Using Generics to return a literal string or from Dictionary

Question

I think I outsmarted myself this time. Feel free to edit the title also I could not think of a good one.

I am reading from a file and then in that file will be a string

Answer 1

Change:

if (typeof(T) is string)

to:

if (typeof(T) == typeof(String))

The is operator is only valid on class instances. T is not actually an instance it is a type, therefor using is will not compile in your code because you need to compare 2 types. You can read more about it on msdn here.

Answer 2

The line

if (typeof(T) is string)

will always return false sine the typeof operator gives a Type object. You should replace it with

if (T is string)

In addition you should look at the Convert.ChangeType method. It may be of help here.

Answer 3

if(typeof(T) == typeof(string))
{
    return (T)Parameter;
}
else
{
    // convert the value to the appropriate type
}

Answer 4

Use typeof(T) == typeof(string)

Answer 5

So here is the answer I came up with, I am a little worried about boxing and unboxing but it works for now

public class WorkContainer:Dictionary<string, object>
{
    public T GetKeyValue<T>(string Parameter) 
    {
        if (Parameter.StartsWith("[? "))
        {
            string key = Parameter.Replace("[? ", "").Replace(" ?]", "");

            if (this.ContainsKey(key))
            {
                if (typeof(T) == typeof(string) )
                {
                    // Special Case for String, especially if the object is a class
                    // Take the ToString Method not implicit conversion
                    return (T)Convert.ChangeType(this[key].ToString(), typeof(T));
                }
                else
                {
                    return (T)this[key];
                }
            }
            else
            {
                return default(T);
            }

        }
        else
        {                
            return (T)Convert.ChangeType(Parameter, typeof(T));
        }
    }
}