Using "partial" on a generic class

Question

I am using a generic class called ViewModelCollection<BaseViewModel> which handles a lists of ViewModels and delivers standard add() and delete() commands.

Now I'm wondering if I can "extend" this class using the partial construct for a certain ViewModel, whose name is, say, CarViewModel.

Is something like this possible?

partial class ViewModelCollection<BaseViewModel>
{
    ... some command and list stuff ...
}

partial class ViewModelCollection<CarViewModel>
{
    ... special commands for car view model
}

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 16 '11 at 23:19

12

No, you can't, partial just splits the class definition over multiple files, the definition has to be the same. You need to derive from ViewModelCollection<T>:

public class ViewModelCollection<T> where T: BaseViewModel
{
   //methods
}

public class CarViewModelCollection : ViewModelCollection<CarVieModel>
{
  //specific methods
}

answered Apr 16 '11 at 23:19

Femaref

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Thanks for your answer. I hoped I wouldn't have to use derivation. The view model part in my application is generated so now I have to make some changes on the generators before going the derivation way. :-( – Michael Hilus Apr 17 '11 at 13:52

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 16 '11 at 23:19

1

partial is used only to split a class across multiple source files. The class definition itself must be the same.

answered Apr 16 '11 at 23:19

Charlie Salts

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 17 '11 at 01:24

1

Take the partial methods added and create an interface, you can then constrain the generic to use that interface and work off of those methods defined.

answered Apr 17 '11 at 01:24

ΩmegaMan

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Using "partial" on a generic class

3 Answers3