Passing Type variable as Generic Type Parameter to Static Class

Question

I have the following static class

public static class MyFoo<T> where T : class
{
    public static IBar<T> Begin()
    {
        return new Bar<T>();
    }
}

Elsewhere, I have a variable of System.Type, which I need to pass in as the Generic Type argument, ideally:

public void MyFunction(Type type)
{
     MyFoo<type>.Begin();
}

I know its possible through reflection to return an instance of MyFoo (If i make it non static) but this would not be ideal. Is there anyway to pass type as a Generic Type argument to the MyFoo static class?

First of all if you make it non-static you don't need reflection, you can enforce a parameterless constructor with a generic constraint on `T`. Second, what problem are you trying to solve here? Why isn't T a parameter of MyFunction (it can be inferred for you) — Benjamin Gruenbaum, Oct 21 '13 at 22:31
see this post http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5858591/c-sharp-static-types-cannot-be-used-as-type-arguments — Sorceri, Oct 21 '13 at 22:31
Thanks for getting back to me. @BenjaminGruenbaum unfortunately I can't divulge too much but it would of been in my best interests if this was possible, to save myself a lot of time form something i've inherited. I shall un-static the situation! Thanks. — Riddick, Oct 22 '13 at 06:58

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 21 '13 at 22:31

4

Can't do it. The value of the type variable in the second sample is only known at run time. The T type parameter in the first sample must be resolved at compile time.

Instead, look into Activator.CreateInstance().

answered Oct 21 '13 at 22:31

Joel Coehoorn

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Thanks for getting back to me, I'll craft a workaround from a non static version :) – Riddick Oct 22 '13 at 06:56

Passing Type variable as Generic Type Parameter to Static Class

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