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Alternative to Enum for object oriented key/value pairs?

For the same of code readability, I've created an Enum for Cycle Type:

Public Enum CycleType
Unknown = 0
Full = 1
Partial = 2
End Enum

However, I just got a new requirement that these be configurable via a database -- in other words there will be a table with cycle type ID and description. Is there a way to populate a [something] from a database while retaining the code readability of an Enum.

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Kevin Cross

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Mike Tomlinson

You can store the DESCRIPTION of the Enum Value as a String in your Database and then convert it back to the correct Enum Value using code like below.

Note that I changed the Names slightly because VB.Net 2005 Express didn't like "Partial" as a name since it is a reserved keyword...

Public Class Form1
 
    Public Enum CycleType
        UnknownType = 0
        FullType = 1
        PartialType = 2
    End Enum
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim dbValue As String = "FullType"
        Dim ct As CycleType = [Enum].Parse(GetType(CycleType), dbValue)
        Debug.Print("dbValue = " & dbValue)
        Debug.Print("ct = " & ct & ", " & ct.ToString)
    End Sub
 
End Class

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Kevin Cross

I am sorry, I thought that you were saying the values could be different based on database (dynamic). If they are static, I would agree.

Additionally, you can use a class with Public Shared members/properties if that is the case also.