Enum pointing to gameobjects?

Question

So, I have this crazy idea to have enums pointing to gameobjects.

Here's what I want to do:

/* These enums would hold gameobjects instead of ints */
enum exampleEnum{
    AddPanel,
    ListPanel
}

public class GUIManager : MonoBehaviour {
    void Start()
    {
        EnablePanel(exampleEnum.AddPanel);
    }

    void EnablePanel(GameObject panel)
    {
        panel.setActive(true);
    }
}

Is there any way to make this work? Or a workaround?

This might be possible with something other than an enum but I don't know of it if there is and I'm looking through the web for a such a solution.

Answer 1

I don't know why the answer from: @Paradox Forge was wrong but maybe this will help you.

System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary

I don't have a lot of time to explain the dictionary class but this is how you can use it. This will cost some performance but has really nice readability

    public class GUIManager : MonoBehaviour {
        public enum exampleEnum{
            AddPanel,
            ListPanel
        }

        //For readability you can also add "using System.Collections.Generic;" on the top of your script
        private System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary<exampleEnum,GameObject> exampleDictionary = new System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary<exampleEnum, GameObject>();

        private GameObject SomeGameObject;
        private GameObject SomeOtherGameObject;

        void Start()
        {
            //You have to add all the enums and objects you want to use inside your GUIManager.
            exampleDictionary.Add (exampleEnum.AddPanel, SomeGameObject); //Add panel will be linked to SomeGameObject
            exampleDictionary.Add (exampleEnum.ListPanel, SomeOtherGameObject); //List Panel will be linked to SomeOtherGameObject

            EnablePanel(exampleEnum.AddPanel);
        }

        void EnablePanel(exampleEnum examplePanel)
        {
            if (!exampleDictionary.ContainsKey (examplePanel)) //If the given panel does not exist inside the dictionary
                return; //Leave the method

            GameObject panelToEnable = exampleDictionary [examplePanel]; //Will return the GameObject linked to given panel
            panelToEnable.SetActive(true); //Enable the gameobject
        }
    }

If you want to know more about the Dictionary class go to: Dictionary

Answer 2

This would satisfy your requirement, works for any amount of enum values or panels.

// Add this to each of your panels, the enum field can be integrated into your other behaviours as well
public class EnumPanel : MonoBehaviour 
{
    // configurable from the Editor, the unity way.
    public ExampleEnum Type;
}

// Assign all your panles in the editor (or use FindObjectsByType<EnumPanel> in Start())
public class GUIManager : MonoBehaviour 
{
    // configurable from the Editor, the unity way.
    public EnumPanel[] Panels;

    void Start()
    {
        // Optionally find it at runtime, if assigning it via the editor is too much maintenance.
        // Panels = FindObjectsByType<EnumPanel>();
        EnablePanel(ExampleEnum.AddPanel);
    }

    void EnablePanel(ExampleEnum panelType)
    {
        foreach(var panel in Panels)
        {
            if(panel.Type == panelType)
                EnablePanel(panel.gameObject);
        }
    }

    void EnablePanel(GameObject panel)
    {
        panel.setActive(true);
    }
}