Convert any possible type to T in .Net 2005

private T TryConvert <T>(object o, T defaultValue, bool isThrowException)
{
    T convertedValue = defaultValue;
    try
    {
     if (o != null)
      {
       convertedValue = (T)Convert.ChangeType(o, typeof(T));
      }
     else
      throw;
    }
    catch
    {
     if (isThrowException)
      {
       throw;
      }
    }
   return convertedValue;
}

How to use:


Let us suppose you have HttpRequest with some parameters:
ID , Name and Flag
Example 1. Simple using

private void Examle()
 {
   int id      =
     TryConvert<int>(Request["id"], -1,
 true);
   string name =
     TryConvert<string>(Request["name"], string.Empty,
 true);
   bool flag   =
     TryConvert<bool>(Request["Flag"], default(bool),
 true);
 }

Example 2. Using in enum

 public enum Week
        {
            Monday,
            Tuesday,
            Wednesday,
            Thursday,
            Friday,
            Saturday,
            Sunday
        }

 private void Examle2(Week w)
{
   Week day = TryConvert<Week>(w, Week.Sunday, true);
}