        {
            if (pMapping.Mapping.Keys.Contains(prop.Name))
            {
                if (prop.GetType() == typeof(DateTime))
                {
                    if (pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name] >= 0 && pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name] < values.Length)
                    {
                        DateTime tmp;
                        DateTime.TryParse(values[pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name]], out tmp);
                        prop.SetValue(this, tmp, null);
                    }
                }
                else if (prop.GetType() == typeof(short))
                {
                    if (pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name] >= 0 && pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name] < values.Length)
                    {
                        double tmp;
                        double.TryParse(values[pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name]], out tmp);
                        prop.SetValue(this, Convert.ToInt16(tmp), null);
                    }
                }
                else if (prop.GetType() == typeof(double))
                {
                    if (pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name] >= 0 && pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name] < values.Length)
                    {
                        double tmp;
                        double.TryParse(values[pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name]], out tmp);
                        prop.SetValue(this, tmp, null);
                    }
                }
                else if (prop.GetType() == typeof(string))
                {
                    if (pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name] >= 0 && pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name] < values.Length)
                    {
                        prop.SetValue(this, values[pMapping.Mapping[prop.Name]], null);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        return true;
    }
}

      

        
        
        
      

    

Now for my question:

I have potentially several classes that will require this functionality. Would it be helpful to implement a generic or parsing extension class for me? Is my method a good way to parse CSV data and enrich my object - or is there a better way to do this?

I've read other questions on dynamic CSV parsing, but all deal with order known before execution, whereas I require the user to determine the order.