How to use enum item name which contains space?

Question

enum Coolness
{
    Not So Cool = 1,
    VeryCool = 2,
    Supercool = 3
}

I am getting the Enum item name by below code

string enumText = ((Coolness)1).ToString()

I don't wont to change this code but above code should return Not So Cool. Is there any use of oops concept to make this happen? Here I don't want to change retrieving statement.

Exactly, it is not possible.to have enum memebers with spaces. — pwas, Oct 13 '15 at 11:45
Maybe you need [enums with strings](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/630803/associating-enums-with-strings-in-c-sharp) — tomab, Oct 13 '15 at 11:46
You could add a `DescriptionAttribute` that contains spaces. — juharr, Oct 13 '15 at 11:47
take a look at this answer in order to add a description to enums and how to retrieve these friendly names: http://stackoverflow.com/a/1415187/1666620 — user1666620, Oct 13 '15 at 11:47
You could create a class `Coolness` with properties `String Name` and `byte Factor`, `ToString` returns `Name`. — Tim Schmelter, Oct 13 '15 at 11:58
Related answer on another post - [Can my enums have friendly names?](https://stackoverflow.com/a/1415460/465053) — RBT, May 03 '21 at 11:14

score 8 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:03

8

Use Display attributes:

enum Coolness : byte
{
    [Display(Name = "Not So Cool")]
    NotSoCool = 1,
    VeryCool = 2,
    Supercool = 3
}

You can use this helper to get the DisplayName

public static string GetDisplayValue(T value)
{
    var fieldInfo = value.GetType().GetField(value.ToString());

    var descriptionAttributes = fieldInfo.GetCustomAttributes(
        typeof(DisplayAttribute), false) as DisplayAttribute[];

    if (descriptionAttributes == null) return string.Empty;
    return (descriptionAttributes.Length > 0) ? descriptionAttributes[0].Name : value.ToString();
}

(Credit to Hrvoje Stanisic for the Helper)

edited May 23 '17 at 12:03

Community

1
1

answered Oct 13 '15 at 11:50

Jamie Rees

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I tried this way but string enumText = ((Coolness)1).ToString() this output is "NotSoCool" – Surendra Oct 13 '15 at 11:56
This post http://stackoverflow.com/questions/13099834/how-to-get-the-display-name-attribute-of-an-enum-member-via-mvc-razor-code there is an enum helper you could use. Try that. – Jamie Rees Oct 13 '15 at 11:57
Here I don't want to change this statement code string enumText = ((Coolness)1).ToString() – Surendra Oct 13 '15 at 12:14
Well, in that case your only option would be to override `ToString` and make it do something like `return EnumHelper.GetDisplayValue((Coolness)1);` – Jamie Rees Oct 13 '15 at 12:29

Felipe Oriani · Answer 2 · 2015-10-13T12:00:37.813

Avoid space on your enum

enum Coolness : int
{
    NotSoCool = 1,
    VeryCool = 2,
    Supercool = 3
}

To get the value in text, try this:

string enumText = ((Coolness)1).ToString()

If you want a friendly description for each item of enum, try using the Description attribute, for sample:

enum Coolness : int
{
    [Description("Not So Cool")]
    NotSoCool = 1,

    [Description("Very Cool")]
    VeryCool = 2,

    [Description("Super Cool")]
    Supercool = 3
}

And to read this attribute, you could use a method like this:

public class EnumHelper
{
    public static string GetDescription(Enum @enum)
    {
        if (@enum == null)
            return null;

        string description = @enum.ToString();

        try
        {
            FieldInfo fi = @enum.GetType().GetField(@enum.ToString());

            DescriptionAttribute[] attributes = (DescriptionAttribute[])fi.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DescriptionAttribute), false);

            if (attributes.Length > 0)
                description = attributes[0].Description;
        }
        catch
        {
        }

        return description;
    }
}

And use it:

string text = EnumHelper.GetDescription(Coolness.SuperCool);

I don't wont this way. Here enumText will be "NotSoCool", but I want "Not So Cool" — Surendra, Oct 13 '15 at 11:55
Yeah you are right this way it will work.. but Here I don't want to change this statement code string enumText = ((Coolness)1).ToString() though it should give me the desired answer. — Surendra, Oct 13 '15 at 12:16

How to use enum item name which contains space?

2 Answers2