ASP.NET Web API help page - how to show generic return type in documentation

Question

I'm using a generic return type for all my api responses:

    public HttpStatusCode statusCode { get; set; }
    public string error { get; set; }
    public IDictionary<string, string> errorfor { get; set; }
    public T result { get; set; }

and in API:

 /// <summary>
 /// GET Order API
 /// </summary>
 /// <returns> return list of orders {Order} </returns>

 public HttpResponseMessage Get(){
   var response = new BaseResponseMessage<IList<Order>>();
   //some more codes
   response.result = orders;
   return Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK, response);
}

Now of course my API Help page don't show Order in sample Response body. Is it possible to configure Help Page generator to show generic type? Thanks!

Answer 1

Web API 2.1 Help Pages now do this: http://www.asp.net/web-api/overview/releases/whats-new-in-aspnet-web-api-21#help-page

You might also check out returning the standard HttpResponseMessage with the new ResponseTypeAttribute:

/// <summary>
/// GET Order API
/// </summary>
[ResponseType(typeof(List<Order>))]
public HttpResponseMessage Get()
{
    var orders = new List<Order>();
    return Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK, orders);
}