VB.NET and type inference using "Dim"

Question

I'm coming from a C# background and I really like the type inference that C# 3.0 has. I'm trying to do similar things in VB.NET (some of which appear possible), but in some cases the compiler seems to be not nearly as good at inferring the type.

For example, I have a method that returns an object of type System.Guid. In C# I'd do this and the variable 'i' would be of type Guid through inference.

var prop = RegisterProperty(Of Guid)(...);

However, if I do a similar thing in VB.NET:

Dim prop = RegisterProperty(Of Guid(...)

I get prop as type System.Object. I've played with some of the VB.NET project settings but the only thing it changes is whether I get a warning that the object is of type Object when I use it later as a Guid.

Any ideas? I'm thinking the use of generics should allow the compiler to tell beyond a doubt what type prop should be.

Answer 1

I'm assuming by "played with the VB.NET project settings" you mean you already did this: Type Inference in VB.NET

If not, may help

Answer 2

@J Cooper: ok, I did have that setting turned on, but I just re-read the documentation for that compiler option and it reads "Specifies whether to allow local type inference in variable declarations". I believe the reason it's not working for me is that I'm declaring static fields in my class. I guess even though they are initialized when declared, the compiler doesn't support type inference at that point. Bummer.

Answer 3

You mention below that you're trying to do this in a static variable declaration. That won't work in C#, and will give you Object in VB.NET (for instance and statics).