enum description value to dropdownlist

c#, enums

Solution

public static class EnumExtensionMethods
{
    public static string GetDescription(this Enum enumValue)
    {
        object[] attr = enumValue.GetType().GetField(enumValue.ToString())
            .GetCustomAttributes(typeof (DescriptionAttribute), false);

        return attr.Length > 0 
           ? ((DescriptionAttribute) attr[0]).Description 
           : enumValue.ToString();            
    }

    public static T ParseEnum<T>(this string stringVal)
    {
        return (T) Enum.Parse(typeof (T), stringVal);
    }
}

//Usage with an ASP.NET DropDownList
foreach(MyEnum value in Enum.GetValues<MyEnum>())
   myDDL.Items.Add(New ListItem(value.GetDescription(), value.ToString())
...
var selectedEnumValue = myDDL.SelectedItem.Value.ParseEnum<MyEnum>()

//Usage with a WinForms ComboBox
foreach(MyEnum value in Enum.GetValues<MyEnum>())
   myComboBox.Items.Add(new KeyValuePair<string, MyEnum>(value.GetDescription(), value));

myComboBox.DisplayMember = "Key";
myComboBox.ValueMember = "Value";
...
var selectedEnumValue = myComboBox.SelectedItem.Value;

These two extension methods have been invaluable to me for going on 5 years and two different jobs, for exactly your stated need.

Problem

I am new to C# and I have a question, I have a a enum something like ``` public enum { [Description("1,2,3")] 123, [Description("3,4,5")] 345, [Description("6,7,8 ")] 678, } ``` Now I want the enum descriptions to bind to a dropdownlist.. can some one help me.. thanks in advance! PS: I am sorry if I am not clear..Let me know if I need to be more specific

Original source

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