how to Cast string to a given Enum

Question

how to cast string enum?

i have the code below, it gives me error when i try to assign string to levelEnum, where levelEnum is an Enumeration..

foreach (CustomProperty prop in requirementTemplate.AttributesCustomList)
{
    if (prop.Name == property)
    {
        return (CRF_DB.CRF_Requirement.LevelEnum) (prop.Value.ToString());
    }
}

Is there a way to put select Enum item by assigning value to it?

hope it is clear enough

Answer 1

Try the following

return (CRF_DB.CRF_Requirement.LevelEnum)Enum.Parse(
  typeof(CRF_DB.CRF_Requirement.LevelEnum), 
  prop.Value.ToString());

Answer 2

Look at Enum.TryParse

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd783499.aspx

Answer 3

In order to avoid an exception you can check if the value exists within that enumeration by calling IsDefined . The TryParse method would be the optimal solution if you're using .NET 4.0.

foreach (CustomProperty prop in requirementTemplate.AttributesCustomList)
{
    if (prop.Name == property && Enum.IsDefined(typeof(LevelEnum), prop.Value))
    {
        return (LevelEnum)Enum.Parse(typeof(LevelEnum), prop.Value.ToString());
    }
}