Passing System.Enum as a parameter type... Help!

[Powers]

I currently have a large number of enums implemented into my Web
Service. I am reworking the XML serialization of these enums.

At present, each enum has hardcoded values, for example:

xAttrs = New XmlAttributes
xEnum = New XmlEnumAttribute
xEnum.Name = "0"
xAttrs.XmlEnum = xEnum

objXmlAttributeOverrides.Add(GetType(Enum_Employment_Status),
"Unspecified", xAttrs)

xAttrs = New XmlAttributes
xEnum = New XmlEnumAttribute
xEnum.Name = "1"
xAttrs.XmlEnum = xEnum

objXmlAttributeOverrides.Add(GetType(Enum_Employment_Status),
"FullTime", xAttrs)

xAttrs = New XmlAttributes
xEnum = New XmlEnumAttribute
xEnum.Name = "2"
xAttrs.XmlEnum = xEnum

objXmlAttributeOverrides.Add(GetType(Enum_Employment_Status),
"SelfEmployed", xAttrs)

xAttrs = New XmlAttributes
xEnum = New XmlEnumAttribute
xEnum.Name = "4"
xAttrs.XmlEnum = xEnum

objXmlAttributeOverrides.Add(GetType(Enum_Employment_Status),
"PieceWorker", xAttrs)

xAttrs = New XmlAttributes
xEnum = New XmlEnumAttribute
xEnum.Name = "8"
xAttrs.XmlEnum = xEnum

objXmlAttributeOverrides.Add(GetType(Enum_Employment_Status),
"ContractWorker", xAttrs)


....this streams for some 2000+ lines, hence why the rework.

I've removed the need to hardcode values, and I've created a method to
deal with the serialization, allowing me to simply make a method call
per enum, and removing the need to hardcode the enum values. The
method accepts the XMLAttributeOverrides object, and the Enum type.

The code is as below:

Private Sub SerializeEnum(ByVal pEnum As System.Enum, ByVal
pxOver As XmlAttributeOverrides)
'Powers - unable to do this, can't pass in the enum type...

Try
Dim strEnumContents As String()
Dim strEnum As String
Dim xAttrs As XmlAttributes
Dim xEnum As XmlEnumAttribute

strEnumContents = [Enum].GetValues(GetType(pEnum))

For Each strEnum In strEnumContents
xAttrs = New XmlAttributes
xEnum = New XmlEnumAttribute
xEnum.Name = [Enum].Format(GetType(pEnum), strEnum,
"d")
xAttrs.XmlEnum = xEnum
pxOver.Add(GetType(pEnum),
[Enum].GetName(GetType(pEnum), strEnum), xAttrs)
Next

Catch ex As Exception
'LogException ex

End Try

End Sub


The problem now arises at each GetType(pEnum) - the compiler complains
that "Type 'pEnum' is not defined".

Is there a way I can do this, or am I going to have to hardcode the
loop for each individual enum?? I've tried using System.Type instead
of System.Enum, but no luck...

Any help would be great...

TIA,
Powers

 

[Andrew Backer]

I think you can do something like this, if you need generic access to
an enum's types. At least it is something that works in my case.
You need to get at what you need via the static methods, which you
can't call on an instance here (?). So, use

=> System.Enum.AnyStaticMethod( System.Type of your enum )

Public Enum DBA
SqlSeverLimbs = 2
MyCrashQl = 3
PostgresCantPronounce = 4
End Enum

Public Function EnumNames(ByVal enumType System.Type ) as String()
Dim names as String() = System.Enum.GetNames(enumType)
End Function

Dim servers as String() = EnumNames( GetType(DBA) )

Hope this helps.

- Andrew