Casting an object reference in c#

Question

If I have a function that takes a reference to an object. How do I cast the parameter to avoid a type mismatch?

Dictionary<string, string> mySettings = new Dictionary<string, string>();
.
.
saveSettings(ref mySettings);
.
.
void saveSettings(ref object)
{
}

The call to saveSettings results in the following error message:

cannot convert from 'ref Dictionary' to 'ref object'

I'm not looking for a workaround, I've done that, I would like to know if this direct approach is possible.

Answer 1

If save settings is taking multiple types, why not use a generic instead? Esp if they share a common interface.

void saveSettings<T>(T obj);

Answer 2

var objectMySettings = mySettings as object;
if (objectMySettings != null)
    saveSettings(ref objectMySettings);

Answer 3

void saveSettings(ref object)

The definition of saveSettings is malformed. You need an identifier after "ref object". But I'd make the "ref object" a Dictionary instead.

Answer 4

Do it this way:

 protected void Button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Dictionary<string, string> mySettings = new Dictionary<string, string>();

    saveSettings(mySettings);
}

void saveSettings( Dictionary<string, string> Settings)
{
}

Answer 5

Something like this:

static void Main()
{

   Dictionary<string, string> mySettings = new Dictionary<string, string>();
   object o = mySettings;
   SaveSettings(ref o);
   // o now has an item.
}

static void SaveSettings(ref object o)
{
    var d = o as Dictionary<string, string>;
    d.Add("Some", "String");
}

EDIT Some debugging output.