How do I convert the following Enum to a List of strings?
[Flags]
public enum DataSourceTypes
{
None = 0,
Grid = 1,
ExcelFile = 2,
ODBC = 4
};
I couldn't find this exact question, this Enum to List is the closest but I specifically want List<string>?
Use Enum's static method, GetNames. It returns a string[], like so:
Enum.GetNames(typeof(DataSourceTypes))
If you want to create a method that does only this for only one type of enum, and also converts that array to a List, you can write something like this:
public List<string> GetDataSourceTypes()
{
return Enum.GetNames(typeof(DataSourceTypes)).ToList();
}
You will need Using System.Linq; at the top of your class to use .ToList()
If you only need a single item in the list:
string enumItemAsString = nameof(DataSourceTypes.Grid)
Enum.GetNames(typeof(DataSourceTypes)) return a generic System.Array instead of a string array?public static string[] GetNamesI want to add another solution: In my case, I need to use a Enum group in a drop down button list items. So they might have space, i.e. more user friendly descriptions needed:
public enum CancelReasonsEnum
{
[Description("In rush")]
InRush,
[Description("Need more coffee")]
NeedMoreCoffee,
[Description("Call me back in 5 minutes!")]
In5Minutes
}
In a helper class (HelperMethods) I created the following method:
public static List<string> GetListOfDescription<T>() where T : struct
{
Type t = typeof(T);
return !t.IsEnum ? null : Enum.GetValues(t).Cast<Enum>().Select(x => x.GetDescription()).ToList();
}
When you call this helper you will get the list of item descriptions.
List<string> items = HelperMethods.GetListOfDescription<CancelReasonEnum>();
ADDITION: In any case, if you want to implement this method you need :GetDescription extension for enum. This is what I use.
public static string GetDescription(this Enum value)
{
Type type = value.GetType();
string name = Enum.GetName(type, value);
if (name != null)
{
FieldInfo field = type.GetField(name);
if (field != null)
{
DescriptionAttribute attr =Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(field,typeof(DescriptionAttribute)) as DescriptionAttribute;
if (attr != null)
{
return attr.Description;
}
}
}
return null;
/* how to use
MyEnum x = MyEnum.NeedMoreCoffee;
string description = x.GetDescription();
*/
}
[Description( use [EnumMember(Value = which auto deserializes JSON Enums! Its easy to implement, change: x => x.GetDescription() to x => x.GetAttributeOfType<EnumMemberAttribute>().Value and the method: public static T GetAttributeOfType<T>(this Enum enumVal) where T : System.Attribute { var type = enumVal.GetType(); var memInfo = type.GetMember(enumVal.ToString()); var attributes = memInfo[0].GetCustomAttributes(typeof(T), false); return (attributes.Length > 0) ? (T)attributes[0] : null; }
GetDescription extension should return field.Name if attr is null (in case there's no description attribute on a value).In my case, I need to convert it as SelectItem for Checkbox and Radio Button
public class Enum<T> where T : struct, IConvertible
{
public static List<SelectItem> ToSelectItems
{
get
{
if (!typeof(T).IsEnum)
throw new ArgumentException("T must be an enumerated type");
var values = Enum.GetNames(typeof(T));
return values.Select((t, i) => new SelectItem() {Id = i, Name = t}).ToList();
}
}
}
