C# 3.0 : using extension methods for enum ToString

re: C# 3.0 : using extension methods for enum ToString

mabster — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 08:56:25 GMT

Very nice. Can extension methods be properties (I know that sounds weird given that they're called "extension *methods*")?

If so, you could define a "Description" property rather than the (kind of awkward-looking) ToDescription() method.

At the very least I think I would call it "ToDescriptionString" (similar to DateTime's ToShortDateString method), or possibly just "GetDescription".

Extension methods are going to change things in a big way, that's for sure.

re: C# 3.0 : using extension methods for enum ToString

abhinaba — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 11:40:49 GMT

According to the latest spec including Extension properties and events are in consideration. Lets hope they finally make it to the product

Make all your utility methods 'Extension methods'

I know the answer (it's 42) — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:39:18 GMT

As I had previously said I love extension methods&nbsp;and have started using them at multiple places...

Why I changed my mind about Extension Methods

James Newton-King — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:33:11 GMT

My initial impression of extension methods was that they would lead to confusing code. I imagined other

Cómo describir los elementos de una enumeración usando métodos de extensión y atributos (C# y VB.NET)

Variable not found en Geeks.ms — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:14:59 GMT

Me he encontrado en el blog de Fresh Logic Studios con un post donde describen una técnica interesante

re: C# 3.0 : using extension methods for enum ToString

Sergey — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:43:13 GMT

I've created another

public static string ConvertToString(this Enum value)

{

if (value == null)

throw new ArgumentNullException("value");

Type type = value.GetType();

FieldInfo fieldInfo = type.GetField(Enum.GetName(type, value));

var descriptionAttribute =

(DescriptionAttribute)Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(

fieldInfo, typeof(DescriptionAttribute));

if (descriptionAttribute != null)

return descriptionAttribute.Description;

return value.ToString();

}

C# : Enum and overriding ToString on it

I know the answer (it's 42) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:43:45 GMT

I saw two posts on Enums today on Eric Lipperts and Chris Rathjen's blog. Enums are significantly different

re: C# 3.0 : using extension methods for enum ToString

Michael — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:06:59 GMT

Here is a better implementation... takes care of caching so reflection does not take such a huge hit.

public static class EnumExtensionMethods

{

#region [ Fields ]

private static Dictionary<string, string> _enumTypeDescriptionCache = new Dictionary<string, string>();

private static object _enumTypeDescriptionCacheLock = new object();

#endregion

#region [ Methods ]

/// <summary>

///

/// </summary>

/// <param name="en"></param>

/// <returns></returns>

public static string ToDescription(this Enum en)

{

string cacheKey;

string description;

cacheKey = string.Format("{0}:{1}", en.GetType().FullName, en.ToString());

description = string.Empty;

if (_enumTypeDescriptionCache.ContainsKey(cacheKey) == false)

{

lock (_enumTypeDescriptionCacheLock)

{

if (_enumTypeDescriptionCache.ContainsKey(cacheKey) == false)

{

MemberInfo[] memberInfo;

memberInfo = en.GetType().GetMember(en.ToString());

if (memberInfo != null && memberInfo.Length > 0)

{

object[] attributes;

attributes = memberInfo[0].GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DescriptionAttribute), false);

if (null != attributes && attributes.Length > 0)

{

description =((DescriptionAttribute)attributes[0]).Description;

}

else

{

description = _enumTypeDescriptionCache[cacheKey];

}

else

{

description = _enumTypeDescriptionCache[cacheKey];

}

return description;

}

#endregion

}