implementing a cast operator in a generic abstract class

Question

I\'m trying to be lazy and implement the cast operators in the abstract base class rather than in each of the derived concrete classes. I\'ve managed to cast one way, but I\'m

Answer 1

You need to introduce another generic parameter to identify the concrete type.

something like..

public interface IValueType 
{    
    T Value{ get; set; } 
} 

public abstract class ValueType : 
    IValueType where K : ValueType,new()
{     
    public abstract T Value { get; set; }     
    public static explicit operator T(ValueType vt) 
    {         
        if(vt == null)            
            return default(T);         
        return vt.Value;     
    }      

    public static implicit operator ValueType(T val) 
    {         
        K k = new K();
        k.Value = val;
        return k;    
    } 
} 

Create your concrete class

public class Test : ValueType
{
    public override int Value {get;set;}
}

Then

var t = new Test();
t.Value = 99;
int i = (int)t;
Test t2 = (Test)6;

Console.WriteLine(i);
Console.WriteLine(t2);