C# enum in public variable .NET

Question

For my program, I created a new class called FinishedPiece with a number of public variables available to my main program. For example:

class FinishedPiece
{
    private double _PieceLength;
    public double PieceLength
    {
         get { return _PieceLength; }
         set { _PieceLength = value; }
    }
}

This all works fine, because then I can declare a new FinishedPiece and add properties:

FinishedPiece piece = new FinishedPiece();
piece.PieceLength = 48.25;

My question is, how do the same with an enum? If I do

public enum Cut
{
    Angle = 0,
    Straight = 1,
    AngleThenStraight = 2,
    StraightThenAngle = 3
};

then I'd like to change it something like this: piece.Cut = Cut.Angle; but I can only change it by declaring a new FinishedPiece.Cut object:

FinishedPiece.Cut cut = new FinishedPiece.Cut();
cut = FinishedPiece.Cut.Angle;

How do I make an enum available inside a variable so I can do piece.Cut = Cut.Angle? To me it would make sense to do something like this, but it doesn't appear to work.

public int Cut
{
    get { return _Cut; }
    set { _Cut = value; }

}

private enum _Cut
{
    Angle = 0,
    Straight = 1,
    AngleThenStraight = 2,
    StraightThenAngle = 3
};

Thanks in advance! Let me know if my question is unclear and I'll try to help as best as I can.

FinishedPiece doesn't contain a public variable. It contains a private variable, which backs a public property. — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Oct 9, 2013 at 13:36
_Cut is not an int. The public and private must be the same type — paparazzo
– paparazzo, Commented Oct 9, 2013 at 13:40

Habib · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-09 13:37:07Z

10

How do I make an enum available inside a variable so I can do piece.Cut = Cut.Angle?

Just define another property of type Cut in your class like:

public Cut Cut { get; set; }

Then you can do:

FinishedPiece piece = new FinishedPiece();
piece.PieceLength = 48.25;
piece.Cut = Cut.Angle; //like this

So your class would like like:

class FinishedPiece
{
    private double _PieceLength;
    public double PieceLength
    {
        get { return _PieceLength; }
        set { _PieceLength = value; }
    }

    public Cut Cut { get; set; }
}

Consider using Auto-Implemented properties, if you have only simple set and get

answered Oct 9, 2013 at 13:37

Habib

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3 Comments

Khan Over a year ago

+1 for beating me to the punch by minutes and not seconds, and for suggesting AIPs. :0

gnarlybracket Over a year ago

Thank you for your answer. And I took your advice about AIPs. Good to know! I always like to shorten my code any way that I can and that certainly does.

Habib Over a year ago

@gnarlybracket, you are welcome, just remember that Auto implemented properties use a private backing field internally. But it does shorten the code

Khan · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-09 13:39:53Z

2

Like this:

class FinishedPiece
{
    private double _PieceLength;
    public double PieceLength
    {
        get { return _PieceLength; }
        set { _PieceLength = value; }
    }
    private Cut _Cut;
    public Cut Cut
    {
        get { return _Cut; }
        set { _Cut = value; }
    }
}
public enum Cut
{
    Angle = 0,
    Straight = 1,
    AngleThenStraight = 2,
    StraightThenAngle = 3
};

Then you can do:

var piece = new FinishedPiece();
piece.Cut = Cut.AngleThenStraight;

answered Oct 9, 2013 at 13:39

Khan

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Comments

terrybozzio · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-09 13:50:44Z

You can try this:

    private enum Cut
    {
        //if you dont want to use any of these values as defaults 
        //just add another value and in your class private member
        //assign it like for example a value called None
        Angle = 0,
        Straight = 1,
        AngleThenStraight = 2,
        StraightThenAngle = 3
    };

    public class FinishedPiece
    {
        //give it a default,if like stated in the enum you dont want
        //any of those values create a None and place it here as default.
        private Cut cutObj = Cut.Angle;

        public Cut CutObj
        {
            get { return cutObj; }
            set { cutObj = value; }
        }
    }

Then in your calling code...

FinishedPiece piece = new FinishedPiece();
//if you dont want the default change it...
piece.CutObj = Cut.Straight;

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