Associating enums with strings in C#

I know the following is not possible because the Enumeration's type has to be an int

enum GroupTypes
{
    TheGroup = "OEM",
    TheOtherGroup = "CMB"
}

From my database I get a field with incomprehensive codes (the OEM and CMBs). I would want to make this field into an enum or something else understandable. Because if the target is readability, the solution should be terse.

What other options do I have?

Solution 1:

I like to use properties in a class instead of methods, since they look more enum-like.

Here's an example for a Logger:

public class LogCategory
{
    private LogCategory(string value) { Value = value; }

    public string Value { get; private set; }

    public static LogCategory Trace   { get { return new LogCategory("Trace"); } }
    public static LogCategory Debug   { get { return new LogCategory("Debug"); } }
    public static LogCategory Info    { get { return new LogCategory("Info"); } }
    public static LogCategory Warning { get { return new LogCategory("Warning"); } }
    public static LogCategory Error   { get { return new LogCategory("Error"); } }
}

Pass in type-safe string values as a parameter:

public static void Write(string message, LogCategory logCategory)
{
    var log = new LogEntry { Message = message };
    Logger.Write(log, logCategory.Value);
}

Usage:

Logger.Write("This is almost like an enum.", LogCategory.Info);

Solution 2:

You could also use the extension model:

public enum MyEnum
{
    [Description("String 1")]
    V1= 1,
    [Description("String 2")]
    V2= 2
} 

Your Extension Class

public static class MyEnumExtensions
{
    public static string ToDescriptionString(this MyEnum val)
    {
        DescriptionAttribute[] attributes = (DescriptionAttribute[])val
           .GetType()
           .GetField(val.ToString())
           .GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DescriptionAttribute), false);
        return attributes.Length > 0 ? attributes[0].Description : string.Empty;
    }
} 

usage:

MyEnum myLocal = MyEnum.V1;
print(myLocal.ToDescriptionString());

Solution 3:

How about using a static class with constants?

static class GroupTypes
{
  public const string TheGroup = "OEM";
  public const string TheOtherGroup = "CMB";
}

void DoSomething(string groupType)
{
  if(groupType == GroupTypes.TheGroup)
  {
    // Be nice
  }  
  else if (groupType == GroupTypes.TheOtherGroup)
  {
    // Continue to be nice
  }
  else
  {
    // unexpected, throw exception?
  }
}

Solution 4:

You can do it very easily actually. Use the following code.

enum GroupTypes
{
   OEM,
   CMB
};

Then when you want to get the string value of each enum element just use the following line of code.

String oemString = Enum.GetName(typeof(GroupTypes), GroupTypes.OEM);

I've used this method successfully in the past, and I've also used a constants class to hold string constants, both work out pretty well, but I tend to prefer this.

Solution 5:

Try adding constants to a static class. You don't end up with a Type, but you will have readable, organised constants:

public static class GroupTypes {

    public const string TheGroup = "OEM";
    public const string TheOtherGroup = "CMB";

}