Delphi interface generic function returning TobjectList<T>

Question

Why does this not work? I get a E2511 Type parameter 'T' must be a class type?

type
  IBaseProvider<T> = Interface
    function GetAll: TObjectList<T>;
  end;

type
  TCar = class(TInterfacedPersistent, IBaseProvider<TVehicle>)
    function GetAll: TObjectList<TVehicle>;
  end;

implementation

function TCar.GetAll: TObjectList<TVehicle>;
begin
  // do something with Objectlist
  Result := ObjectList
end;

David Heffernan · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-02 23:53:38Z

3

The parameter T of TObjectList<T> is constrained to be a class.

type
  TObjectList<T: class> = class(TList<T>)
    ....
  end;

You need to declare a constraint that implies this on your type. For example you can declare the same constraint:

type
  IBaseProvider<T: class> = Interface
    function GetAll: TObjectList<T>;
  end;

Or you could declare a stronger constraint, so long as the TObjectList<T> constraint is met. If you don't want to constrain your parameter, then you'd need to use TList<T>.

If you are not familiar with generic constraints, the documentation should fill in the gaps : http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/Constraints_in_Generics

edited Nov 2, 2013 at 23:53

answered Nov 2, 2013 at 23:14

David Heffernan

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2 Comments

Godfather75 Over a year ago

thank you, David. But what about TDictionary. in java I can write: HashMap<String, IBaseProvider<?>> dataproviders = new HashMap<String, IBaseProvider<?>>();. How to write in delphi??

David Heffernan Over a year ago

That's a different question. Let's finish this question first.

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