Retrieving integer values from an enum - c#

I have defined an enum and tried to retrieve it as follows
class Demo
{
enum hello
{
one=1,
two
}
public static void Main()
{
Console.WriteLine(hello.one);
Console.ReadLine();
}
}
Now, how do i retrieve the integer value "1" from the enum ?

There's an explicit conversion from any enum type to its underlying type (int in this case). So:
Console.WriteLine((int) hello.one);
Likewise there's an explicit conversion the other way:
Console.WriteLine((hello) 1); // Prints "one"
(As a side note, I'd strongly advise you to follow .NET naming conventions, even when writing tiny test apps.)

you can cast the enums like
int a = (int)hello.one

Well you can do a cast to int
Console.WriteLine((int)hello.one);

Try This.
Console.Writeline((int)hello.Value);
or
int value = Convert.ToInt32(hello.one);

Related

Is there any way to create a function that can change the data type of a variable?

I 'm new to C#. Is there any way to create a function that can change the datatype of a variable to an another datatype and return the changed value.
I don't want to use the built-in Convert class.
For example :
Let's assume that ChangeDataType is the name of the function. It should also be possible to do the same thing with all datatypes.
int a = 5;
float b = ChangeDataType(a, "float"); // 5.0
Thanks.
Please note that you cannot change data type of already declared variable. But you can create new variable of desired type and then typecast old variable into new one. If this type casting fails, then invalidcastexception is thrown.
Below are different kinds of typecasting options:
1. Implicit Type casting
In this you don't need to use any syntax.
For ex:
int i = 10;
float a = i;
2. Explicit Type casting
You need to specify the type in which you want to convert to. For ex:
class Test
{
static void Main()
{
double x = 1234.7;
int a;
// Cast double to int.
a = (int)x;
System.Console.WriteLine(a);
}
}
// Output: 1234
3. User Defined Casts
Using implict and explicit keywords in c#.
Please refer
4. Helper Classes
There are many classes which provides method to convert data types.
One of the important class is - Convert.
This class provides a lot of methods. Convert.ToString, Convert.ToInt32, etc.
Another example is TryParse methods in int, long, double, DateTime, etc classes. Please refer

why enum needs to cast to int while comparing with integer value in C#

For example, I have declared the following enum in C#.
C# code:
public enum LobMaster :int
{
RetailBroking = 1,
HNI = 2,
TechnologyInfrastructure = 3,
}
cshtml code:
#int code = 2
#if (LobMaster.RetailBroking == code)
{
}
If I try to compare int enum with integer value it gives me following error message.
operator '==' cannot be applied to types 'LobMaster' and 'int'
While my enum
LobMaster
is already an int type.
But when I cast the enum to int and then compare with int value it works fine.
So my question is why I need to cast enum to int as enum is already an int.
The main purpose of Enums is to remove "magic numbers", so you should ask yourself - why do you want to use those magic numbers?
Much better comparison would be:
Session["Lob_code"] is LobMaster && LobMaster.MassAffluent == (LobMaster)Session["Lob_code"]
This way you are avoiding those magic numbers and your code just provides all the context.
#if ((int) LobMaster.MassAffluent == Convert.ToInt32(Session["Lob_code"])) { }
you should be able to cast the left hand value and then do the conoarison

Building generic method for List<Enum>

In my application, I have something like:
public enum Locations {
LocationA,
LocationB,
LocationC
}
private List<Locations> _myLocations;
public Int64 PackedLocations {
get {
return PackEnumList(this._myLocations);
}
}
So: an enum (backed by int), a List of those enum values, and a read-only property which returns the result of a method I've left out so far.
That method, PackEnumList, is meant to give me a 64-bit integer where each BIT denotes whether the corresponding enum value was selected or not in a list of unique enum values. So in my example above, if _myLocations has only one item: {Locations.LocationA}, the result would be 1 (binary: ...00001), if we then add Locations.LocationC to that list, the result would be 5 (binary: ...000101). The implementation isn't important right now (but I'll include it below for completion/interest/feedback), but the signature of that method is:
public Int64 PackEnumList(List<Enum> listOfEnumValues) {
...
}
When I compile, I get an error that "the best overloaded method ... has some invalid arguments".
I'm guessing this is because _myLocations is being seen as a List of int values, but I'd like PackEnumList() to work even if the enumeration being used were backed by something else, if possible.
Is there a more appropriate way to make a method which will accept a List/Collection of any enumeration?
For completeness, here's the rest of what I'm trying to do (these are static because they're in a shared utility class). These are completely untested yet (since I can't get past the compile error when calling the pack method), so take them with a grain of salt. And there might be a better way to do this, I'm doing this half to solve an interesting problem, and half because I think it is an interesting problem.
public static Int64 PackEnumList(List<Enum> listOfEnumValues) {
BitArray bits = new BitArray(64, defaultValue: false);
foreach (var value in listOfEnumValues) {
// get integer value of each Enum in the List:
int val = Convert.ToInt32(value);
if (val >= 64) {
// this enum has more options than we have bits, so cannot pack
throw new Exception("Enum value out of range for packing: " + val.ToString());
}
bits[val] = true;
}
var res = new Int64[1];
bits.CopyTo(res, 0);
return res[0];
}
// (this method is a little farther from the ideal: the resulting list will need
// to be matched by the caller to the appropriate List of Enums by casting
// each Int32 value to the Enum object in the list)
public static List<Int32> UnpackEnumList(Int64 packedValue) {
string binaryString = Convert.ToString(packedValue, 2);
List<Int32> res = new List<Int32>();
for (int pos = 0; pos < binaryString.Length; pos++) {
if (binaryString[binaryString.Length - pos - 1] == '1') {
// bit is on
res.Add(pos);
}
}
return res;
}
Is there a more appropriate way to make a method which will accept a List/Collection of any enumeration?
Within straight C#? Nope. But you can fudge it...
I have a project called Unconstrained Melody which allows you to make a generic method with a constraint of "T must be an enum type" or "T must be a delegate type". These are valid constraints at the IL level, but can't be expressed in C#
Basically Unconstrained Melody consists of two parts:
A library of useful methods with those constraints, where the source code is written using valid C# which doesn't actually represent those constraints, but uses a marker interface
An IL-rewriting project (ugly but servicable) which converts those constraints into the real "unspeakable" ones
(The expectation is that users of the library would just use the rewritten binary.)
It sounds like you could use the latter part of the project for your code here. It won't be terribly pleasant, but it would work. You might also find the library part useful.
As a side thought, you might want to consider using a [Flags]-style enum instead:
[Flags]
public enum Locations {
LocationA = 1 << 0,
LocationB = 1 << 1,
LocationC = 1 << 2
}
Change your method signature to public Int64 PackEnumList(IEnumerable<Enum> listOfEnumValues)
And then call it like following:
public Int64 PackedLocations
{
get { return PackEnumList(this._myLocations.Cast<Enum>()); }
}
A List<Enum> is not a List<Locations> nor a List<Int32>. Use a generic method to handle the list:
public static void PackEnumList<T>(IEnumerable<T> list) where T : IConvertible
{
foreach (var value in list)
int numeric = value.ToInt32();
// etc.
}
I'd change your signature method to:
public Int64 PackEnumList<T>(IEnumerable<T> listOfEnumValues) where T : struct, IFormattable, IConvertible {
...
}
The where T : struct... constrains it to enum types only (any any other struct implementing both interfaces, which is probably very low)

How can I tell the compiler that my generics will definitely allow "|=" or casting to int?

I'm bone new to generics in C#, and I'm attempting to create a method that will use generics. I tripped across the where keyword when attempting to create a local variable, so I'm sure that it will be part of the solution.
The reason for this is I have several different enum variables but the method would do the same to each (given a string that is one of the enum's defined values, toggle it on, using the enum like a bit field).
I have most of this together, the part I'm now stuck at is being able to tell the generic method it's ok to allow "|=" as I'm certain any type passed in will support the operator.
I would like to be able to maintain generality, if possible, so could either be an enum or a List and I would execute different code paths depending on the type.
Example of what I'm taking about
enum someType { value1 = 1<<0, value2 = 1<<1, value3 = 1<<2 }; // and so on
// some more enums
private T someMethod<T>(string myIdentifyers)
where T: new()
{
// suppose myIdentifiers is 1 more more of the valid enum options
// assume that the correct strings and enum combinations will be passed
T retval = new T();
while () {
// assume a loop with a method call that parses off one identifyer at a time
// if I have to convert the enum to an int first, so be it, but
// at this point I can't tell it that a cast to int exists
retval |= (T)System.Enum.Parse( typeof(T), oneIdentifyer, false );
}
return retval;
}
I would try something like this (pseudocode):
[Flags]
enum someType { value1 = 1<<0, value2 = 1<<1, value3 = 1<<2 }; // and so on
// some more enums
private T someMethod<T>(string myIdentifyers)
where T: struct, new()
{
// check if enum
if (typeof(T).BaseType != typeof(Enum)) // we should probably check for the flags attribute too
throw new Exception();
// suppose myIdentifiers is 1 more more of the valid enum options
// assume that the correct strings and enum combinations will be passed
int retval = 0;
while () {
// assume a loop with a method call that parses off one identifyer at a time
// if I have to convert the enum to an int first, so be it, but
// at this point I can't tell it that a cast to int exists
retval |= (int) (object) System.Enum.Parse( typeof(T), oneIdentifyer, false );
}
return (T) (object) retval;
}
It's not possible to express enum generic-constraints as of C# 4. Nor is it possible to express operator-constraints.
That said, I think you're looking for a method like this:
public static T AssembleFlagsEnum<T>(IEnumerable<string> names) where T : struct
{
return (T)(object)names.Aggregate(0,
(valSoFar, name) => valSoFar | Convert.ToInt32(Enum.Parse(typeof(T), name)));
}
Note that this doesn't validate that the type is a [Flags] enum. Nor will it work for enums which have underlying-types other than int.
In general, there's no good way to invoke operators on a generic type, although there are some kludges and workarounds that can help out in some circumstances.
See this similar question: Generic C# Code and the Plus Operator
In this case, since you know your enums cast to and from int, I think Bruno's method is the way to go.
Unfortunately it's not possible.
You can restrict with the struct constraint to say value type but obviously that includes more than integers. The only thing you could then do is early in the code to check on the actual type.
Supported constraint restrictions are described at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/d5x73970.aspx
You can't do operator constraints - see Solution for overloaded operator constraint in .NET generics

C# int to enum conversion [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Closed 10 years ago.
Possible Duplicate:
Cast int to enum in C#
If I have the following code:
enum foo : int
{
option1 = 1,
option2,
...
}
private foo convertIntToFoo(int value)
{
// Convert int to respective Foo value or throw exception
}
What would the conversion code look like?
It's fine just to cast your int to Foo:
int i = 1;
Foo f = (Foo)i;
If you try to cast a value that's not defined it will still work. The only harm that may come from this is in how you use the value later on.
If you really want to make sure your value is defined in the enum, you can use Enum.IsDefined:
int i = 1;
if (Enum.IsDefined(typeof(Foo), i))
{
Foo f = (Foo)i;
}
else
{
// Throw exception, etc.
}
However, using IsDefined costs more than just casting. Which you use depends on your implemenation. You might consider restricting user input, or handling a default case when you use the enum.
Also note that you don't have to specify that your enum inherits from int; this is the default behavior.
I'm pretty sure you can do explicit casting here.
foo f = (foo)value;
So long as you say the enum inherits(?) from int, which you have.
enum foo : int
EDIT Yes it turns out that by default, an enums underlying type is int. You can however use any integral type except char.
You can also cast from a value that's not in the enum, producing an invalid enum. I suspect this works by just changing the type of the reference and not actually changing the value in memory.
enum (C# Reference)
Enumeration Types (C# Programming Guide)
Casting should be enough. If you're using C# 3.0 you can make a handy extension method to parse enum values:
public static TEnum ToEnum<TInput, TEnum>(this TInput value)
{
Type type = typeof(TEnum);
if (value == default(TInput))
{
throw new ArgumentException("Value is null or empty.", "value");
}
if (!type.IsEnum)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Enum expected.", "TEnum");
}
return (TEnum)Enum.Parse(type, value.ToString(), true);
}
if (Enum.IsDefined(typeof(foo), value))
{
return (Foo)Enum.Parse(typeof(foo), value);
}
Hope this helps
Edit
This answer got down voted as value in my example is a string, where as the question asked for an int. My applogies; the following should be a bit clearer :-)
Type fooType = typeof(foo);
if (Enum.IsDefined(fooType , value.ToString()))
{
return (Foo)Enum.Parse(fooType , value.ToString());
}
You don't need the inheritance. You can do:
(Foo)1
it will work ;)

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