c# Type parameters : How to Parse?

Question

public static T Process<T>(this string key)
        where T:bool,string, DateTime
    {
        var tType = typeof(T);

        if(tType == typeof(DateTime))
        {
            return DateTime.Parse(key.InnerProcess());
        }
        else if(tType == typeof(bool))
        {
            return bool.Parse(key.InnerProcess());
        }
        else if(tType == typeof(string))
        {
            return key.InnerProcess();
        }
    }

It says it cannot typecast from bool to T, or datetime to T.. How to achieve this ?

The innerPrecess() gives me a string. I want to parse it into the given parameter's type and then return it.

Answer 1

You can use Convert.ChangeType for simpler:

public static T Process<T>( string key) where T: IConvertible
{
    return (T)Convert.ChangeType(key.InnerProcess(), typeof (T));
}