Custom names on enum elements

Question

Suppose there's an enum like so.

[Flags]
public enum Crazies
{
  One = 2,
  Two = 3,
  Three = 4
}

Now, when I force the different values to be stringified, I get the text in the beautiful tongue, which differ considerably from the usual meaning of the numerics. Suppose now that the users prefer a more conventional definition of the natural numbers and wish to see the text "Two", although the variable value is One (NB it's Crazies.One).

What'd be the simplest way to map the stringification of the predefined names of the elements? Right now I'll go with something like the following but I don't really like it.

private static String DecrazyfyCrazies(Crazies wrong)
{
  switch(wrong)
  {
    case Crazies.One: return "Two";
    case Crazies.Two: return "Three";
  }
  return "Four";
}

Set the type of your enum to int `Crazies : int` and just return the enum with return `Crazies.One`. — SchautDollar, Apr 14 '14 at 14:27

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 14 '14 at 14:31

2

If you need int just cast to int

return (int)Crazies.One;

For more custom string display you can use display name

i.e

public enum Crazies
{
  [Display(Name="Custom Name for One")]
  One = 2,
  [Display(Name="Custom Name for Two")]
  Two = 3     
}

See more about Power Up Your Enum

answered Apr 14 '14 at 14:31

huMpty duMpty

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I was trying to be generic in my question but failed. You got the intention right. +1 for the extra mile and *Display* attribute. – Konrad Viltersten Apr 14 '14 at 18:43

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 14 '14 at 14:27

1

You could just cast the enum to an int:

return (int)wrong;

answered Apr 14 '14 at 14:27

Bill

1,431
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1

That doesn't display the text "*Two*", just the numeric. The intention was to actually set the string displayed to anything I wish. – Konrad Viltersten Apr 14 '14 at 18:44
Ah, I see. Sorry for the misunderstanding. – Bill Apr 14 '14 at 18:50

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 14 '14 at 14:30

1

I'd recommend setting the type of your enum.

[Flags]
public enum Crazies : int
{
   One = 2,
   Two = 3,
   Three = 4
}

Now you can just return the enum with return Crazies.One.

There are a several types you can use.

The approved types for an enum are byte, sbyte, short, ushort, int, uint, long, or ulong. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/sbbt4032.aspx

answered Apr 14 '14 at 14:30

SchautDollar

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3
13

That doesn't display the text "*Two*", just the numeric. The intention was to actually set the string displayed to anything I wish. – Konrad Viltersten Apr 14 '14 at 18:46
Ah, alright. huMpty duMpty's solution is what you are looking for then. – SchautDollar Apr 14 '14 at 19:05

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 14 '14 at 14:32

Create an int getter which returns

return (int) enumvar + 1;

if you really need words you can just add a static class.. but you don`t need to alter it for every mutation of you crazy enum

public static string NumberToWords(int number)
{
    if (number == 0)
        return "zero";

    if (number < 0)
        return "minus " + NumberToWords(Math.Abs(number));

    string words = "";

    if ((number / 1000000) > 0)
    {
        words += NumberToWords(number / 1000000) + " million ";
        number %= 1000000;
    }

    if ((number / 1000) > 0)
    {
        words += NumberToWords(number / 1000) + " thousand ";
        number %= 1000;
    }

    if ((number / 100) > 0)
    {
        words += NumberToWords(number / 100) + " hundred ";
        number %= 100;
    }

    if (number > 0)
    {
        if (words != "")
            words += "and ";

        var unitsMap = new[] { "zero", "one", "two", "three", "four", "five", "six", "seven", "eight", "nine", "ten", "eleven", "twelve", "thirteen", "fourteen", "fifteen", "sixteen", "seventeen", "eighteen", "nineteen" };
        var tensMap = new[] { "zero", "ten", "twenty", "thirty", "forty", "fifty", "sixty", "seventy", "eighty", "ninety" };

        if (number < 20)
            words += unitsMap[number];
        else
        {
            words += tensMap[number / 10];
            if ((number % 10) > 0)
                words += "-" + unitsMap[number % 10];
        }
    }

    return words;
}

Custom names on enum elements

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