Invalid cast: date array into object array

[Brian P]

I am getting an invalid cast exception when I try
to take an ArrayList with datetime values and use
the ToArray method to create an object array.

I need to use an object array becase I'm working
with various datatypes and need the code to
be as generic as possible.

Most of to code involves dynamically determining
the datatype, which all works.

The code that fails is where I already know the
type is date time:

object[] objArray = (object[]) list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime));
How can I get an array of date time objects into an object array??

Thanks for any help,
Brian

[cecil]

Brian,
Try:
ArrayList al = new ArrayList();
al.Add(DateTime.Now);
al.Add(DateTime.Today);
object[] o = (object[])al.ToArray(typeof(object));
DateTime dt = (DateTime)o[0]; ^^^^^^^
MessageBox.Show(dt.ToLongDateString());

compiles and runs no problem.

Cecil Howell

Brian P wrote:

I am getting an invalid cast exception when I try
to take an ArrayList with datetime values and use
the ToArray method to create an object array.

I need to use an object array becase I'm working
with various datatypes and need the code to
be as generic as possible.

Most of to code involves dynamically determining
the datatype, which all works.

The code that fails is where I already know the
type is date time:

object[] objArray = (object[]) list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime));
How can I get an array of date time objects into an object array??

Thanks for any help,
Brian

[Brendan Grant]

The problem isn’t that you are trying to convert it to an object array, but
that you are never successfully converting it to a DateTime array in the
first place.

For your ToArray, instead of:

list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime));

Try:

list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime[]));

Once you’ve got the correct type of array being generated (or an array
period for that matter, then you can freely convert the resulting array to
any compatible sort, leaving you with:

object[] objArray = (object[]) list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime[]));

Brendan
"Brian P" wrote:

I am getting an invalid cast exception when I try
to take an ArrayList with datetime values and use
the ToArray method to create an object array.

I need to use an object array becase I'm working
with various datatypes and need the code to
be as generic as possible.

Most of to code involves dynamically determining
the datatype, which all works.

The code that fails is where I already know the
type is date time:

object[] objArray = (object[]) list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime));
How can I get an array of date time objects into an object array??

Thanks for any help,
Brian

[Brian P]

Hello ce***@ceciltech.com,

This seems to work. I'm still not quite sure why typeof(DateTime) doesn't
work, but I'm not gonna loose any sleep over it.

Thanks!

Brian

Brian,
Try:
ArrayList al = new ArrayList();
al.Add(DateTime.Now);
al.Add(DateTime.Today);
object[] o = (object[])al.ToArray(typeof(object));
DateTime dt = (DateTime)o[0]; ^^^^^^^
MessageBox.Show(dt.ToLongDateString());
compiles and runs no problem.

Cecil Howell

[Brendan Grant]

I’m an idiot, and my response proves it, ignore what I said about changing
typeof(DateTime) to typeof(DateTime[]).

The other poster is correct in their changing it to typeof(object).

<kicking self>
"Brendan Grant" wrote:

The problem isn’t that you are trying to convert it to an object array, but
that you are never successfully converting it to a DateTime array in the
first place.

For your ToArray, instead of:

list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime));

Try:

list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime[]));

Once you’ve got the correct type of array being generated (or an array
period for that matter, then you can freely convert the resulting array to
any compatible sort, leaving you with:

object[] objArray = (object[]) list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime[]));

Brendan
"Brian P" wrote:

I am getting an invalid cast exception when I try
to take an ArrayList with datetime values and use
the ToArray method to create an object array.

I need to use an object array becase I'm working
with various datatypes and need the code to
be as generic as possible.

Most of to code involves dynamically determining
the datatype, which all works.

The code that fails is where I already know the
type is date time:

object[] objArray = (object[]) list.ToArray(typeof(DateTime));
How can I get an array of date time objects into an object array??

Thanks for any help,
Brian

[billr]

typeof(DateTime) doesn't work because you have declared your array to be of
type object and you are converting your ArrayList to a DateTime[] Array

--
Of all words of tongue and pen, the saddest are: "It might have been"

Bill.Richards @ greyskin .co .uk
http://greyskin.co.uk
"Brian P" wrote:

Hello ce***@ceciltech.com,

This seems to work. I'm still not quite sure why typeof(DateTime) doesn't
work, but I'm not gonna loose any sleep over it.

Thanks!

Brian

Brian,
Try:
ArrayList al = new ArrayList();
al.Add(DateTime.Now);
al.Add(DateTime.Today);
object[] o = (object[])al.ToArray(typeof(object));
DateTime dt = (DateTime)o[0]; ^^^^^^^
MessageBox.Show(dt.ToLongDateString());
compiles and runs no problem.

Cecil Howell

[Jon Skeet [C# MVP]]

billr <bi***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

typeof(DateTime) doesn't work because you have declared your array to be of
type object and you are converting your ArrayList to a DateTime[] Array

Note that this would be fine if DateTime were a reference type, but
it's a value type.

--
Jon Skeet - <sk***@pobox.com>
http://www.pobox.com/~skeet
If replying to the group, please do not mail me too

[billr]

Doh! I always forget to include the actual point of my post!

thanks for picking up on that Jon :o))
--
Of all words of tongue and pen, the saddest are: "It might have been"

Bill.Richards @ greyskin .co .uk
http://greyskin.co.uk
"Jon Skeet [C# MVP]" wrote:

billr <bi***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

typeof(DateTime) doesn't work because you have declared your array to be of
type object and you are converting your ArrayList to a DateTime[] Array

Note that this would be fine if DateTime were a reference type, but
it's a value type.

--
Jon Skeet - <sk***@pobox.com>
http://www.pobox.com/~skeet
If replying to the group, please do not mail me too