String Type like Enum?

[robertfah]

Is there a way to create a String type that I can access in code to reference a string instead of a number like the Enum?

 

[ca8msm]

I'm not sure I understand. Is this what you mean?

    Enum MyValues
        Value1
        Value2
        Value3
    End Enum
    Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        Dim x As New MyValues
        x = MyValues.Value1
    End Sub

____________________________________________________________
Mark,
[URL unfurl="true"]http://aspnetlibrary.com[/url]

Need help finding an answer? Try the Search Facility or read FAQ222-2244.

 

[robertfah]

Sort of...kinda like this:

    public string CustomString
    {
        string1="this",
        string2="that",
        string3="other"
    }

Then in code, I could reference it just like enums, but now it's strings:

switch(CustomString)
{
      case CustomString.string1:
           do something
      case CustomString.string2;
           dp something
}

Does that make more sense?

 

[ca8msm]

Yes that makes sense but I don't think you can do that (at least not with an Enum anyway).


____________________________________________________________
Mark,
[URL unfurl="true"]http://aspnetlibrary.com[/url]

Need help finding an answer? Try the Search Facility or read FAQ222-2244.

 

[robertfah]

Oh I know I can't do it with the Enum type, but can I do it another way, somehow?

 

[jmeckley]

why must it be a string? it's simply an identitier, so integers are just as useful. Plus it's an enum so you can use the name which can read like words

public enum MyOptions : 1
{
   Option1,
   Option2,
   Option3
}

MyOptions op = //get option
switch(op)
{
   case MyOptions.Option1:
      break;
   case MyOptions.Option2:
      break;
   case MyOptions.Option3:
      break;
}

if you want a pretty string identitfier to go with it, use a custom enum helper like this

public static class MyOptionsHelper
{
   private static IDictionary<MyOptions, string> prettyStrings;

   private static void LoadStrings()
   {
      if(prettyStrings == null)
      {
          prettyStrings = new Dictionary<MyOptions, string>();
          prettyStrings.Add(MyOptions.Option1, "Foo");
          prettyStrings.Add(MyOptions.Option1, "Bar");
          prettyStrings.Add(MyOptions.Option1, "Foo Bar");
      }
   }

   public static string GetPrettyString(MyOptions op)
   { 
      LoadStrings();
      return prettyStrings[op];
   }

   public static string GetPrettyString(int op)
   { 
       return GetPrettyString((MyOptions)op);
   }
}

Jason Meckley
Programmer
Specialty Bakers, Inc.