Convert decimal? to double?

Question

I am wondering what would be the best way (in the sense of safer and succinct) to convert from one nullable type to another "compatible" nullable type.

Specifically, converting from decimal? to double? can be done using:

public double? ConvertToNullableDouble(decimal? source)
{
    return source.HasValue ? Convert.ToDouble(source) : (double?) null;
}

Is there any better way to do this? Maybe leveraging a standard conversion?

Answer 1

Built in casts for the win! Just tested this in VS2012 and VS2010:

 decimal? numberDecimal = new Decimal(5); 
 decimal? nullDecimal = null;
 double? numberDouble = (double?)numberDecimal; // = 5.0
 double? nullDouble = (double?)nullDecimal;     // = null

Just using an explicit cast will cast null to null, and the internal decimal value to double. Success!

Answer 2

In general, if you want o convert from any data type to the other as long as they are compatible, use this:

    Convert.ChangeType(your variable, typeof(datatype you want convert to));

for example:

    string str= "123";
    int value1 = (int)Convert.ChangeType(str, typeof(int));
    float? value2 = (float?)Convert.ChangeType(str, typeof(float));
    ...................................

A little bit further, if you want it to be more safer, you can add a try catch on it:

string str= "123";
try
{
    int value1 = (int)Convert.ChangeType(str, typeof(int));
    int? value2 = (int?)Convert.ChangeType(str, typeof(int));
    float value3 = (float)Convert.ChangeType(str, typeof(float));
    float? value4 = (float?)Convert.ChangeType(str, typeof(float));
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
  // do nothing, or assign a default value
}

this is tested under VS 2010