Question

I have a generic interface, and a few classes implement it.
then from a global place, I want to use methods from that interface,
yet, I don’t know their compiled generic type, so the reference is only their object’s class, as showing in runtime. (so I can’t get access to the interface methods)

a few questions:

1. Is it possible to use them?
2. should I design it without generics?
3. what is the purpose of generic interfaces if I can’t use them at runtime?
4. can generics out/in or dynamic help in that situation?

edit: some example code

  public interface IMyInterface<T> 
        where T: class, new()
    {
        void Delete (T obj);
    }

public class trigger {}
public class triggervm : IMyInterface<trigger>
{

List<trigger> _trigList = new List<trigger>()
    public void Delete (trigger obj)
    {
        _trigList.Remove (obj);
    }
}

now, say I want to check, and then use the method Delete, from a “global” place:

if (chosenItem is IMyInterface<???>)
{
     var item = chosenItem as      IMyInterface<???>;
     item.Delete(someObj);
}

Answer 1

like thomas suggested, I use dynamic,

and like “RedHat” suggested, I have the enclosing class inherit from both my interface (IClipboard<T>) and a parent interface (IClippable) that is just a “grouping” interface.

myinterface inherits from the grouping interface, so any class that implements myinterface also matches the grouping one.
so I can check if the selected item is IClippable.

the cleanest I could get with my current knowledge of the language.

better support in C# would be nice.