C# Language Generics Generic type casting
Example
/// <summary>
/// Converts a data type to another data type.
/// </summary>
public static class Cast
{
/// <summary>
/// Converts input to Type of default value or given as typeparam T
/// </summary>
/// <typeparam name="T">typeparam is the type in which value will be returned, it could be any type eg. int, string, bool, decimal etc.</typeparam>
/// <param name="input">Input that need to be converted to specified type</param>
/// <param name="defaultValue">defaultValue will be returned in case of value is null or any exception occures</param>
/// <returns>Input is converted in Type of default value or given as typeparam T and returned</returns>
public static T To<T>(object input, T defaultValue)
{
var result = defaultValue;
try
{
if (input == null || input == DBNull.Value) return result;
if (typeof (T).IsEnum)
{
result = (T) Enum.ToObject(typeof (T), To(input, Convert.ToInt32(defaultValue)));
}
else
{
result = (T) Convert.ChangeType(input, typeof (T));
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Tracer.Current.LogException(ex);
}
return result;
}
/// <summary>
/// Converts input to Type of typeparam T
/// </summary>
/// <typeparam name="T">typeparam is the type in which value will be returned, it could be any type eg. int, string, bool, decimal etc.</typeparam>
/// <param name="input">Input that need to be converted to specified type</param>
/// <returns>Input is converted in Type of default value or given as typeparam T and returned</returns>
public static T To<T>(object input)
{
return To(input, default(T));
}
}
Usages:
std.Name = Cast.To<string>(drConnection["Name"]);
std.Age = Cast.To<int>(drConnection["Age"]);
std.IsPassed = Cast.To<bool>(drConnection["IsPassed"]);
// Casting type using default value
//Following both ways are correct
// Way 1 (In following style input is converted into type of default value)
std.Name = Cast.To(drConnection["Name"], "");
std.Marks = Cast.To(drConnection["Marks"], 0);
// Way 2
std.Name = Cast.To<string>(drConnection["Name"], "");
std.Marks = Cast.To<int>(drConnection["Marks"], 0);
