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the template type for IAsyncOperation<TResult> cannot be array RRS feed

  • Question

  • If the template type for IAsyncOperation<TResult> is array, the app throws exceptions saying that the type cannot be recognized
    Wednesday, August 29, 2012 10:32 PM

Answers

  • Yes, Platform::Array can be passed across the ABI but it cannot be a generic parameter.

    At the ABI, arrays get passed as 2 parameters (size and pointer to data). This unfortunately makes WinRT generics not allow arrays because generic instantiation requires that 1 formal generic parameter turn into 1 actual generic parameter.

    A good workaround is to pass a boxed array as a parameter to IAsyncOperation i.e. IAsyncOperation<Platform::Object^>. This would only change the signature of your methods and not the implementation because Platform::Array already is a boxed array. You would still be ref-new-ing Platform::Arrays in your code.

    Hope this helps,
    Marian Luparu
    Visual C++

    • Marked as answer by Renjie Huang Thursday, August 30, 2012 6:45 PM
    • Edited by Marian LuparuMicrosoft employee Sunday, September 2, 2012 10:43 PM Updated Platform::IBoxArray<T> to Platform::Object in the bolded text because IBoxArray is not a valid type in WinRT public surface (you can still use it however in internal/private types)
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 5:49 PM

All replies

  • Yes. Take a look at the collection classes instead.

    --Rob

    • Marked as answer by Renjie Huang Thursday, August 30, 2012 4:50 PM
    • Unmarked as answer by Renjie Huang Thursday, August 30, 2012 5:35 PM
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 1:23 AM
    Moderator
  • Do you mean IAsyncOperation<TResult> can take a Window Runtime collection type as typename?

    In my understanding, Platform::Array<T> also can be passed across ABI interface, right?

    Thursday, August 30, 2012 5:35 PM
  • Yes, Platform::Array can be passed across the ABI but it cannot be a generic parameter.

    At the ABI, arrays get passed as 2 parameters (size and pointer to data). This unfortunately makes WinRT generics not allow arrays because generic instantiation requires that 1 formal generic parameter turn into 1 actual generic parameter.

    A good workaround is to pass a boxed array as a parameter to IAsyncOperation i.e. IAsyncOperation<Platform::Object^>. This would only change the signature of your methods and not the implementation because Platform::Array already is a boxed array. You would still be ref-new-ing Platform::Arrays in your code.

    Hope this helps,
    Marian Luparu
    Visual C++

    • Marked as answer by Renjie Huang Thursday, August 30, 2012 6:45 PM
    • Edited by Marian LuparuMicrosoft employee Sunday, September 2, 2012 10:43 PM Updated Platform::IBoxArray<T> to Platform::Object in the bolded text because IBoxArray is not a valid type in WinRT public surface (you can still use it however in internal/private types)
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 5:49 PM
  • Thanks for the detail information.
    Thursday, August 30, 2012 6:46 PM