How to convert a string value to a data type during runtime ?

[JC Voon]

Hi:
I need to convert a value reading from XML file to specific type,
the XMLstring is look like this:

<Field1 DataType="System.Int32", Value="123">
Dim t As Type = Type.GetType("System.Int32")

Dim i as integer = CType("123", t ) ---> the 2nd param not accept t

Any idea ?

Thansk
JCVoon

[Tom Shelton]

On 2005-07-20, JC Voon <jc*******@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi:
I need to convert a value reading from XML file to specific type,
the XMLstring is look like this:

<Field1 DataType="System.Int32", Value="123">
Dim t As Type = Type.GetType("System.Int32")

Dim i as integer = CType("123", t ) ---> the 2nd param not accept t

Any idea ?

Thansk
JCVoon

Dim i As Integer = Convert.ToInt32 ("123")
Dim i As Integer = Integer.Parse ("123")

--
Tom Shelton [MVP]

[Armin Zingler]

"JC Voon" <jc*******@yahoo.com> schrieb

Hi:
I need to convert a value reading from XML file to specific type,
the XMLstring is look like this:

<Field1 DataType="System.Int32", Value="123">
Dim t As Type = Type.GetType("System.Int32")

Dim i as integer = CType("123", t ) ---> the 2nd param not accept t

Any idea ?

System.String implements the IConvertible interface. Check out it's ToType
function:

Dim t As Type = Type.GetType("System.Int32")
Dim o As Object = DirectCast("123", IConvertible).ToType(t, Nothing)
o is declared "as Object" because you don't know the type. If you would know
it, you could declare it 'as integer' and use CInt or Integer.Parse.
Armin

[Phill. W]

"JC Voon" <jc*******@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:42***************@msnews.microsoft.com...

Dim t As Type = Type.GetType("System.Int32")
Dim i as integer

Essentially, what you /want/ to do is ...

i = Convert.ChangeType( "123", t )

.... but, perversely, ChangeType() returns an Object which you
then have to cast /again/, as in

i = DirectCast( _
Convert.ChangeType( "123", t ) _
)

HTH,
Phill W.

[JC Voon]

Hi TomShelton, Armin Zinger, Phill. W:

Thanks for the answer, both Armin and Phill. method is exactly what i
want.
Dim t As Type = Type.GetType("System.Int32")
Dim o As Object = DirectCast("123", IConvertible).ToType(t, Nothing)

and

Dim t As Type = Type.GetType("System.Int32")
Dim o As Object = Convert.ChangeType( "123", t )
Thanks
JCVoon