type hint from php class library?

[noname0x100]

I have some methods in a PHP Class Library. If im called this methods in my C# application, im must already do "ToString" or other else. The methods return string, integer, boolean, much more. How can i fix this "bug"?

[Jakub Misek]

Do you have an example?

[noname0x100]

PHP Library Class:

Code: Select all

namespace TEST {
  class Example {
    public static function myMethod () {
      return 'Hello World!';
    }
  }
}

C# Application:

Code: Select all

MessageBox.Show(TEST.Example.myMethod().ToString());

What i mean now: Why dont work this:
PHP Library Class:

Code: Select all

namespace TEST {
  class Example {
    public static function myMethod () {
      return (string)'Hello World!';
    }
  }
}

C# Application:

Code: Select all

MessageBox.Show(TEST.Example.myMethod());

Im must set, on all Methods, in C# Application, ".ToString()". It looks not really great and i think, an better method exists, for this.

I can successfully call the PHP Class Library in C# Application, with method and im become result back, but only with .ToString(). Otherwise error is returned, object can not convert to string.

[Jakub Misek]

Right.

PHP is dynamic language, so its functions return always Object (or PhpReference if it is aliased using &). It is not possible to determine function's return type (compatible with C#) at compile time.

The only way would be to implement special attribute in Phalanger Core; where you would specify the type.

Anyway, '.ToString()' is not recommended way of casting returned objects. I would recommend to use PHP.Core.Convert.ObjectToString() (and other conversion routines here). This safely converts PHP object into compatible .NET object. (because string shouldn't be always String in PHP)