Method to take in any Enum

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Create Generic method constraining T to an Enum

is it possible to create a generic method that takes in any enum? I'll then check the incoming type to first make sure it's an enum that was passed (or can I enforce that natrually through the method definition?) and second then if it's an enum, I will have a bunch of case statements that do stuff based on what type of enum that was passed. So for example I can pass it CompanyColumns, PayColumns, etc. which are enums. My method needs to be able to take any enum like this and allow me to then work with the enum in my internal case statement.

public static DbType GetColumnDataType(I want to be able to pass in any object that's an enum)

Seems like it would be easier and more orderly to overload the method by the parameter type. — Michael Myers, Oct 22 '12 at 18:50
well I'm trying to reduce code....and I have a reason I want to do it this way... — PositiveGuy, Oct 22 '12 at 18:57

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 22 '12 at 18:52

11

public static void MyFunction<T>(T en) where T: IComparable, IFormattable, IConvertible
{
    if (!typeof(T).IsEnum)
        throw new ArgumentException("en must be enum type");
    // implementation
}

answered Oct 22 '12 at 18:52

Denis

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thanks. And so if I want to work with the enum in a case statement I tried doing this, not sure how switch ((enum)T) – PositiveGuy Oct 22 '12 at 19:00

elyashiv · Answer 2 · 2012-10-22T20:32:45.543

5

try this:

public static DbType GetColumnDataType(Enum en){...}

that's not generic, but well work.

if you want generic you could do the following:

public DbType GetColumnDataType<T>(T en)
{
    Type t = n.getType();
    if (!t.isEnum)
    {
      //through exception 
    }
}

edited Oct 22 '12 at 20:32

answered Oct 22 '12 at 18:51

elyashiv

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so you're not inheriting from IComparable, etc.? Just wondering why not... – PositiveGuy Oct 22 '12 at 18:58

Method to take in any Enum

2 Answers2