Creating a generic object based on a Type variable [duplicate]

Question

I need to create a generic object based on a type that is stored in a database. How can I acheive this? The code below (which won't compile) explains what I mean:

string typeString = GetTypeFromDatabase(key);
Type objectType = Type.GetType(typeString);

//This won't work, but you get the idea!
MyObject<objectType> myobject = new MyObject<objectType>();

Is it possible to do this kind of thing?

Thanks

Marc Gravell · Accepted Answer · 2009-06-05 11:03:21Z

74

Type type = typeof(MyObject<>).MakeGenericType(objectType);
object myObject = Activator.CreateInstance(type);

Also - watch out; Type.GetType(string) only checks the executing assembly and a few system assemblies; it doesn't scan everything. If you use an assembly-qualified-name you should be fine - otherwise you may need to get the Assembly first, and use someAssembly.GetType(string).

answered Jun 5, 2009 at 11:03

Marc Gravell

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2 Comments

Charlie Over a year ago

Does the object that you're creating have to have a constructor that takes no arguments?

Mark Hurd Over a year ago

@Charlie You've probably worked this out in the intervening year, but for completeness, no, you can use other constructors with Activator.CreateInstance(Type, params Object[]).

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