How do I do a simple compare of an enum value and a string that should match the enums name?
How do I parse the string into it's appropriate enum value.
For example,
Enum A
B=0
C=1
D=2
End Enum
How do I check if String = A.C and how do I convert string into its corresponding A value without comparing it to a string representation?
There are several different methods that are related:
Enum.GetName(typeof(A), A.C) == "C"
A.C.ToString() == "C"
((A)Enum.Parse(typeof(A), "C")) == A.C
The first two convert the value of A.C to a string representation ("C") and then compare it to a string. The last one converts the string "C" to a type A, and then compares as an actual type A.
Enum to string: enumValue.ToString() or Enum.GetName(typeof(A), A.C)
String to enum: (A)Enum.Parse(typeof(A), "C")
Note that none of those will really work if the enumeration is marked with FlagsAttribute.
The Enum.Parse method:
Converts the string representation of the name or numeric value of one or more enumerated constants to an equivalent enumerated object. A parameter specifies whether the operation is case-sensitive.
Here's the VB.NET example code from MSDN:
Module Example
Public Sub Main()
Dim colorStrings() As String = {"0", "2", "8", "blue", "Blue", "Yellow", "Red, Green"}
For Each colorString As String In colorStrings
Try
Dim colorValue As Colors = CType([Enum].Parse(GetType(Colors), colorString, True), Colors)
If [Enum].IsDefined(GetType(Colors), colorValue) Or colorValue.ToString().Contains(",") Then
Console.WriteLine("Converted '{0}' to {1}.", colorString, colorValue.ToString())
Else
Console.WriteLine("{0} is not an underlying value of the Colors enumeration.", colorString)
End If
Catch e As ArgumentException
Console.WriteLine("{0} is not a member of the Colors enumeration.", colorString)
End Try
Next
End Sub
End Module
Enum.GetName(typeof(A),enumValue)==stringValue
You can also use the name() function to check this
A.C.name() == "C"
