Question

How to Pass an Enumeration into a Function within VB.NET

Asked by: WavyGravy

I'm currently working on a Windows Form that has two combo boxes with enumerated values tied to them.  When a user clicks submit, a function will be called that accepts two arguments.  One is the combobox object, and the other is the enumeration.  This function will return the value of that enumeration in the form of an integer.

However, I have absolutely NO idea how I can pass an enumeration into my function.  I have tried the following with no luck:

    Function GetScore(ByVal inputComboBox As ComboBox, ByVal inputEnumeration As String) As Int16

It will recognize the combobox, but not the enumeration set.  As far as I know, the function requires both of these arguments so it can take the selected item from the combo box and pull it from that enumeration set.

Any help you guys can provide is greatly appreciated.

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Asked On
2009-09-21 at 11:19:50ID24749275
Tags

vb.net

,

enumeration

Topics

.NET

,

Microsoft Visual Basic.Net

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: jaime_olivaresPosted on 2009-09-21 at 11:29:02ID: 25385914

However, I have absolutely NO idea how I can pass an enumeration into my function.  I have tried the following with no luck:
    Function GetScore(ByVal inputComboBox As ComboBox, ByVal inputEnumeration As String) As Int16

You should have some declaration for your enumerations, i.e. EnumTitle

this way you can declare your function to receive this type, like:
    Function GetScore(ByVal inputComboBox As ComboBox, ByVal inputEnumeration As EnumTitle) As Int16

 

by: plusone3055Posted on 2009-09-21 at 11:33:43ID: 25385979

''' <summary>
        ''' Function to return the integer value of an enumeration
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="_enum">Enum to work with</param>
        ''' <param name="val">The value we're looking for</param>
        ''' <returns></returns>
        ''' <remarks></remarks>
        Public Shared Function GetIntValue(ByVal _enum As Type, ByVal val As Integer) As String
            Dim idx As Integer = 0
            'get the values from the enumeration
            Dim values() As Integer = System.Enum.GetValues(_enum)
            'Now we loop through all the names in the enum list
            'looking for a match
            For i As Integer = 0 To values.Length - 1
                'If this current index matches the name
                'then we return that name
                If values(i) = val Then
                    idx = values(i)
                    Exit For
                End If
            Next
            Return idx
        End Function

 

by: WavyGravyPosted on 2009-09-21 at 11:34:08ID: 25385985

But what if you're dealing with two separate enumerations?  In my case I have EnumReponses1 and EnumReponses2.  Is there a way I can make the function determine which set is being used?

 

by: plusone3055Posted on 2009-09-21 at 11:36:39ID: 25386013

use an IF statment

If
''' <param name="_enum">Enum to work with</param>
then
''' code
else
''code
end if

 

by: WavyGravyPosted on 2009-09-21 at 12:11:39ID: 25386414

So you're saying to use an IF statement within the function?  I think that we might be thinking of separate ideas.

I have two separate enumerations:

Enum EnumResponses1
  Good = 1
  Average = 0
  Bad = -1
End Enum

Enum EnumReponses2
  Yes = 1
  Maybe = 0
  No = -1
End Enum

These enumerations are tied to two different combo boxes.

The function needs to do the following (pseudo code below)

function getScore(comboBox, enumList)
  Dim totalScore As Int
  totalScore = enumList.ComboBox.SelectedItem
Return totalScore

 

by: WavyGravyPosted on 2009-09-21 at 12:13:17ID: 25386439

In other words, I need the comboBox to determine which item was selected, and then the enumerated list to make sure that whatever value was selected in that box corresponds to the right list when the record is attempting to be pulled.

 

by: plusone3055Posted on 2009-09-21 at 12:21:18ID: 25386536

you are correct

 

by: WavyGravyPosted on 2009-09-21 at 12:35:11ID: 25386695

Huh?  I'm at a loss here.  All I'm trying to figure out is the syntax to do what I've described.  

 

by: WavyGravyPosted on 2009-09-21 at 14:50:35ID: 31631544

Could have used a little more explanation.  For whatever reason it wasn't clear at the time.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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