Alias for enum values

Yes it does work, we used it in our system as well, we even define an enum like so

public enum MyEnum
{
  val1 = 1,
  val2 = 2,
  val3 = 4,
  val4 = val1 | val2
}

As far I documentation, I don't remember where I've seen it before. Just try it in your code and see if it works.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.enum.aspx

David

What doesn't work about it?

Bob

kmaicorp,

You are only using a base int type that is not what I am asking about here.  Notice that none of your values overlap.  The | works because you are going in powers of 2.  That is n

anyoneis,

That is the basic documentation for enums and does not address this isse.

TheLearnedOne,

Okay I played with it some more and actually it does work.  I think the AbbrevStart and AbbrevEnd were causing issues, but those can just be excluded.  However is there any documentation that talks about aliasing to earlier enum values?  Also is there a way to just have one set show, but both accpeted for each value?  I guess we are just looking for documenation on how aliasing works so we can see what is and is not possible so we can evaluate if it meets our needs.

kmai

You are not assigning two items to the same value

public enum MyEnum
{
  val1 = 1,
  val2 = 2,
  val3 = 4,
  val4 = val1 | val2
}

assigns val4 a value of 3 (2 | 1) 0010 | 0010 = 0011 = 3

You can do things like this ..

        enum foo {
            Option1 = 1,
            Option2 = 1,
            Option3
        }

or

        enum foo {
            Option1 = 1,
            Option2 = Option1,
            Option3
        }

But you will sometimes get odd behavior when dealing with things like reflection (just happen to have this code from a flags question but it illustrates the point nicely)

            foo f = foo.Option1 | foo.Option2 | foo.Option3;
            foreach(int value in Enum.GetValues(typeof(foo))) {
                if (((int) f & value) > 0) {
                    Console.WriteLine(Enum.GetName(typeof(foo), value) + " set");
                } else {
                    Console.WriteLine(Enum.GetName(typeof(foo), value) + " not set");
                }
            }

Notice that getname returns Option2 for both.

Cheers,

Greg

Anyone?

>>is there a way to just have one set show, but both accpeted for each value?  I guess we are just looking for documenation on how aliasing works so we can see what is and is not possible so we can evaluate if it meets our needs.

Good luck! I haven't been able to find any documentation. It worked this way in C++ so I was not surprised to see it working in C#. The language definition is mute on the point.

David