C# convert a string for use in a logical condition?

Question

Is it possible to convert a string to an operator for use in a logical condition. For example if(x Convert.ToOperator(">") y) {} or if(x ">" as Operator y){} I appreciate that this might not be standard practice question, therefore I'm not interested in answers that ask me why the hell would want to do something like this. Thanks in advance EDIT: OK I agree, only fair to give some context. We have system built around reflection and XML. I would like to be able to say something like, for ease. <Value = "Object1.Value" Operator = ">" Condition = "0"/> EDIT: Thanks for your comments, I can't properly explain this on here. I guess my question is answered by "You can't", which is absolutely fine (and what I thought). Thanks for your comments. EDIT: Sod it I'm going to have a go. Imagine the following <Namespace.LogicRule Value= "Object1.Value" Operator=">" Condition="0"> This will get reflected into a class, so now I want to test the condition, by calling bool LogicRule.Test() That's the bit where it would all need to come together. EDIT: OK, so having never looked at Lambdas or Expressions I thought I would have a look after @jrista's suggestions. My system allows Enums to be parsed, so Expressions are attractive because of the ExpressionType Enum. So I created the following class to test the idea: public class Operation { private object _Right; private object _Left; private ExpressionType _ExpressionType; private string _Type; public object Left { get { return _Left; } set { _Left = value; } } public object Right { get { return _Right; } set { _Right = value; } } public string Type { get { return _Type; } set { _Type = value; } } public ExpressionType ExpressionType { get { return _ExpressionType; } set { _ExpressionType = value; } } public bool Evaluate() { var param = Expression.Parameter(typeof(int), "left"); var param2 = Expression.Parameter(typeof(int), "right"); Expression<Func<int, int, bool>> expression = Expression.Lambda<Func<int, int, bool>>( Expression.MakeBinary(ExpressionType, param, param2), param, param2); Func<int, int, bool> del = expression.Compile(); return del(Convert.ToInt32(Left), Convert.ToInt32(Right)); } } Obviously this will only work for Int32 right now and the basic ExpressionTypes, I'm not sure I can make it generic? I've never use Expressions before, however this seems to work. This way can then be declared in our XML way as Operation<Left="1" Right="2" ExpressionType="LessThan" Type="System.Int32"/>

Answer 1

So if I understand your problem correctly.... you get and xml in some kind of format that has value, operator and condition, you want to parse out the operator to use in a logical condition. Like what you said:

 <Value = "Object1.Value" Operator = ">" Condition = "0"/>

Now what I do not understand is why you think you can't. It is a simple parse function that you would have to write to accomplish that. If you are asking if there is a built in one, I would say no, but it would be easy to write one, especially if the format is known. I cant read your code in the paragraph format that well so I really do not know what you are trying to accomplish completely.