CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#generics
Arnis Lapsa
Arnis Lapsa

Reputation: 47587

How to call method of instance of generic type when it's type argument is unknown?

This seems like basic problem, but I'm struggling with it (maybe because of tiredness).

E.g. - if i create instance of repository like this =>

var repositoryType = typeof(Repository<>).MakeGenericType(entityType);
// repository type==object :(
var repository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance(repositoryType);

What's the best way to call repository.All() method? Is reflection the only way?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 563

Answers (2)

SLaks
SLaks

Reputation: 887453

In .Net 3.5, it is not possible to do this without reflection or worse.

Upvotes: 1

Marc Gravell
Marc Gravell

Reputation: 1062780

It depends whether Repository<> exposes some non-generic interface (like ITable compared to Table<T> in LINQ-to-SQL). If not, you have to use reflection. If it does, then cast to the non-generic interface:

IRepository repository = (IRepository)ServiceLocator
    .Current.GetInstance(repositoryType); 
IList data = repository.All();

In 4.0, you could also consider dynamic:

dynamic repository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance(repositoryType); 
IList data = repository.All();

Upvotes: 3

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