Question

I have the following very simple and (abridged) classes:

// IEntry interface
public interface IEntry {
  long Id { get; set; }
  string Name { get; set; }
}

// IEntry implementation 
public class Contact : IEntry {
  public long Id { get; set; }
  public string Name { get; set; }
}

// DAO Interface
public interface IEntryDao {
  List<IEntry> findUnapproved();
}

// abstract base class 
public abstract class AbstractEntryDao : IEntryDao {
  public virtual List<IEntry> findUnapproved() {
    List<IEntry> entries = new List<IEntry>();
    // ... default load logic
    return entries;
  }
}

// ContactDao implementation 
public class ContactDao : AbstractEntryDao { 
  public override List<IEntry> findUnapproved() {
     List<IEntry> contacts = new List<IEntry>();
     // ... custom load logic for Contact
     return contacts;
  }
}

// sample client code
public void testFindUnapproved() {
  ContactDao contactDao = new ContactDao();
  List<IEntry> contacts = contactDao.findUnapproved(); // <--- this line works (but not what I want) 
  List<Contact> contacts = contactDao.findUnapproved(); // <--- this does not work (which makes sense)
  List<Contact> contacts = contactDao.findUnapproved() as List<Contact>; // <--- this does not work

  // here is how i compensate for this problem... but i do not like this
  List<Contact> list = new List<Contact>();
  foreach (IManageableEntry contact in contacts) {
      list.Add(contact as Contact);
  }
}

What I would like is a very short hand way (or possibly using generics in the Dao interface and abstract class)

List<Contact> contacts = contactDao.findUnapproved(); // <--- can I achieve this using generics in .NET 3.5?

Otherwise, what’s a clean alternative solution other than the very end of my sample client code that I believe to be a poor practice?

Answer 1

List<Contact> contacts = contactDao.findUnapproved().Cast<Contact>().ToList();

Just remember to add using linq namespace above the file