How can I convert from generic to Variant in Delphi

Question

I have a Delphi generic class that exposes a function with an argument of the generic type. Inside this function, I need to pass an instance of the generic type on to another object expecting a Variant type. Similar to this:

type
  IMyInterface = interface
    DoStuff(Value: Variant);
  end;      

  TMyClass<T> = class
    FMyIntf: IMyInterface
    procedure DoStuff(SomeValue: T);
  end;

[...]

procedure MyClass<T>.DoStuff(SomeValue: T);
begin
  FMyIntf.DoStuff((*convert SomeValue to Variant here*));
end;

I tried using Rtti.TValue.From(SomeValue).AsVariant. This worked for integral types, but blew up for Booleans. I don't quite see why, since normally I'd be able to assign a Boolean value to a Variant...

Is there a better way to make this conversion? I only need it to work for simple built-in types (excluding enumerations and records)

Answer 1

I think there is no direct way to convert generic type to variant because variant cannot hold all the possible types. You must write your specific conversion routine. E.g.:

interface
//...
type
  TDemo = class
  public
    class function GetAsVariant<T>(const AValue: T): Variant;
  end;
//...
implementation
uses
  Rtti,
  TypInfo;
//...

{ TDemo}

class function TDemo.GetAsVariant<T>(const AValue: T): Variant;
var
  val: TValue;
  bRes: Boolean;
begin
  val := TValue.From<T>(AValue);
  case val.Kind of
    tkInteger: Result := val.AsInteger;
    tkInt64: Result := val.AsInt64;
    tkEnumeration: 
    begin
      if val.TryAsType<Boolean>(bRes) then
        Result := bRes
      else
        Result := val.AsOrdinal;
    end;
    tkFloat: Result := val.AsExtended;
    tkString, tkChar, tkWChar, tkLString, tkWString, tkUString:
      Result := val.AsString;
    tkVariant: Result := val.AsVariant
    else
    begin
      raise Exception.Create('Unsupported type');
    end;
  end;
end;

Because TValue.AsVariant handles most of the type conversions internally, this function can be simplified. I will handle enumerations in case you could need them later:

class function TDemo.GetAsVariant<T>(const AValue: T): Variant;
var
  val: TValue;
begin
  val := TValue.From<T>(AValue);
  case val.Kind of
    tkEnumeration:
    begin
      if val.TypeInfo = TypeInfo(Boolean) then
        Result := val.AsBoolean
      else
        Result := val.AsOrdinal;
    end
    else
    begin
      Result := val.AsVariant;
    end;
  end;

Possible usage:

var
  vValue: Variant;
begin
  vValue := TDemo.GetAsVariant<Boolean>(True);
  Assert(vValue = True); //now vValue is a correct Boolean

Answer 2

Looks like in my Delphi version 10.2 the Boolean problem is gone and TValue.From<T>(FValue).AsVariant is enough.

Here an example with some other helpful things like comparing the generic type:

  TMyValue<T> = class(TPersistent)
  private
    FValue: T;
    procedure SetValue(const AValue: T);
    function GetAsVariant: Variant; override;
  public
    procedure Assign(Source: TPersistent); override;
    property Value: T read FValue write SetValue;
    property AsVariant: Variant read GetAsVariant;
  end;

function TMyValue<T>.GetAsVariant: Variant;
begin
  Result:= TValue.From<T>(FValue).AsVariant;
end;

procedure TMyValue<T>.SetValue(const AValue: T);
begin
  if TEqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(AValue, FValue) then Exit;
  FValue:= AValue;
  //do something
end;

procedure TMyValue<T>.Assign(Source: TPersistent);
begin
  if Source is TMyValue<T> then Value:= (Source as TMyValue<T>).Value
  else inherited;
end;