This seems to be a bit of a contradiction, but how can I construct a
Generic class using a System.Type variable that is assigned at run
time?  Is there some parallel to the Generics concept that extends to
having strictly-typed classes at run-time?

I would gladly give up the compile-time errors if I could get rid of
all these CType()s :)

Maybe you are looking for 'Type.MakeGenericType' and
'Activator.CreateInstance'?

Strict typing is a compile-time feature.

Gazarsgo,
In addition to the other comments.

That is the major point behind Generics. You have strictly-typed classes at
compile & runtime

For example:

    ' create a loosely typed collection of integers in .NET 1.x
    Dim aList As New ArrayList
    aList.Add(1)
    aList.Add(2)
    aList.Add("Silly Me")    ' allowed as its loosely typed!

    ' create a strictly-typed collection of integers in .NET 2.0
    Dim aList As New List(Of Integer)
    aList.Add(1)
    aList.Add(2)
    aList.Add("Silly Me")    ' Compile error as its strictly typed!


You should be able to use Type.MakeGenericType & Activator.CreateInstance,
something like:

        Dim aType As Type = GetType(String)

        Dim theCollectionType As Type =
GetType(System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection(Of ))

        Dim myColType As Type = theCollectionType.MakeGenericType(aType)

        Dim mycol As Object = Activator.CreateInstance(myColType)


HOWEVER: Without knowing the actual type at compile time, you will only be
able to use late binding, Reflection, & object variables with the created
type, plus
possibly a handful of interfaces.

?? CType doesn't help with have a variable of System.Type per se. However
Generics should reduce or elimate the "need" for CType.

FWIW: This is a good FAQ on Generics:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dndotnet/html/Fundamentals.asp

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Gazargsgo,

Never tried and never will, however are you not just looking at "object".

Cor

Cor Ligthert [MVP] wrote:
I am trying to implement an alternative to Object references using
Generics, so as to have my class functions return the specific type
rather than an Object reference, and to avoid boxing where possible.


Herfried K. Wagner [MVP] wrote:
Maybe this is my own ignorance, but by "strict typing" I meant to refer
to type safety, whether implemented via static typing at compile time
or dynamic typing at runtime.


It looks like Type.MakeGenericType and Activator.CreateInstance are
exactly what I was looking for, thanks for the extended code snippet
Jay.

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