I have these classes

public class SemModel
{
    public int SemId {get; set}
    public string AreaId {get; set}
    public string Longitude {get; set}
    public string Latitude {get; set}
}

public class SemDto 
{
    public int SemId {get; set}
    public AreaDto Area {get; set}
}

public class AreaDto 
{
    public string AreaId {get; set}
    public string Longitude {get; set}
    public string Latitude {get; set}
}

I want to be able to map SemModel to SemDto wherein if AreaId, Longitude and Latitude are null SemDto.Area is instatiated with AreaId, Longitude and Latitude properties having null value.

Actual output is that I have a SemDto where Area property is null

this is the mapping I have

CreateMap<SemModel, SemDto>()
    .ForMember(dest => dest.Area, opt => opt.MapFrom(src => new AreaDto
             {
                 AreaId = src.AreaId,
                 Longitude = src.Longitude,
                 Latitude = src.Latitude
             }));

Given:

new SemModel(){SemId =1, AreaId =null, Longitude=null, Latitude=null}

Expected Output:

new SemDto(){SemId = 1, Area = new Area(){ AreaId =null, Longitude =null, Latitude =null}}

Actual Output:

new SemDto(){SemId = 1, Area = null}

Another Attempt 1

.ForPath(dest => dest.Area.AreaId, opt => opt.MapFrom(src => src.AreaId))
.ForPath(dest => dest.Area.Longitude, opt => opt.MapFrom(src => src.Longitude))
.ForPath(dest => dest.Area.Latitude, opt => opt.MapFrom(src => src.Latitude));

Still no luck. Welp!