Generic function to cast a string value to another value using .NET's built in TryParse methods.

TryParseFunc.cs

// Usage
var intResult = Parse("1", 0, int.TryParse); // Returns 1
var dateResult = Parse("asdf", DateTime.Now, DateTime.TryParse); // Returns 18/07/2012 1:39:06 PM

delegate TParsedValue ParseFunc<T, U, TParsedValue>(T input, out U output);

static V Parse<T, V>(T valueToBeParsed, V defaultVal, ParseFunc<T, V, bool> dele) {

	V result;

	bool success = dele(valueToBeParsed, out result);

	if (success) {
		return result;
	}

	return defaultVal;
}