Using string constants in implicit conversion

Question

Consider the following code:

public class TextType {

    public TextType(String text) {
        underlyingString = text;
    }

    public static implicit operator String(TextType text) {
        return text.underlyingString;
    }

    private String underlyingString;
}

TextType text = new TextType("Something");
String str = text; // This is OK.

But I want to be able do the following, if possible.

TextType textFromStringConstant = "SomeOtherText";

I can't extend the String class with the TextType implicit operator overload, but is there any way to assign a literal string to another class (which is handled by a method or something)?

String is a reference type so when they developed C# they obviously had to use some way to get a string literal to the class. I just hope it's not hardcoded into the language.

See section 10.10.3 of the specification for details.

Eric Lippert
– Eric Lippert

2010-01-24 20:13:38 +00:00
Commented Jan 24, 2010 at 20:13 — Eric Lippert
– Eric Lippert, Commented Jan 24, 2010 at 20:13

ChaosPandion · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-24 18:46:49Z

9

public static implicit operator TextType(String text) {
    return new TextType(text);
}

answered Jan 24, 2010 at 18:46

ChaosPandion

78.4k18 gold badges122 silver badges159 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Benjamin Podszun Over a year ago

Fix text != value - you were faster though :)

Kornelije Petak Over a year ago

I can't believe how I missed that operator overloads goes both ways. I had a feeling the method would have to belong to the String class... Thanks.

Benjamin Podszun · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-24 18:48:26Z

6

Add

public static implicit operator TextType(string content) {
  return new TextType(content);
}

to your class? :)

answered Jan 24, 2010 at 18:48

Benjamin Podszun

9,8573 gold badges37 silver badges46 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Using string constants in implicit conversion

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related