.NET and X# permit an enhanced casting of variables. Using the casting the compiler can will check the properties and methods of the object.
<code>local oObject as object
local oDateTime as object
	
oObject	:= DateTime.Now
oObject:AddYears( 1 ) // compiler error here
( ( DateTime ) oObject ):AddYears( 1 ) // works
oDateTime := oObject // compiler error here
oDateTime := ( DateTime ) oObject //works</code>

The ''astype'' statement is an advanced form of casting, but if works only on datatypes that can be null:
<code>oString := oObject asytype string</code>
In the case that oObject is not a string, the null value is assigned to the oString variable.
The following code will not work as ''DateTime'' cannot have a null value:
<code>local oDateTime as DateTime

oDateTime := oObject astype DateTime</code>
This code will only work if you use ''Nullable<DateTime>'' instead of ''DateTime''