SPMetal parameter file and oob fields like created, modified, etc. not created

Question

I'm using CKSDev spmetal generator. I have set up the following parameter file :

<Web xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SharePoint/2009/spmetal"
     Class="ModelContext">
  <ContentType Name="Item">
    <Column Name="Editor" />
    <Column Name="Author" />
    <Column Name="Created" />
    <Column Name="Modified" />
    <IncludeHiddenColumns/>
  </ContentType>
  <IncludeHiddenContentTypes/>
</Web>

The Item class is created as expected, but the columns Editor, Author, etc. are not generated.

I've also tried specify one of my custom content type in place of Item, but these fields are still not generated.

What am I missing ?

Answer 1

I got around this by extending the Item class in a new file because passing the <column name="" /> in the xml file and also trying <IncludeHiddenFields/> node did not work. This blog explains the process for extending the Item class.

Here is an example of the code though you will need to add it to whatever namespace you are using for the rest of the generated classes:

public partial class Item : ICustomMapping 
{ 
    [CustomMapping(Columns = new String[] { "Modified", "Created", "Editor", "Author" })] 
   public void MapFrom(object listItem) 
    { 
        SPListItem item = (SPListItem)listItem; 
        this.Modified = (DateTime)item["Modified"]; 
        this.Created = (DateTime)item["Created"]; 
        this.CreatedBy = (string)item["Author"]; 
        this.ModifiedBy = (string)item["Editor"]; 
    }

    public void MapTo(object listItem) 
    { 
        SPListItem item = (SPListItem)listItem; 
        item["Modified"] = this.Modified; 
        item["Created"] = this.Created; 
        item["Author"] = this.CreatedBy; 
        item["Editor"] = this.ModifiedBy; 
    }

    public void Resolve(RefreshMode mode, object originalListItem, object databaseObject) 
    { 
        SPListItem originalItem = (SPListItem)originalListItem; 
        SPListItem databaseItem = (SPListItem)databaseObject;

        DateTime originalModifiedValue = (DateTime)originalItem["Modified"]; 
        DateTime dbModifiedValue = (DateTime)databaseItem["Modified"];

        DateTime originalCreatedValue = (DateTime)originalItem["Created"]; 
        DateTime dbCreatedValue = (DateTime)databaseItem["Created"];

        string originalCreatedByValue = (string)originalItem["Author"]; 
        string dbCreatedByValue = (string)databaseItem["Author"];

        string originalModifiedByValue = (string)originalItem["Editor"]; 
        string dbModifiedByValue = (string)databaseItem["Editor"];

        if (mode == RefreshMode.OverwriteCurrentValues) 
        { 
            this.Modified = dbModifiedValue; 
            this.Created = dbCreatedValue; 
            this.CreatedBy = dbCreatedByValue; 
            this.ModifiedBy = dbModifiedByValue; 
        } 
        else if (mode == RefreshMode.KeepCurrentValues) 
        { 
            databaseItem["Modified"] = this.Modified; 
            databaseItem["Created"] = this.Created; 
            databaseItem["Author"] = this.CreatedBy; 
            databaseItem["Editor"] = this.ModifiedBy; 
        } 
        else if (mode == RefreshMode.KeepChanges) 
        { 
            if (this.Modified != originalModifiedValue) 
            { 
                databaseItem["Modified"] = this.Modified; 
            } 
            else if (this.Modified == originalModifiedValue && this.Modified != dbModifiedValue) 
            { 
                this.Modified = dbModifiedValue; 
            }

            if (this.Created != originalCreatedValue) 
            { 
                databaseItem["Created"] = this.Created; 
            } 
            else if (this.Created == originalCreatedValue && this.Created != dbCreatedValue) 
            { 
                this.Created = dbCreatedValue; 
            }

            if (this.CreatedBy != originalCreatedByValue) 
            { 
                databaseItem["Author"] = this.CreatedBy; 
            } 
            else if (this.CreatedBy == originalCreatedByValue && this.CreatedBy != dbCreatedByValue) 
            { 
                this.CreatedBy = dbCreatedByValue; 
            }

            if (this.ModifiedBy != originalModifiedByValue) 
            { 
                databaseItem["Editor"] = this.ModifiedBy; 
            } 
            else if (this.ModifiedBy == originalModifiedByValue && this.ModifiedBy != dbModifiedByValue) 
            { 
                this.ModifiedBy = dbModifiedByValue; 
            } 
        } 
    }

    public DateTime Modified { get; set; } 
    public DateTime Created { get; set; } 
    public string CreatedBy { get; set; } 
    public string ModifiedBy { get; set; } 
}