c# - Convert MyClass<SomeType> to MyClass<SomeOtherType> -

using c# 4.0. want convert instance of mybuffer<int> instance of mybuffer<float>. converter must general enough handle other basic types too.

i want (or equivalent solution) work. how?

var b1 = mybuffer.create(new int[100]); var b2 = convert.changetype(b1, typeof(mybuffer<float>)); var b3 = convert.changetype(b2, typeof(mybuffer<byte>)); 

consider mybuffer class:

public class mybuffer {     public static mybuffer<t> create<t>(t[] buffer)         t : struct, icomparable, iconvertible     {         return new mybuffer<t>(buffer);     } }  public class mybuffer<t> : iconvertible     t : struct, icomparable, iconvertible {     public t[] buffer     {         get;         set;     }      public mybuffer()     {     }      public mybuffer(t[] buffer)     {         buffer = buffer;     }      public object totype(type conversiontype, iformatprovider provider)     {         if (conversiontype == gettype())             return this;          // first problem: determine if type mybuffer<>.         // if (conversiontype == typeof(mybuffer<>))         {             if (conversiontype.isgenerictype && conversiontype.getgenericarguments().length > 0)             {                 var buffertype = conversiontype.getgenericarguments()[0];                 dynamic newbuffer = buffer.                     select(s => convert.changetype(s, buffertype))                     .toarray();                  // second problem: our dynamic variable produce exception here.                 return mybuffer.create(newbuffer);             }         }          throw new invalidcastexception();     }      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////     //     // completeness...     //      public typecode gettypecode()     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public bool toboolean(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public byte tobyte(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public char tochar(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public datetime todatetime(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public decimal todecimal(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public double todouble(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public short toint16(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public int toint32(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public long toint64(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public sbyte tosbyte(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public float tosingle(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public string tostring(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public ushort touint16(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public uint touint32(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     }      public ulong touint64(iformatprovider provider)     {         throw new notimplementedexception();     } } 

in code above there 2 major problems need solved:

1. how determine if type variable equals sometype<t> arbitrary value of t?
2. is possible call templated function t set type variable?

since mybuffer<t> helpfully includes constructor takes buffer wrap argument, can convert 1 buffer manually (very easy linq) , create new "converted" instance:

var b1 = mybuffer.create(new int[100]); var b2 = mybuffer.create(b1.buffer.select(i => (float)i).toarray());  // way same: var b3 = mybuffer.create(b1.buffer.select(convert.tosingle).toarray()); 

update:

in order assuage daniel's concern might have hidden intentions, here how question asks reflection, of more convenient form runtime digging in place:

dynamic convertarray<t>(t[] input, type target) {     var result = array.createinstance(target, input.length);     (var = 0; < input.length; ++i)     {         result.setvalue(convert.changetype(input[i], target), i);     }      return result; } 

this method allows this:

var ints = new[] { 1, 2, 3 }; var strings = convertarray(ints, typeof(string)); foreach (var s in strings) {     console.writeline("[{0}] {1}", s.gettype(), s + " potato"); } 

as evident, strings behaves array of strings. of course being dynamic means particular array never going able mix e.g. lambdas , moral equivalent of reflection still going on @ runtime (only don't see it). it's not quite free lunch, can prove useful @ times.