The following code does not compile.
type A(?arg) =
member __.Arg : string option = arg
type B(?arg) =
inherit A(arg) //ERROR expected type string but has type 'a option
I assume this is because an instance of the underlying type of the option must be provided, and the compiler handles passing Some
/None
based on syntax.
Assuming my assumption has been correctly assumed, is there a workaround for this? Is it possible to propagate optional arguments?
F# spec 8.13.5 Optional arguments to method members
Callers may specify values for optional arguments by using the following techniques:
- By name, such as arg2 = 1.
- By propagating an existing optional value by name, such as ?arg2=None or ?arg2=Some(3) or ?arg2=arg2. This can be useful when building one method that passes optional arguments on to another.
By using normal, unnamed arguments matched by position.
type A(?arg) =
member __.Arg : string option = arg
type B(?arg) =
inherit A(?arg = arg)
printfn "1. %A" (B()).Arg // None
printfn "2. %A" (B("1")).Arg // Some "1"
printfn "3. %A" (A()).Arg // None
printfn "4. %A" (A("1")).Arg // Some "1"
Sorry had to test it first: it seems you are right - you have to do the "?" for A yourself:
type A(arg : string option) =
new (a) = new A(Some a)
new () = new A(None)
member __.Arg : string option = arg
type B(?arg) =
inherit A(arg)