Allows you to add string values to Enumerations using an Attribute.

Allows you to add string values to Enumerations using an Attribute. AllowsyoutoaddstringvaluestoEnumerationsusinganAttribute. Allows you to add string values to Enumerations using an Attribute. [C#] John Tolar /PreviewSnippet.aspx?SnippetID=48a46503-20ea-4f7c-a53d-94a7a1a0a3c1 SurroundsWith

    /// Helper class for working with 'extended' enums using  attributes.
    /// 
    public class StringEnum
    {
        #region Instance implementation
        private static readonly Hashtable StringValues = new Hashtable();
        private readonly Type _enumType;
        /// 
        /// Creates a new  instance.
        /// 
        /// Enum type.
        public StringEnum(Type enumType)
        {
            if (!enumType.IsEnum)
                throw new ArgumentException(String.Format("Supplied type must be an Enum.  Type was {0}", enumType));
            _enumType = enumType;
        }
        /// 
        /// Gets the underlying enum type for this instance.
        /// 
        /// 
        public Type EnumType
        {
            get { return _enumType; }
        }
        /// 
        /// Gets the string value associated with the given enum value.
        /// 
        /// Name of the enum value.
        /// String Value
        public string GetStringValue(string valueName)
        {
            string stringValue = null;
            try
            {
                var enumType = (Enum) Enum.Parse(_enumType, valueName);
                stringValue = GetStringValue(enumType);
            }
            catch
            {
                //Swallow!
            } 
            return stringValue;
        }
        /// 
        /// Gets the string values associated with the enum.
        /// 
        /// String value array
        public Array GetStringValues()
        {
            var values = new ArrayList();
            //Look for our string value associated with fields in this enum
            foreach (FieldInfo fi in _enumType.GetFields())
            {
                //Check for our custom attribute
                var attrs = fi.GetCustomAttributes(typeof (StringValueAttribute), false) as StringValueAttribute[];
                if (attrs != null)
                    if (attrs.Length > 0)
                        values.Add(attrs[0].Value);
            }
            return values.ToArray();
        }
        /// 
        /// Gets the values as a 'bindable' list datasource.
        /// 
        /// IList for data binding
        public IList GetListValues()
        {
            Type underlyingType = Enum.GetUnderlyingType(_enumType);
            var values = new ArrayList();
            //Look for our string value associated with fields in this enum
            foreach (FieldInfo fi in _enumType.GetFields())
            {
                //Check for our custom attribute
                var attrs = fi.GetCustomAttributes(typeof (StringValueAttribute), false) as StringValueAttribute[];
                if (attrs != null)
                    if (attrs.Length > 0)
                        values.Add(new DictionaryEntry(Convert.ChangeType(Enum.Parse(_enumType, fi.Name), underlyingType),
                                                       attrs[0].Value));
            }
            return values;
        }
        /// 
        /// Return the existence of the given string value within the enum.
        /// 
        /// String value.
        /// Existence of the string value
        public bool IsStringDefined(string stringValue)
        {
            return Parse(_enumType, stringValue) != null;
        }
        /// 
        /// Return the existence of the given string value within the enum.
        /// 
        /// String value.
        /// Denotes whether to conduct a case-insensitive match on the supplied string value
        /// Existence of the string value
        public bool IsStringDefined(string stringValue, bool ignoreCase)
        {
            return Parse(_enumType, stringValue, ignoreCase) != null;
        }
        #endregion
        #region Static implementation
        /// 
        /// Gets a string value for a particular enum value.
        /// 
        /// Value.
        /// String Value associated via a  attribute, or null if not found.
        public static string GetStringValue(Enum value)
        {
            string output = null;
            Type type = value.GetType();
            if (StringValues.ContainsKey(value))
                output = ((StringValueAttribute) StringValues[value]).Value;
            else
            {
                //Look for our 'StringValueAttribute' in the field's custom attributes
                FieldInfo fi = type.GetField(value.ToString());
                var attrs = fi.GetCustomAttributes(typeof (StringValueAttribute), false) as StringValueAttribute[];
                if (attrs != null)
                    if (attrs.Length > 0)
                    {
                        StringValues.Add(value, attrs[0]);
                        output = attrs[0].Value;
                    }
            }
            return output;
        }
        /// 
        /// Parses the supplied enum and string value to find an associated enum value (case sensitive).
        /// 
        /// Type.
        /// String value.
        /// Enum value associated with the string value, or null if not found.
        public static object Parse(Type type, string stringValue)
        {
            return Parse(type, stringValue, false);
        }
        /// 
        /// Parses the supplied enum and string value to find an associated enum value.
        /// 
        /// Type.
        /// String value.
        /// Denotes whether to conduct a case-insensitive match on the supplied string value
        /// Enum value associated with the string value, or null if not found.
        public static object Parse(Type type, string stringValue, bool ignoreCase)
        {
            object output = null;
            string enumStringValue = null;
            if (!type.IsEnum)
                throw new ArgumentException(String.Format("Supplied type must be an Enum.  Type was {0}", type));
            //Look for our string value associated with fields in this enum
            foreach (FieldInfo fi in type.GetFields())
            {
                //Check for our custom attribute
                var attrs = fi.GetCustomAttributes(typeof (StringValueAttribute), false) as StringValueAttribute[];
                if (attrs != null)
                    if (attrs.Length > 0)
                        enumStringValue = attrs[0].Value;
                //Check for equality then select actual enum value.
                if (string.Compare(enumStringValue, stringValue, ignoreCase) == 0)
                {
                    output = Enum.Parse(type, fi.Name);
                    break;
                }
            }
            return output;
        }
        /// 
        /// Return the existence of the given string value within the enum.
        /// 
        /// String value.
        /// Type of enum
        /// Existence of the string value
        public static bool IsStringDefined(Type enumType, string stringValue)
        {
            return Parse(enumType, stringValue) != null;
        }
        /// 
        /// Return the existence of the given string value within the enum.
        /// 
        /// String value.
        /// Type of enum
        /// Denotes whether to conduct a case-insensitive match on the supplied string value
        /// Existence of the string value
        public static bool IsStringDefined(Type enumType, string stringValue, bool ignoreCase)
        {
            return Parse(enumType, stringValue, ignoreCase) != null;
        }
        #endregion
    }
    #endregion
    #region Class StringValueAttribute
    /// 
    /// Simple attribute class for storing String Values
    /// 
    public class StringValueAttribute : Attribute
    {
        private readonly string _value;
        /// 
        /// Creates a new  instance.
        /// 
        /// Value.
        public StringValueAttribute(string value)
        {
            _value = value;
        }
        /// 
        /// Gets the value.
        /// 
        /// 
        public string Value
        {
            get { return _value; }
        }
    }
    #endregion]]>