CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#c#-2.0
Nano HE
Nano HE

Reputation: 9307

How can I convert List<string> to List<myEnumType>?

I failed to convert List<string> to List<myEnumType>. I don't know why? 

string Val = it.Current.Value.ToString(); // works well here
List<myEnumType> ValList = new List<myEnumType>(Val.Split(',')); // compile failed

Of cause myEnumType type defined as string enum type as this,

public enum myEnumType
{
    strVal_1,
    strVal_2,
    strVal_3,
}

Is there anything wrong? Appreciated for you replies.

Upvotes: 18

Views: 27239

Answers (5)

DCShannon
DCShannon

Reputation: 2614

I added an extension method to IEnumerable<string> to do this for me. Skeet's answer is good, obviously, but it will throw an exception if the strings aren't valid for the enum (which you may or may not want), and it's a pretty ugly looking line.

public static class StringEnumerableExtensions {
    public static IEnumerable<T> StringsToEnums<T>( this IEnumerable<string> strs) where T : struct, IConvertible {
        Type t = typeof( T );

        var ret = new List<T>();

        if( t.IsEnum ) {
            T outStr;
            foreach( var str in strs ) {
                if( Enum.TryParse( str, out outStr ) ) {
                    ret.Add( outStr );
                }
            }
        }

        return ret;
    }
}

Given this enum:

public enum ColorEnum { Blue, Yellow }

You can use this like so:

var colors = new List<string>() {"Blue","Yellow","Black"};
var colorEnums = colors.StringsToEnums<ColorEnum>();

And you'll get a list with just Blue and Yellow.

Upvotes: 3

Saeed Amiri
Saeed Amiri

Reputation: 22565

Create an extension method and with Select do the Work:

public static class ExtensionClass
{
    public static myEnumType GetEnumValue(this string input)
    {
        if (input == myEnumType.strVal_1.ToString())
            return myEnumType.strVal_1;
        return input == myEnumType.strVal_2.ToString() ? myEnumType.strVal_2 : myEnumType.strVal_3;
    }
}

List<myEnumType> ValList = new List<myEnumType>(Val.Split(',').Select(p=>p.GetEnumValue()));

I missed c#2.0 tag :)

Upvotes: 1

Jon Skeet
Jon Skeet

Reputation: 1503779

EDIT: Oops, I missed the C# 2 tag as well. I'll leave the other options available below, but:

In C# 2, you're probably best using List<T>.ConvertAll:

List<MyEnumType> enumList = stringList.ConvertAll(delegate(string x) {
    return (MyEnumType) Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnumType), x); });

or with Unconstrained Melody:

List<MyEnumType> enumList = stringList.ConvertAll(delegate(string x) {
    return Enums.ParseName<MyEnumType>(x); });

Note that this does assume you really have a List<string> to start with, which is correct for your title but not for the body in your question. Fortunately there's an equivalent static Array.ConvertAll method which you'd have to use like this:

MyEnumType[] enumArray = Array.ConvertAll(stringArray, delegate (string x) {
    return (MyEnumType) Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnumType), x); });

Original answer

Two options:

  • Use Enum.Parse and a cast in a LINQ query:

    var enumList = stringList
          .Select(x => (MyEnumType) Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnumType), x))
          .ToList();

or

    var enumList = stringList.Select(x => Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnumType), x))
                             .Cast<MyEnumType>()
                             .ToList();

  • Use my Unconstrained Melody project:

    var enumList = stringList.Select(x => Enums.ParseName<MyEnumType>(x))
                         .ToList();

Upvotes: 39

decyclone
decyclone

Reputation: 30840

        List<String> list = new List<String>();

        list.Add("strVal_1");
        list.Add("strVal_2");
        list.Add("strVal_3");

        List<myEnumType> enumList = new List<myEnumType>();

        foreach (var item in list)
        {
            enumList.Add((myEnumType)Enum.Parse(typeof(myEnumType), item));
        }

Upvotes: 2

Gabe
Gabe

Reputation: 86838

In C# 2.0:

List<myEnumType> ValList = new List<myEnumType>();
foreach (string x in Val.Split(','))
    ValList.Add((MyEnumType) Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnumType), x));

Upvotes: 2

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