Setting enum value at runtime in C#

Question

Is there any way that I can change enum values at run-time?

eg I have following type

enum MyType
{
   TypeOne, //=5 at runtime 
   TypeTwo  //=3 at runtime
}

I want at runtime set 5 to TypeOne and 3 to TypeTwo .

Answer 1

As others have pointed out, the answer is no.

You could however probably refactor your code to use a class instead:

public sealed class MyType
{
   public int TypeOne { get; set; }
   public int TypeTwo { get; set; }
}

...

var myType = new MyType { TypeOne  = 5, TypeTwo = 3 };

or variations on that theme.

Answer 2

Just refer to MSDN help HERE

• An enumeration type (also named an enumeration or an enum) provides an efficient way to define a set of named integral constants that may be assigned to a variable.

Also HERE

In the Robust Programming Section - Just as with any constant, all references to the individual values of an enum are converted to numeric literals at compile time .

So you need to realign your idea of Enum and use it accordingly.

To answer your question - No it is not possible.

Answer 3

Enums are compiled as constant static fields, their values are compiled into you assembly, so no, it's not possible to change them. (Their constant values may even be compiled into places where you reference them.)

Eg take this enum:

enum foo
{
    Value = 3
}

Then you can get the field and its information like this:

var field = typeof(foo).GetField("Value", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.Static | System.Reflection.BindingFlags.Public);
Console.WriteLine(field.GetValue(null));
Console.WriteLine(field.Attributes);