How to get Enum Value By Description

Question

public enum States
{
        [Description("New Hampshire")]
        NewHampshire = 29,
        [Description("New York")]
        NewYork = 32,
}

Here I have to get the data by Description example: I need 29 by 'New Hampshire' Dynamically not using index position

Sorry I didn't tried – Debashis Tewary May 13 '15 at 08:34 — Debashis Tewary, May 13 '15 at 08:34

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 13 '15 at 08:27

this is a way you can:

States s;
var type = typeof(States);
foreach (var field in type.GetFields())
{
    var attribute = Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(field,
        typeof(DescriptionAttribute)) as DescriptionAttribute;
    if (attribute != null)
    {
        if (attribute.Description == "description")
        {
            s = (States)field.GetValue(null);
            break;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        if (field.Name == "description")
        {
            s = (Rule)field.GetValue(null);
            break;
        }
    }
}

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 13 '15 at 08:14

You can pass your string to GetDataByDescription method. I've used answer by Aydin Adn for GetAttribute method.

internal class Program
{
    private static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(GetDataByDescription("New Hampshire"));
    }

    private static int GetDataByDescription(string s)
    {
        foreach (States state in Enum.GetValues(typeof (States)))
        {
            if (GetAttribute<DescriptionAttribute>(state).Description == s)
            {
                return (int) state;
            }
        }

        throw new ArgumentException("no such state");
    }

    private static TAttribute GetAttribute<TAttribute>(Enum enumValue)
        where TAttribute : Attribute
    {
        return enumValue.GetType()
            .GetMember(enumValue.ToString())
            .First()
            .GetCustomAttribute<TAttribute>();
    }
}

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered May 13 '15 at 08:08

Here a generic method you can use with any attribute

public static class Extensions
{
    public static TAttribute GetAttribute<TAttribute>(this Enum enumValue) 
            where TAttribute : Attribute
    {
        return enumValue.GetType()
                        .GetMember(enumValue.ToString())
                        .First()
                        .GetCustomAttribute<TAttribute>();
    }
}

This will help you achieve what you're attempting...

How to get Enum Value By Description

3 Answers3