About "Enumerated types"

The Members of Tet are only known by name to the compiler. After compiling they are only numbers (0, 1, 2).

As Epsylon said they are only numbers...

so something like this would be the only way to solve it?

If ET = MySecond then Label1.Caption := 'MySecond';

I suppose..

Good Luck

//raidos

Hi
or :

procedure xxxx ;
type
 Tet = (MyFirst, MySecond, MyThird);
 const
    TetStrings : array [Tet] of string = ('MyFirst','MySecond','MyThird');
 var
 ET : Tet;
begin
 ET:= MyThird;
 label1.Caption:= TetStrings[ET] ;
end;

Thanks Walter.

But it is only possible to do that if the Enum type is public or published, right ?

Thanks to you all.
Peter

Yes I believe that is correct.

Walter

I need one more information.
How do i get the count from the enum type, like :

For i:=0 to high(Tet)-1 do
 something

Thanks
Peter

Peter

If you've created an enumerated type then you already know its count or max value so why not why not create a constant and give it the appropriate value:
 
Type
  TNumbers  = (One, Two, Lots, Many);

Const
  Max_Numbers = 4;

Then you could use:

for C := 0 to Max_Numbers - 1 do
 // something

or you could add an extra "dummy" value to your type i.e.:

Uses
  TypInfo;

Type
  TNumbers  = (One, Two, Lots, Many, Max_Numbers)

Then you could use:

for C := 0 to GetEnumValue(TypeInfo(TNumbers), 'Max_Numbers') - 1 do
 // something

Using GetEnumValue like this will return the number of "real" values in your type.

Is this any use?

Walter

Thanks,

It is very useful to calculate the 'count' at run-time, because the enum declaration may be created by one programmer and used by another.

Also it is very easy to forget to change a constant.

Regards
Peter

Peter

Yes I agree about forgetting to update the const value.

Is the other option acceptable, if not I have another suggesstion. In the TypInfo unit source there is function called GetTypeData which is not in the interface section. Its very short (only 3 asm instructions) I copied this and ran it against an enum type then looked at the returned PTypeData.MaxValue and you get the maximum value of that type! Have a try, see what you think.

As a matter of interest I've used this type enumeration stuff to "use strings" in a case statement, I got the details from an old copy of The Delphi Magazine, can't remember which month.

Uses
  TypInfo;

Type
  TNumbers = (One, Two, Lots, Many);

Procedure xxxxxx
begin
  // Get a string from somewhere
  case TNumbers(GetEnumValue(TypeInfo(TNumbers), aString)) of
    One: ListBox1.Items.Add('One');
    Two: ListBox1.Items.Add('Two');
    Many: ListBox1.Items.Add('Many');
    Lots: ListBox1.Items.Add('Lots');
    else ListBox1.Items.Add('Eh?');
  end;
end;

Cheers - Walter

Thanks Walter,

Well, i have chosen the constant solution - until a better one is found.

I know it is possible to get the 'count' somewhere - or i think it's possible. Otherwise i dont understand how the Object Inspector is capable of showing the enum type.

Also take a look at Inthe's sample :

type
Tet = (MyFirst, MySecond, MyThird);
const
 TetStrings : array [Tet] of string = ('MyFirst','MySecond','MyThird');

"Array [Tet] of string".... Somehow the 'count' is passed to the array.

-i like your case-of sample - very nice :-)

Peter

Hi Walter,

>> or you could add an extra "dummy" value to your type i.e.:

Your "dummy" idea is ok, but if it is for use in published properties, it will confuse the programmer - i think.

But i think i will consider using this method in private properties.

Peter

Peter

I made a mistake in me last comment the function GetTypeData is in the interface section of the TypInfo unit.

My guess is that a count might not available but rather the maximum value is the key. Since enum types are always ordinal values 0, 1, 2, ... maxvalue then the count of elements is maxvalue + 1.

Therefore the following will work:

Uses
  TypInfo;

Type
  TNumbers = (One, Two, Lots, Many);

procedure xxx;
var
  C: word;
begin
   for C := 0 to PTypeData(GetTypeData(TypeInfo(TNumbers))).MaxValue do
     ListBox1.Items.Add(GetEnumName(TypeInfo(TNumbers), C));
end;

Thanks - Walter

I have tried the sample from your latest comment and it's perfect.

Thanks
Peter

Your welcome.

Walter