How to lookup and invoke a .Net TypeConverter for a particular type?

Question

I would like to implement a general purpose runtime type conversion function that makes use .Net TypeConverters to do the conversion.

Does anyone know how to how to look up and invoke a TypeConverter for a particular type?

Consider this C# example:

//
// Convert obj to the type specified by 'toType'.
// 
object ConvertTo(object obj, Type toType)
{
    if (TypeIsEqualOrDerivesFrom(obj.GetType(), toType)) <-- I know how to implement this.
    {
        // The type of obj is the same as the type specified by 'toType' or
        // the type of obj derives from the type specified by 'toType'.
        return obj;
    }

    if (TypeConverterExists(obj.GetType(), toType) <-- How do I implement this?
    {
        // There exists a type convertor that is capable of converting from 
        // the type of obj to the type specified by 'toType'.
        return InvokeTypeConverter(obj, toType); <-- How do I implement this?
    }

    throw new TypeConversionFailedException();
}

Answer 1

I don't know how robust it is, but I sometimes use this code for generic type conversion :

public T ConvertTo<T>(object value)
{
    return (T)Convert.ChangeType(value, typeof(T));
}

I don't know if the ChangeType method use TypeConverters...

Answer 2

    TypeConverter converter = TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(sourceType);
    if(converter.CanConvertTo(destinationType)) {
        return converter.ConvertTo(obj, destinationType);   
    }
    converter = TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(destinationType);
    if(converter.CanConvertFrom(sourceType)) {
        return converter.ConvertFrom(obj);
    }

You could also look at Convert.ChangeType(obj, destinationType)