Generics explicit conversion

Question

I implemented an explicit conversion from string to object called Foo.

So => Foo f = (Foo)"foo data"; works

I need to implement a function that cast a string to the generic T, T in this case is Foo datatype.

public T Get<T>(object o){
      // this always return false
      if (typeof(T).IsAssignableFrom(typeof(String)))
      {
            // when i by pass the if above this throws invalid cast exception
            return (T)(object)str;
      }
      return null; 
}

// When I call this, it generated an error
// Invalid cast from 'System.String' to Foo
Foo myObj = Get<Foo>("another foo object"); 

// when I use the dynamic keyword it works but this is C# 4.0+ feature, my function is in the older framework
return (T)(dynamic)str;

Answer 1

An example that uses Reflection:

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {           
        Foo myObj = TypeResolver.Get<Foo>("Foo data");            
    }
}

class TypeResolver
{
    public static T Get<T>(object obj)
    {
        if (typeof(T).CanExplicitlyCastFrom<string>())
        {                             
            return obj.CastTo<T>();
        }
        return default(T);
    }
}

public static class Extensions
{
    public static bool CanExplicitlyCastFrom<T>(this Type type)
    {
        if (type == null)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("type");

        var paramType = typeof(T);
        var castOperator = type.GetMethod("op_Explicit", 
                                        new[] { paramType });
        if (castOperator == null)
            return false;

        var parametres = castOperator.GetParameters();
        var paramtype = parametres[0];
        if (paramtype.ParameterType == typeof(T))
            return true;
        else
            return false;
    }

    public static T CastTo<T>(this object obj)
    {            
        var castOperator = typeof(T).GetMethod("op_Explicit", 
                                        new[] { typeof(string) });
        if (castOperator == null)
            throw new InvalidCastException("Can't cast to " + typeof(T).Name);
        return (T)castOperator.Invoke(null, new[] { obj });
    }
}

Answer 2

Also take a look at this answer from @Jon Skeet - and specifically the quote about IsAssignableFrom.

I don't think that's possible in a way that you envisioned it.

I'd suggest you put an 'interface contract' on your Foo classes - and then let generics do their work.

e.g. something like this - but this is just a fast solution I typed in...

class Factory 
{
    public static T Create<T, TVal>(TVal obj) where T : class, IFoo<TVal>, new()
    {
        return new T { Value = obj }; // return default(T);
    }
}
interface IFoo<TVal>
{
    TVal Value { get; set; }
}
class Foo : IFoo<string>
{
    public string Value { get; set; }
    public Foo() { }
}
// ...
public T Get<T, TVal>(TVal obj) where T : class, IFoo<TVal>, new()
{
    return Factory.Create<T, TVal>(obj);
}

And you can call it in a similar way - providing that you have that luxury - know the types etc.
(but you can work this out and adjust if needed)

Foo foo = Get<Foo, string>("another text");