C++ equivilent of Directcast

[inighthawki]

in vb.net, if i wanted to convert types, i could use directcast and return a value from say an object:

 

Dim AL As ArrayList

AL = DirectCast(BinaryFormatter.Deserialize(FileStream), ArrayList)

 

and it could convert it to an arraylist, im trying to do the same in C++, but apparently C++ doesnt have the directcast function, and its not under the convert functions (::System::Convert::???)

any help appreciated, thx in advance

[PlausiblyDamp]

Have you tried the C# style cast syntax?

 

AL = (ArrayList) BinaryFormatter.Deserialize(FileStream);

 

That should work as C#'s syntax is taken from the C / C++ way of doing things.

[inighthawki]

i'll try later when i get the chance, thx for thr response, u guys alwasy seem to answer so quickly here reguardless the fact that nobody posts :P

[snarfblam]

I think a dynamic cast would be the closest to a DirectCast. C-style casts are considered bad practice by many--it is very flexible, but as a result sometimes what exactly it will do is hard to predict. A dynamic cast is the only non-C-style cast that will perform type checking (like any .Net cast).

 

someType someVarialbe = dynamic_cast<someType> (anotherVariable);

[inighthawki]

thx for the response, though plausiblydamp's idea did work, and as far as im concerned is fine for right now lol...

[David Anton]

safe_cast is yet another alternative:

 

ArrayList ^AL = nullptr;
AL = safe_cast<ArrayList^>(BinaryFormatter::Deserialize(FileStream));

Edited August 21, 2006 by David Anton

[snarfblam]

From what I've read after posting, dynamic_cast is closest to VB's TryCast (C# "as" keyword) and safe_cast is closest to VB's DirectCast.