Automapper map into nested class

Question

I have 1 class that I need t map into multiple classes, for eg.

This is the source that I'm mapping from(view model):

public class UserBM
{
    public int UserId { get; set; }

    public string Address { get; set; }
    public string Address2 { get; set; }
    public string Address3 { get; set; }
    public string State { get; set; }

    public int CountryId { get; set; }
    public string Country { get; set; }
}

This is how the destination class is(domain model):

public abstract class User
{
    public int UserId { get; set; }

    public virtual Location Location { get; set; }
    public virtual int? LocationId { get; set; }
}

public class Location
{
    public int LocationId { get; set; }

    public string Address { get; set; }
    public string Address2 { get; set; }
    public string Address3 { get; set; }
    public string State { get; set; }

    public virtual int CountryId { get; set; }
    public virtual Country Country { get; set; }

}

This is how my automapper create map currently looks:

Mapper.CreateMap<UserBM, User>();

Answer 1

I have another solution. The main idea is that AutoMapper know how to flatten nested objects when you name properly properties in flattened object: adding nested object property name as a prefix. For your case Location is prefix:

public class UserBM
{
    public int UserId { get; set; }

    public int LocationId { get; set; }
    public string LocationAddress { get; set; }
    public string LocationState { get; set; }
    public string LocationCountry { get; set; }
    ...
}

So creating familiar mapping from nested to flattened and then using ReverseMap method allows AutomMapper to understand how to unflatten nested object.

CreateMap<UserBM, User>()
   .ReverseMap();

That's all!

Answer 2

Define two mappings, both mapping from the same source to different destinations. In the User mapping, map the Location property manually using Mapper.Map<UserBM, Location>(...)

Mapper.CreateMap<UserBM, Location>();
Mapper.CreateMap<UserBM, User>()
    .ForMember(dest => dest.Location, opt => 
         opt.MapFrom(src => Mapper.Map<UserBM, Location>(src));