Question

I have library method taking variable argument list and producing data

class Data
def process(elems: String*): Data = new Data

and I want my strings to be implicitly converted to Data

implicit def strToData(ts: String): Data = process(t)

so I can write something like

val data: Data = "one"

but I want tuples of strings to be implicitly converted too. I’ve added another implicit

implicit def strsToData(ts: String*): Data = process(ts: _*)

it compiles fine, but conversion fails

val data: Data = ("one", "two")
val dat3: Data = ("one", "two", "three")
val dat4: Data = ("one", "two", "three", "four")

with

found   : Seq[java.lang.String]
required: this.Data
val data: Data = Seq("one", "two")

Is there any way to convert tuples implicitly, or a reason why it can be achieved?

Update: Tuples can be of any arity.

Answer 1

While all the warnings in @NikitaVolkov’s answer apply in double force, you can write a version that accepts any arity of tuple, as well as any case class:

implicit def prod2data(Product p): process((p.productIterator.toSeq):_*)