• Lars Johansson (20/20) Jan 17 I'm exploring ways of accessing mysql and are now trying
• bauss (3/23) Jan 17 You need to use .get!T on the variant, instead of casting.
• Lars Johansson (16/34) Jan 18 Thank you it works like a charm.

Lars Johansson <lasse 11dim.se> writes:

     I'm exploring ways of accessing mysql and are now trying 
mysql-native I have the following code:
     range = conn.query("Show processlist");
     	foreach (rad; range){
     		writeln(rad[6]);
     		}
     	}

     now I want to test if rad[6] begins with "start", like this:
     range = conn.query("Show processlist");
     	foreach (rad; range){
     	//	string stat = cast (string) rad[6];
     		if (rad[6].startsWith("start")){
     			writeln("match");
     		}
     	}

whatever I try casting or comparing I'm stuck on errors pointing 
out I cannot cast/convert `VariantN!32LU` to string.

I assumed an element range[] should be of type 'string', but it 
seems to be of type `VariantN!32LU` whatever that is.
I really need help. I'm stuck.

bauss <jacobbauss gmail.com> writes:

On Saturday, 17 January 2026 at 16:15:50 UTC, Lars Johansson 
wrote:
     I'm exploring ways of accessing mysql and are now trying 
 mysql-native I have the following code:
     range = conn.query("Show processlist");
     	foreach (rad; range){
     		writeln(rad[6]);
     		}
     	}

     now I want to test if rad[6] begins with "start", like this:
     range = conn.query("Show processlist");
     	foreach (rad; range){
     	//	string stat = cast (string) rad[6];
     		if (rad[6].startsWith("start")){
     			writeln("match");
     		}
     	}

 whatever I try casting or comparing I'm stuck on errors 
 pointing out I cannot cast/convert `VariantN!32LU` to string.

 I assumed an element range[] should be of type 'string', but it 
 seems to be of type `VariantN!32LU` whatever that is.
 I really need help. I'm stuck.

You need to use .get!T on the variant, instead of casting.

Lars Johansson <lasse 11dim.se> writes:

On Saturday, 17 January 2026 at 17:18:41 UTC, bauss wrote:
 On Saturday, 17 January 2026 at 16:15:50 UTC, Lars Johansson 
 wrote:

 this:
     range = conn.query("Show processlist");
     	foreach (rad; range){
     	//	string stat = cast (string) rad[6];
     		if (rad[6].startsWith("start")){
     			writeln("match");
     		}
     	}

 whatever I try casting or comparing I'm stuck on errors 
 pointing out I cannot cast/convert `VariantN!32LU` to string.

 I assumed an element range[] should be of type 'string', but 
 it seems to be of type `VariantN!32LU` whatever that is.
 I really need help. I'm stuck.

 You need to use .get!T on the variant, instead of casting.

Thank you it works like a charm.
I also found out that .toString works.
I should have been able to find toString immediately, but .get!T 
I probably never have found myself. Can you tell which one is 
best?
And the type `VariantN!32LU` why? It looks very odd to me.

I have tried to learn D a couple of times before, but always 
given up on odd things like `VariantN!32LU`. This time I try a 
bit harder. I do not learn well by books, courses or videos. I 
learn by solving a small problem I have and then expand. My 
intention is to build a compiler or an OS just for fun, or a 
world class SAP connector. Right now I am too busy with life and 
$work, the latter will end this year giving me more time for 
programming. I hope D will work for me. Again thanks for good and 
fast help.