enum to string, several custom formats

[Wiktor Zychla]

I would like to be able to convert enums to their string representation but
I would like to be able to apply a custom formatting, so that I could write
for example:

enum E { a, b, c };

string s1 = E.a.ToString( "d" ); // returns for example 'a'
string s2 = E.a.ToString( "f" ); // returns for example 'this is an enum
value a'

for now I have several methods in special class

class EnumToString
{
string ConvertAToStringD { return ...; }
string ConvertAToStringF { return ...; }
}

but this looks rather ugly.

I've read about EnumConverter class but I am not sure if it is possible to
have several different custom formatting possibilities when using this
class.

could anyone enlighten me?

Thanks in advance.
Wiktor Zychla

 

[Fergus Cooney]

Hi Wiktor,

I've never used EnumConverters but I looked up the Help topic.

This is how one of these things seems to be used:

Enum eMyBike = eMotorBikes.HondaSuperBlackbird;
string s = "I love to ride my " + TypeDescriptor.GetConverter
(eMyBike).ConvertTo (eMyBike, typeof(string));

Now <that's> what I call ugly!! [not the bike - that's beautiful ]

My opinion is that you should do whatever's necessary in your class,
clumsy or not, so that the class's <user> can have pretty code.

Or maybe you want to use the EnumConverter inside your class??

Just some thoughts

Regards,
Fergus

 

[Selvin]

string s1 = E.a.ToString( "d" ); // returns for example 'a'

string s2 = E.a.ToString( "f" ); // returns for example 'this is an enum

dobrze jak by sie da³o przeci±¿yæ funkcje w typie wyliczeniowym
ale... sie nie da

mo¿e napisaæ w³asn± klasê formatuj±c± np.:

using System;

public class mF : IFormatProvider, ICustomFormatter
{
public object GetFormat (Type service)
{
if (service == typeof (ICustomFormatter))
{
return this;
}
else
{
return null;
}
}
public string Format (string format, object arg, IFormatProvider
provider)
{
if(format == "F")
{
return "This is an enum value: " + arg.ToString();
}
return String.Format("{0:" + format + "}",arg);
}
}

public enum E
{

a,b,c
}

public class Test
{
//[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Console.WriteLine(String.Format(new mF(), "{0:S}, {1:F},{2}"
,E.c,E.b,E.a));
}
}

 

[Wiktor Zychla]

dobrze jak by sie da³o przeci±¿yæ funkcje w typie wyliczeniowym

ale... sie nie da
exactly.


mo¿e napisaæ w³asn± klasê formatuj±c± np.:

this looks really promising.

thanks
Wiktor