Check for string in several Enums with a switch statement

Question

I have a listbox that could be filled with values from one of two enums, or both of them. Basically this code:

public enum NamesA { Adam , Albert }

public enum NamesB { Bert , Bob }

and later

List<string> nameList = new List<string>();



if (reason) nameList.AddRange(Enum.GetNames(typeof(NamesA)));

else if (reason) nameList.AddRange(Enum.GetNames(typeof(NamesB)));

else

{

    nameList.AddRange(Enum.GetNames(typeof(NamesA)));

    nameList.AddRange(Enum.GetNames(typeof(NamesB)));

}



foreach (string name in nameList)

    listBox1.Items.Add(name);

My problem is that later in the code I want different things to happen depending on the users choice in the listbox.

I know I can check it like this:

string chosenName = listBox1.SelectedItem.ToString();



if (chosenName.Equals(NamesA.Adam.ToString()))

{ /*some stuff happens*/ }

else if (chosenName.Equals(NamesB.Bob.ToString()))

{ /*other stuff happens*/ }

/* ...and so on */

...but I would prefer using a Switch.
I can't find a way for it to work. Anyone have an idea?

EDIT: I should also say that there has to be room for the switch to handle future NamesC, ...D, ...E, etc. enums.

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Answer 1

You need to leverage the integer which is the underlying data type of any enum. Have a look at how I've achieved it:

File: CustomListItem.cs

namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
    public class CustomListItem
    {
        public string Text { get; set; }
        public int EnumValue { get; set; }

    }
}

File: Form1.cs

namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
    public enum NamesA { Adam = 0, Albert = 1 };
    public enum NamesB { Bert = 2, Bob = 3 }

    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {

        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            List <CustomListItem> nameList = new List<CustomListItem>();
            int reason = 1;
            if (reason == 1)
                foreach (NamesA item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(NamesA)))
                    nameList.Add(new CustomListItem { Text = item.ToString(), EnumValue = (int)item });
            else if (reason == 2)
            {
                foreach (NamesB item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(NamesB)))
                    nameList.Add(new CustomListItem { Text = item.ToString(), EnumValue = (int)item });
            }
            else
            {
                foreach (NamesA item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(NamesA)))
                    nameList.Add(new CustomListItem { Text = item.ToString(), EnumValue = (int)item });
                foreach (NamesB item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(NamesB)))
                nameList.Add(new CustomListItem { Text = item.ToString(), EnumValue = (int)item });
            }
            listBox1.DataSource = nameList;
            listBox1.DisplayMember = "Text";
            listBox1.ValueMember = "EnumValue";

        }

        private void button_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            int chosenNameEnumValue = (int) listBox1.SelectedValue;

            switch (chosenNameEnumValue)
            {
                case (int) NamesA.Adam:
                    /*some stuff happens*/
                    break;
                case (int) NamesA.Albert:
                    /*other stuff happens*/
                    break;
                case (int)NamesB.Bert:
                    /*some stuff happens*/
                    break;
                case (int)NamesB.Bob:
                    /*other stuff happens*/
                    break;
                default:
                    /* ...and so on */
                    break;
            }
        }
}
}

Check for string in several Enums with a switch statement

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