I'm trying to create custom datatypes in C# that mimic primitive data types, similar to the way TYPEDEF works in C++. Microsoft left this
feature out of the .Net framework (along with multiple inheritance and others), and I've been looking for ways around it.
Here are the two answers I keep running across in the forums I've seen:
1. The 'using' statement. In any class, I could simply say... using intResourceID = int;
I can't use it because: This simply aliases one type to another. The integer isn't really strongly typed. On top of that, I'd
have to cut and paste the code in too many places for this to actually be useful.
2. Wrapper classes. Basically, I could create my own "ResourceID_Int" class, which would contain an integer.
I can't use it because: This is re-inventing the wheel. Doing this for all the data types I'd need would defeat the purpose of trying to make
this solution easy. Also, I'd have to inherit and implement interfaces and classes to be sure that "FrederickInt" behaves exactly like an
integer, particularly if other developers try to inherit from it.
My question to this forum: What is the best way to create custom datatypes in C#?
Here are the two solutions I have been looking at:
- Using LinFU (from www.codeproject.com)
- Creating a Visual C++.Net project to include in a solution with several of my C# projects. My C# project could simply reference the C++
project that had my TYPEDEF-created custom data types. However, I am having problems making a C# project see my custom data types in C++.
Anything any of you have to contribute would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Yes, they're sealed structs. You can't inherit from structs. You'd also have to implement all of the methods associated with, say, a String. That's a lot of methods to implement, and there has to be an easier way.
Unfortunately there is no real easy way to extend a primitive type or a sealed class. However, C# 3.0, which will be released soon, supported "extension methods". This blog post explains them a bit in detail:
Rockford Lhotka build a SmartDate struct that extends the DateTime class to support null dates among other features. His free, open source CSLA framework (which includes SmartDate) is available at www.lhotka.net. If you like it, check out the CSLA Contrib
library because I added half-a-dozen others supporting different datatypes.
If this answered your question, be sure to mark it as the answer. That way, everybody after you will know it's the answer also!
From what I'm seeing, there isn't a way to extend primitive types and sealed classes. I suppose that spelling out what I'm trying to do in detail would help me find a way around this.
I'm trying to make two custom types. "ResourceId" inherits from an integer, while "FredString" inherits from a string. A string is a sealed class, while an int is a primitive type.
The other path I could travel is using a C++.Net TYPEDEF. I could integrate the C++ project with the type definition into a solution with other C# projects and add a references to the C++ project containing the type definitions. The only problem is making
those other C# projects see the type definitions themselves. Because of the CLR, all of the .Net languages should be able to talk to each other regardless of language. Trying to make those C# projects see a C++ typedef didn't work when I tried it before.
Did I miss something? Again, anything any of you have to contribute would be appreciated.
Although it may feel counter-intuitive, and a bit bothersome coming from C++, the way to do this is to use composition not inheritance. Yes, I know it can be done with inheritance in other languages, but it's often not a good idea there either.
So, to make your FredString, you declare the class, and then just keep a private System.String in there and wrap it with whatever functionality you need.
No, you can't then pass around a FredString as if it was a string - but you can provide an explicit cast to make it ease to use as a string anyway, and you can and should override the ToString() method. The alternative is to make a static class that gives
you the behavior you want with the string. Remember that a string is, and must, be immutable for anything in .NET to work - so there's not that much you can do in a derived string class that can't be done with either of these ways anyway.
Especially if it's extending the string type you want, good oo practice does dictate that you should 'favor composition over inheritance'. C# is just giving you a helping hand there :-).
The same arguments pretty much apply to your integer variant, ResourceId.
Svante
Svante
AxCrypt - Free Open Source File Encryption & Online Password Manager - http://www.axantum.com [Disclaimer: Code snippets usually uncompiled, beware typos.]
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Still, I can't use a wrappper class. (I tried earlier in November.) I promise I'm not trying to be a bother to you or anyone else.
Basically, I'm trying to implement this at my job. If I create a "FredString" or "ResourceId" using wrapper classes, that class would have to be referenced in every component of every web application my company has written over the past year and a half.
Since there are a countless number of them, implementing custom data types with wrapper classes might not be a good idea. Some of those applications can't be touched, because changing one might break other working applications. I should have mentioned this
earlier.
In other words: Are there ways to implement "FredString" and "ResourceId" as custom data types without using wrapper classes?
I'm afraid your options are fairly limited. You cannot derive from 'System.Int32' or 'System.String' (for different reasons, but the result is the same).
Can you elaborate on just how FredString and ResourceId differs in behavior from 'System.String' and 'System.Int32' respectively, there might be some other way around it? Just what is it you're trying to achieve?
In your earlier posts you did note that you're aware of the 'using' alias mechanism, which is fairly equivalent to C/C++ 'typedef'. You did confuse me a bit with using both the capitalized TYPEDEF and lowercase 'typedef'. Do you mean a COM+ type definition
with 'TYPEDEF'?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm getting the impression that you perhaps do not want to modify the behavior at all, you just want to ensure that the 'ResourceId' integer is always just that - a ResourceId, not just any integer. I'm afraid a wrapper struct
and a wrapper class (for the FredString) is just about your only options.
Your concern that you'd have to change in a zillion places is a natural consequence if the above is the desired effect - that's after all what you want then. To ensure that it's always a 'ResourceId' and a 'FredString' respectively. You can't both have that
cake and eat it too.
As for legacy code you can't change, you'll just have to validate and convert at the boundaries.
Sorry, unless you can give some more background I can't think of much more.
Svante
AxCrypt - Free Open Source File Encryption & Online Password Manager - http://www.axantum.com [Disclaimer: Code snippets usually uncompiled, beware typos.]
______
Don't forget to click "Mark as Answer" on the post(s) that helped you.
Frederick
Member
24 Points
59 Posts
C# custom data types?
Nov 07, 2007 08:14 PM|LINK
Hello, all.
I'm trying to create custom datatypes in C# that mimic primitive data types, similar to the way TYPEDEF works in C++. Microsoft left this
feature out of the .Net framework (along with multiple inheritance and others), and I've been looking for ways around it.
Here are the two answers I keep running across in the forums I've seen:
1. The 'using' statement. In any class, I could simply say... using intResourceID = int;
I can't use it because: This simply aliases one type to another. The integer isn't really strongly typed. On top of that, I'd
have to cut and paste the code in too many places for this to actually be useful.
2. Wrapper classes. Basically, I could create my own "ResourceID_Int" class, which would contain an integer.
I can't use it because: This is re-inventing the wheel. Doing this for all the data types I'd need would defeat the purpose of trying to make
this solution easy. Also, I'd have to inherit and implement interfaces and classes to be sure that "FrederickInt" behaves exactly like an
integer, particularly if other developers try to inherit from it.
My question to this forum: What is the best way to create custom datatypes in C#?
Here are the two solutions I have been looking at:
- Using LinFU (from www.codeproject.com)
- Creating a Visual C++.Net project to include in a solution with several of my C# projects. My C# project could simply reference the C++
project that had my TYPEDEF-created custom data types. However, I am having problems making a C# project see my custom data types in C++.
Anything any of you have to contribute would be appreciated. Thank you.
Dested
Participant
752 Points
168 Posts
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 08, 2007 07:07 AM|LINK
Native datatypes in c# are just sealed structs.
This credits that member, earns you a point and marks your thread as Resolved so we will all know you have been helped.
Frederick
Member
24 Points
59 Posts
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 08, 2007 12:47 PM|LINK
Yes, they're sealed structs. You can't inherit from structs. You'd also have to implement all of the methods associated with, say, a String. That's a lot of methods to implement, and there has to be an easier way.
vcsjones
All-Star
34842 Points
4424 Posts
Moderator
MVP
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 08, 2007 02:08 PM|LINK
Unfortunately there is no real easy way to extend a primitive type or a sealed class. However, C# 3.0, which will be released soon, supported "extension methods". This blog post explains them a bit in detail:
http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2007/03/13/new-orcas-language-feature-extension-methods.aspx
david wendel...
All-Star
15865 Points
2243 Posts
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 11, 2007 02:51 AM|LINK
Rockford Lhotka build a SmartDate struct that extends the DateTime class to support null dates among other features. His free, open source CSLA framework (which includes SmartDate) is available at www.lhotka.net. If you like it, check out the CSLA Contrib library because I added half-a-dozen others supporting different datatypes.
david wendel...
All-Star
15865 Points
2243 Posts
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 11, 2007 02:51 AM|LINK
Forgot to add that you might use that as a starting point.
Frederick
Member
24 Points
59 Posts
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 20, 2007 03:00 PM|LINK
Thanks, VCSJones.
From what I'm seeing, there isn't a way to extend primitive types and sealed classes. I suppose that spelling out what I'm trying to do in detail would help me find a way around this.
I'm trying to make two custom types. "ResourceId" inherits from an integer, while "FredString" inherits from a string. A string is a sealed class, while an int is a primitive type.
The other path I could travel is using a C++.Net TYPEDEF. I could integrate the C++ project with the type definition into a solution with other C# projects and add a references to the C++ project containing the type definitions. The only problem is making those other C# projects see the type definitions themselves. Because of the CLR, all of the .Net languages should be able to talk to each other regardless of language. Trying to make those C# projects see a C++ typedef didn't work when I tried it before.
Did I miss something? Again, anything any of you have to contribute would be appreciated.
Svante
All-Star
18347 Points
2300 Posts
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 20, 2007 04:38 PM|LINK
Although it may feel counter-intuitive, and a bit bothersome coming from C++, the way to do this is to use composition not inheritance. Yes, I know it can be done with inheritance in other languages, but it's often not a good idea there either.
So, to make your FredString, you declare the class, and then just keep a private System.String in there and wrap it with whatever functionality you need.
No, you can't then pass around a FredString as if it was a string - but you can provide an explicit cast to make it ease to use as a string anyway, and you can and should override the ToString() method. The alternative is to make a static class that gives you the behavior you want with the string. Remember that a string is, and must, be immutable for anything in .NET to work - so there's not that much you can do in a derived string class that can't be done with either of these ways anyway.
Especially if it's extending the string type you want, good oo practice does dictate that you should 'favor composition over inheritance'. C# is just giving you a helping hand there :-).
The same arguments pretty much apply to your integer variant, ResourceId.
Svante
AxCrypt - Free Open Source File Encryption & Online Password Manager - http://www.axantum.com
[Disclaimer: Code snippets usually uncompiled, beware typos.]
______
Don't forget to click "Mark as Answer" on the post(s) that helped you.
Frederick
Member
24 Points
59 Posts
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 20, 2007 06:07 PM|LINK
Thanks a lot, Svante. Your help is appreciated.
Still, I can't use a wrappper class. (I tried earlier in November.) I promise I'm not trying to be a bother to you or anyone else.
Basically, I'm trying to implement this at my job. If I create a "FredString" or "ResourceId" using wrapper classes, that class would have to be referenced in every component of every web application my company has written over the past year and a half. Since there are a countless number of them, implementing custom data types with wrapper classes might not be a good idea. Some of those applications can't be touched, because changing one might break other working applications. I should have mentioned this earlier.
In other words: Are there ways to implement "FredString" and "ResourceId" as custom data types without using wrapper classes?
Svante
All-Star
18347 Points
2300 Posts
Re: C# custom data types?
Nov 20, 2007 06:21 PM|LINK
I'm afraid your options are fairly limited. You cannot derive from 'System.Int32' or 'System.String' (for different reasons, but the result is the same).
Can you elaborate on just how FredString and ResourceId differs in behavior from 'System.String' and 'System.Int32' respectively, there might be some other way around it? Just what is it you're trying to achieve?
In your earlier posts you did note that you're aware of the 'using' alias mechanism, which is fairly equivalent to C/C++ 'typedef'. You did confuse me a bit with using both the capitalized TYPEDEF and lowercase 'typedef'. Do you mean a COM+ type definition with 'TYPEDEF'?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm getting the impression that you perhaps do not want to modify the behavior at all, you just want to ensure that the 'ResourceId' integer is always just that - a ResourceId, not just any integer. I'm afraid a wrapper struct and a wrapper class (for the FredString) is just about your only options.
Your concern that you'd have to change in a zillion places is a natural consequence if the above is the desired effect - that's after all what you want then. To ensure that it's always a 'ResourceId' and a 'FredString' respectively. You can't both have that cake and eat it too.
As for legacy code you can't change, you'll just have to validate and convert at the boundaries.
Sorry, unless you can give some more background I can't think of much more.
AxCrypt - Free Open Source File Encryption & Online Password Manager - http://www.axantum.com
[Disclaimer: Code snippets usually uncompiled, beware typos.]
______
Don't forget to click "Mark as Answer" on the post(s) that helped you.