Specify Variable Size

Question

Is there an easy way to specify the variable size and still use them as variables more specifically for the .NETLink?

Something like the following I am thinking.

t = Int[2];

and then the variable could only be set to unsigned int values as an example.

Anoter example I want i = unsignedChar[3] to be exactly 0 to 255 when you assign values to it. So i = 156 would either throw an error or overflow.

Answer 1

Don't know how close this is to what you are after:

ClearAll[t];
Module[{out = True},
 t /: Set[t, n_Integer] /; out := Block[{out = False}, t = n];
 t /: Set[t, whatever : Except[_Integer]] := $Failed
]

You can use whatever patter you wish.

t = 2; t

2

t = "test"

$Failed

There is of course a question about SetDelayed and other methods to set different types of values.