Class cast

[bkraut]

Hi,

I'm searching for a way to cast between two class entities. I'm writing a CRM with Target and Lead classes. Both are subclasses from BaceContact class each with additional fields.
I have to somehow cast between them. Is it the only way to set manually all the fields from Target to Lead?
I'd also like to keep the same key if possible, so all the documents attached to Target can will be preserved. From my point of view Target can be removed from the table.

[Fubarable]

What do you mean by "cast between them"? Please provide some details.

[bkraut]

Hi,

I have to convert (better as cast) from Target to Lead. As Target and Lead use same superclass BaseContact. Now - I would like to write method, which would convert a Target to a Lead.

I have several dependent entities like Attachments, which are connected directly to BaseContact superclass. My process should remove Target and convert it into a Lead, keeping an id of the Target, so all the dependent entities does not need to change.

[Fubarable]

Well the casting part is easy -- you can't do it so don't try. But the other issues sound as if it may be best solved via one or more design patterns. Perhaps you can create a class that has holds the basic data and has the basic shared behaviors of both Target and Lead, and use a Command Pattern and perhaps dependency injection to swap in and out modules that allow the class to exhibit Target or Lead behaviors.

[bkraut]

I was also sure that cast is not possible. Thanks for the answer I'll think about it.