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C# Create method with generic enum as parameter

How can I pass a generic Enum to a method? I want to pass any enum object to the below method. Receiving error on "enum" parameter. Error is "type or namespace enumName not found".

        public static bool FindExcludedFields(string value, Enum enumName)
        {
            try
            {
                enumName column =
                    (enumName)Enum.Parse(typeof(enumName), value);

                //Enumerators.ExcludedItemsFields column =
                //    (Enumerators.ExcludedItemsFields)Enum.Parse(typeof(Enumerators.ExcludedItemsFields), value);

                //if (Enum.IsDefined(typeof(Enumerators.ExcludedItemsFields), column))
                if (Enum.IsDefined(typeof(enumName), column))
                    return true;
                else
                    return false;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

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Russ Suter

You would need to pass the type of the enum rather than the enum itself. Change your function declaration as follows then alter your code body accordingly.

public static bool FindExcludedFields(string value, Type enumType)
{
    ...
}

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CipherIS

ASKER

Made the below changes but "enumType" in the try is giving an error -> "Type or namespace enumType could not be found are you missing a directive or namespace?

        public static bool FindExcludedFields(string value, Type enumType)
        {
            try
            {
                enumType column = (enumType)Enum.Parse(typeof(enumType), value);
                if (Enum.IsDefined(typeof(enumType), column))
                    return true;
                else
                    return false;

            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

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CipherIS

ASKER

This works.

    public static class EnumValidation
    {
        public static bool FindExcludedFields<T>(string value)
        {
            try
            {
                if (typeof(T).IsEnum)
                {
                    T column = (T)Enum.Parse(typeof(T), value);
                    if (Enum.IsDefined(typeof(T), column))
                        return true;
                    else
                        return false;
                }
                else
                {
                    throw new ApplicationException("Enum is not valid");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                return false;
            }
        }
    }

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CipherIS

ASKER

@Russ - any thoughts?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

it_saige

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