(Brackets)

This is a type of explicit conversion
If this conversion is not possible then an exception is thrown.
This requires a cast operator and is also known as Casting or Prefix Casting.

int myint = 10; 
short myshort1 = (short)myint; 

This is an example of a narrowing conversion

For classes an explicit conversion is needed to convert a base class to a derived class.

public class Base {} 
public class Derived : Base {} 
Derived D = (Derived)(new Base()); 

Excel - Does this work ?

int myValue; 
myValue = (int)cell.Left; 
myValue = (float)cell.Left; 
myValue = (double)cell.Left; 
myValue = (single)cell.Left; 

Worksheet.Shapes.addPicture(,,, System.Convert.ToSingle(Cell.Left, 

VB.Net