How to get Enum type using Enum name?

How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?

e.g.

Dim enumType as System.Type
Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"

enumType = ???(enumName)


I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type by name,
but I always get the value Nothing in return.

- Don

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

not sure i follow, don...

all enums only have integer/numeric members. perhaps you mean something
else?


"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
news:EaD4e.904575$Xk.345025@pd7tw3no...
| How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
|
| e.g.
|
| Dim enumType as System.Type
| Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
|
| enumType = ???(enumName)
|
|
| I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type by
name,
| but I always get the value Nothing in return.
|
| - Don
|
|

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

?

I don't understand what the possible values of an Enum has to do with
getting a Type object for an Enum.


"steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:MoD4e.1415$AF6.312@fe04.lga...[color=blue]
> not sure i follow, don...
>
> all enums only have integer/numeric members. perhaps you mean something
> else?
>
>
> "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> news:EaD4e.904575$Xk.345025@pd7tw3no...
> | How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
> |
> | e.g.
> |
> | Dim enumType as System.Type
> | Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
> |
> | enumType = ???(enumName)
> |
> |
> | I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type by
> name,
> | but I always get the value Nothing in return.
> |
> | - Don
> |
> |
>
>[/color]

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> schrieb:[color=blue]
> How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
>
> e.g.
>
> Dim enumType as System.Type
> Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
>
> enumType = ???(enumName)
>
>
> I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type by
> name,
> but I always get the value Nothing in return.[/color]


Make sure you fully qualify the type name correctly. You can determine a
type's full name by using 'GetType(<type name>).FullName'.

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://classicvb.org/petition/>

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

the quandry, of course, is that the type of object of an enum is...enum. the
possible values of the members of an enum were not what i commented on, but
the fact that the members themselves are all, and always, integer values.

hence, to me, you question is a bit vexing...an enum object is an enum type
and its members are integers.

could you be more specific is what it is you'd like to discover about an
enum?


"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
news:osD4e.908411$6l.111545@pd7tw2no...
| ?
|
| I don't understand what the possible values of an Enum has to do with
| getting a Type object for an Enum.
|
|
| "steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:MoD4e.1415$AF6.312@fe04.lga...
| > not sure i follow, don...
| >
| > all enums only have integer/numeric members. perhaps you mean something
| > else?
| >
| >
| > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
| > news:EaD4e.904575$Xk.345025@pd7tw3no...
| > | How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
| > |
| > | e.g.
| > |
| > | Dim enumType as System.Type
| > | Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
| > |
| > | enumType = ???(enumName)
| > |
| > |
| > | I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type by
| > name,
| > | but I always get the value Nothing in return.
| > |
| > | - Don
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

lemme guess, you have an function/sub/property param that could be one of
many enum's and you're trying to decide, by name, which to use for
conversion/validation/action to preform?

is it that or something similar?


"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
news:osD4e.908411$6l.111545@pd7tw2no...
| ?
|
| I don't understand what the possible values of an Enum has to do with
| getting a Type object for an Enum.
|
|
| "steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:MoD4e.1415$AF6.312@fe04.lga...
| > not sure i follow, don...
| >
| > all enums only have integer/numeric members. perhaps you mean something
| > else?
| >
| >
| > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
| > news:EaD4e.904575$Xk.345025@pd7tw3no...
| > | How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
| > |
| > | e.g.
| > |
| > | Dim enumType as System.Type
| > | Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
| > |
| > | enumType = ???(enumName)
| > |
| > |
| > | I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type by
| > name,
| > | but I always get the value Nothing in return.
| > |
| > | - Don
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

When you create an Enum, you create a new Type. Any variable that is
declared as an Enum has that Enum as it's type. A variable is not of type
Integer when declared as an Enum you've created. The System.Type class even
has a property call IsEnum. I've written other code that retrieves all
nested types of a class, and Enums declared in the class are returned as
Types. I know you can get the Type of an Enum. I just can't seem to get it
to work when I'm just passing the name of the Enum to Type.GetType().

I am trying to determine all the members of an Enum, given only the Enum's
name. That is, I want to get the Enum's Type so I can use the
Enum.GetNames() or Enum.GetValues() method to retrieve a list of all of its
members. I don't know how else to put it.



"steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:hXD4e.6115$HC3.5488@fe07.lga...[color=blue]
> the quandry, of course, is that the type of object of an enum is...enum.[/color]
the[color=blue]
> possible values of the members of an enum were not what i commented on,[/color]
but[color=blue]
> the fact that the members themselves are all, and always, integer values.
>
> hence, to me, you question is a bit vexing...an enum object is an enum[/color]
type[color=blue]
> and its members are integers.
>
> could you be more specific is what it is you'd like to discover about an
> enum?
>
>
> "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> news:osD4e.908411$6l.111545@pd7tw2no...
> | ?
> |
> | I don't understand what the possible values of an Enum has to do with
> | getting a Type object for an Enum.
> |
> |
> | "steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:MoD4e.1415$AF6.312@fe04.lga...
> | > not sure i follow, don...
> | >
> | > all enums only have integer/numeric members. perhaps you mean[/color]
something[color=blue]
> | > else?
> | >
> | >
> | > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> | > news:EaD4e.904575$Xk.345025@pd7tw3no...
> | > | How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
> | > |
> | > | e.g.
> | > |
> | > | Dim enumType as System.Type
> | > | Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
> | > |
> | > | enumType = ???(enumName)
> | > |
> | > |
> | > | I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type[/color]
by[color=blue]
> | > name,
> | > | but I always get the value Nothing in return.
> | > |
> | > | - Don
> | > |
> | > |
> | >
> | >
> |
> |
>
>[/color]

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

Hmmm... What you suggest works, but only if the Enum is declared in the same
project. If I try to do the same thing with an Enum declared in a
referenced dll, then the Type.GetType() method returns Nothing.

This is the code I am executing:

Public Enum abc
val1 = 1
val2 = 2
End Enum

Dim s As String
s = GetType(abc).FullName

Dim t As Type
t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!

This works fine. However, if, say, the "abc" Enum existed in a dll that I
was referencing, the code does not work:

' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module called
' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
Dim s As String
s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).FullName

Dim t As Type
t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Fails!


"Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-here@gmx.at> wrote in message
news:O6CDFniOFHA.2468@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> schrieb:[color=green]
> > How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
> >
> > e.g.
> >
> > Dim enumType as System.Type
> > Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
> >
> > enumType = ???(enumName)
> >
> >
> > I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type by
> > name,
> > but I always get the value Nothing in return.[/color]
>
>
> Make sure you fully qualify the type name correctly. You can determine a
> type's full name by using 'GetType(<type name>).FullName'.
>
> --
> M S Herfried K. Wagner
> M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
> V B <URL:http://classicvb.org/petition/>
>[/color]

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

I just discovered that the following code works:

' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module called
' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
Dim s As String
s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).AssemblyQualifi edName '<--- NOT
FullName

Dim t As Type
t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!

Thanks for pointing me into the right direction.

- Don


"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
news:ZrR4e.914768$8l.831814@pd7tw1no...[color=blue]
> Hmmm... What you suggest works, but only if the Enum is declared in the[/color]
same[color=blue]
> project. If I try to do the same thing with an Enum declared in a
> referenced dll, then the Type.GetType() method returns Nothing.
>
> This is the code I am executing:
>
> Public Enum abc
> val1 = 1
> val2 = 2
> End Enum
>
> Dim s As String
> s = GetType(abc).FullName
>
> Dim t As Type
> t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!
>
> This works fine. However, if, say, the "abc" Enum existed in a dll that I
> was referencing, the code does not work:
>
> ' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module[/color]
called[color=blue]
> ' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
> Dim s As String
> s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).FullName
>
> Dim t As Type
> t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Fails!
>
>
> "Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-here@gmx.at> wrote in message
> news:O6CDFniOFHA.2468@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...[color=green]
> > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> schrieb:[color=darkred]
> > > How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
> > >
> > > e.g.
> > >
> > > Dim enumType as System.Type
> > > Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
> > >
> > > enumType = ???(enumName)
> > >
> > >
> > > I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type by
> > > name,
> > > but I always get the value Nothing in return.[/color]
> >
> >
> > Make sure you fully qualify the type name correctly. You can determine[/color][/color]
a[color=blue][color=green]
> > type's full name by using 'GetType(<type name>).FullName'.
> >
> > --
> > M S Herfried K. Wagner
> > M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
> > V B <URL:http://classicvb.org/petition/>
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

Duh. I forgot that I will only have the name of the Enum as a string to
start with. It doesn't look like I'll be able to do this because the
AssembylQualifiedName -- which is what I need to start off with -- contains
version information which may change, so it cannot be hardcoded into my
project. Argh!


"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
news:IAR4e.915774$6l.884013@pd7tw2no...[color=blue]
> I just discovered that the following code works:
>
> ' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module[/color]
called[color=blue]
> ' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
> Dim s As String
> s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).AssemblyQualifi edName '<---[/color]
NOT[color=blue]
> FullName
>
> Dim t As Type
> t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!
>
> Thanks for pointing me into the right direction.
>
> - Don
>
>
> "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> news:ZrR4e.914768$8l.831814@pd7tw1no...[color=green]
> > Hmmm... What you suggest works, but only if the Enum is declared in the[/color]
> same[color=green]
> > project. If I try to do the same thing with an Enum declared in a
> > referenced dll, then the Type.GetType() method returns Nothing.
> >
> > This is the code I am executing:
> >
> > Public Enum abc
> > val1 = 1
> > val2 = 2
> > End Enum
> >
> > Dim s As String
> > s = GetType(abc).FullName
> >
> > Dim t As Type
> > t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!
> >
> > This works fine. However, if, say, the "abc" Enum existed in a dll that[/color][/color]
I[color=blue][color=green]
> > was referencing, the code does not work:
> >
> > ' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module[/color]
> called[color=green]
> > ' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
> > Dim s As String
> > s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).FullName
> >
> > Dim t As Type
> > t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Fails!
> >
> >
> > "Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-here@gmx.at> wrote in message
> > news:O6CDFniOFHA.2468@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...[color=darkred]
> > > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> schrieb:
> > > > How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
> > > >
> > > > e.g.
> > > >
> > > > Dim enumType as System.Type
> > > > Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
> > > >
> > > > enumType = ???(enumName)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type[/color][/color][/color]
by[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > name,
> > > > but I always get the value Nothing in return.
> > >
> > >
> > > Make sure you fully qualify the type name correctly. You can[/color][/color][/color]
determine[color=blue]
> a[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > type's full name by using 'GetType(<type name>).FullName'.
> > >
> > > --
> > > M S Herfried K. Wagner
> > > M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
> > > V B <URL:http://classicvb.org/petition/>
> > >[/color]
> >
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

Success! To do what I want to do I will simply need to know one more thing:
the assembly the Enum is declared in. Here is a sample of code that works
(I am typing this in manually, so it's a little different from my executing
code):

' Known information about Enum
Dim assemblyName as String = "OtherDLL"
Dim enumName as String = "OtherDLL.Enumerations+abc" ' Note the "+"

Dim ax As System.Reflection.Assembly = _
System.Reflection.Assembly.Load(assemblyName)
Dim tx As Type = ax.GetType(enumName) ' <--- Works!

Now I can get what I am looking for using the following code:

Dim a1 As Array
a1 = [Enum].GetNames(tx)


- Don


"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
news:IDR4e.914849$8l.462977@pd7tw1no...[color=blue]
> Duh. I forgot that I will only have the name of the Enum as a string to
> start with. It doesn't look like I'll be able to do this because the
> AssembylQualifiedName -- which is what I need to start off with --[/color]
contains[color=blue]
> version information which may change, so it cannot be hardcoded into my
> project. Argh!
>
>
> "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> news:IAR4e.915774$6l.884013@pd7tw2no...[color=green]
> > I just discovered that the following code works:
> >
> > ' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module[/color]
> called[color=green]
> > ' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
> > Dim s As String
> > s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).AssemblyQualifi edName '<---[/color]
> NOT[color=green]
> > FullName
> >
> > Dim t As Type
> > t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!
> >
> > Thanks for pointing me into the right direction.
> >
> > - Don
> >
> >
> > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> > news:ZrR4e.914768$8l.831814@pd7tw1no...[color=darkred]
> > > Hmmm... What you suggest works, but only if the Enum is declared in[/color][/color][/color]
the[color=blue][color=green]
> > same[color=darkred]
> > > project. If I try to do the same thing with an Enum declared in a
> > > referenced dll, then the Type.GetType() method returns Nothing.
> > >
> > > This is the code I am executing:
> > >
> > > Public Enum abc
> > > val1 = 1
> > > val2 = 2
> > > End Enum
> > >
> > > Dim s As String
> > > s = GetType(abc).FullName
> > >
> > > Dim t As Type
> > > t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!
> > >
> > > This works fine. However, if, say, the "abc" Enum existed in a dll[/color][/color][/color]
that[color=blue]
> I[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > was referencing, the code does not work:
> > >
> > > ' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module[/color]
> > called[color=darkred]
> > > ' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
> > > Dim s As String
> > > s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).FullName
> > >
> > > Dim t As Type
> > > t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Fails!
> > >
> > >
> > > "Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-here@gmx.at> wrote in message
> > > news:O6CDFniOFHA.2468@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> schrieb:
> > > > > How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
> > > > >
> > > > > e.g.
> > > > >
> > > > > Dim enumType as System.Type
> > > > > Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
> > > > >
> > > > > enumType = ???(enumName)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type[/color][/color]
> by[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > > name,
> > > > > but I always get the value Nothing in return.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Make sure you fully qualify the type name correctly. You can[/color][/color]
> determine[color=green]
> > a[color=darkred]
> > > > type's full name by using 'GetType(<type name>).FullName'.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > M S Herfried K. Wagner
> > > > M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
> > > > V B <URL:http://classicvb.org/petition/>
> > > >
> > >
> > >[/color]
> >
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

And an additional tip to those following in my footsteps: You can easily get
the assembly name from the full name of the Enum using the following bit of
code:

assemblyName = enumName.Substring(0, InStr(enumName, ".") - 1)

Use this and you don't need to separately store the assembly name.

- Don


"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
news:0LR4e.911987$Xk.128619@pd7tw3no...[color=blue]
> Success! To do what I want to do I will simply need to know one more[/color]
thing:[color=blue]
> the assembly the Enum is declared in. Here is a sample of code that works
> (I am typing this in manually, so it's a little different from my[/color]
executing[color=blue]
> code):
>
> ' Known information about Enum
> Dim assemblyName as String = "OtherDLL"
> Dim enumName as String = "OtherDLL.Enumerations+abc" ' Note the "+"
>
> Dim ax As System.Reflection.Assembly = _
> System.Reflection.Assembly.Load(assemblyName)
> Dim tx As Type = ax.GetType(enumName) ' <--- Works!
>
> Now I can get what I am looking for using the following code:
>
> Dim a1 As Array
> a1 = [Enum].GetNames(tx)
>
>
> - Don
>
>
> "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> news:IDR4e.914849$8l.462977@pd7tw1no...[color=green]
> > Duh. I forgot that I will only have the name of the Enum as a string to
> > start with. It doesn't look like I'll be able to do this because the
> > AssembylQualifiedName -- which is what I need to start off with --[/color]
> contains[color=green]
> > version information which may change, so it cannot be hardcoded into my
> > project. Argh!
> >
> >
> > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> > news:IAR4e.915774$6l.884013@pd7tw2no...[color=darkred]
> > > I just discovered that the following code works:
> > >
> > > ' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module[/color]
> > called[color=darkred]
> > > ' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
> > > Dim s As String
> > > s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).AssemblyQualifi edName[/color][/color][/color]
'<---[color=blue][color=green]
> > NOT[color=darkred]
> > > FullName
> > >
> > > Dim t As Type
> > > t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!
> > >
> > > Thanks for pointing me into the right direction.
> > >
> > > - Don
> > >
> > >
> > > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> > > news:ZrR4e.914768$8l.831814@pd7tw1no...
> > > > Hmmm... What you suggest works, but only if the Enum is declared in[/color][/color]
> the[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > same
> > > > project. If I try to do the same thing with an Enum declared in a
> > > > referenced dll, then the Type.GetType() method returns Nothing.
> > > >
> > > > This is the code I am executing:
> > > >
> > > > Public Enum abc
> > > > val1 = 1
> > > > val2 = 2
> > > > End Enum
> > > >
> > > > Dim s As String
> > > > s = GetType(abc).FullName
> > > >
> > > > Dim t As Type
> > > > t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Works!
> > > >
> > > > This works fine. However, if, say, the "abc" Enum existed in a dll[/color][/color]
> that[color=green]
> > I[color=darkred]
> > > > was referencing, the code does not work:
> > > >
> > > > ' (assuming "abc" is a publicly declared Enum in a public module
> > > called
> > > > ' "Enumerations" in the referenced class library "OtherDLL")
> > > > Dim s As String
> > > > s = GetType(OtherDLL.Enumerations.abc).FullName
> > > >
> > > > Dim t As Type
> > > > t = Type.GetType(s) ' <--- Fails!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-here@gmx.at> wrote in[/color][/color][/color]
message[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > news:O6CDFniOFHA.2468@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> schrieb:
> > > > > > How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > e.g.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Dim enumType as System.Type
> > > > > > Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
> > > > > >
> > > > > > enumType = ???(enumName)
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's[/color][/color][/color]
type[color=blue][color=green]
> > by[color=darkred]
> > > > > > name,
> > > > > > but I always get the value Nothing in return.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Make sure you fully qualify the type name correctly. You can[/color]
> > determine[color=darkred]
> > > a
> > > > > type's full name by using 'GetType(<type name>).FullName'.
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > M S Herfried K. Wagner
> > > > > M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
> > > > > V B <URL:http://classicvb.org/petition/>
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >[/color]
> >
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

hmmm...

so you're saying that when you create an enum, you are actually creating an
object who's base class is enum? such that:

enum foo
bar = 0
end enum

dim e as foo
if typeof e is foo then return true

would not throw an error and neither would:

dim e as object = foo
if typeof e is enum then return true

both would return true...that about right? perhaps, i just haven't had need
to discover that nuance yet. i have seen in this ng code that does exactly
what you're wanting to do. have you googled yet?


"Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
news:qnR4e.915721$6l.12993@pd7tw2no...
| When you create an Enum, you create a new Type. Any variable that is
| declared as an Enum has that Enum as it's type. A variable is not of type
| Integer when declared as an Enum you've created. The System.Type class
even
| has a property call IsEnum. I've written other code that retrieves all
| nested types of a class, and Enums declared in the class are returned as
| Types. I know you can get the Type of an Enum. I just can't seem to get
it
| to work when I'm just passing the name of the Enum to Type.GetType().
|
| I am trying to determine all the members of an Enum, given only the Enum's
| name. That is, I want to get the Enum's Type so I can use the
| Enum.GetNames() or Enum.GetValues() method to retrieve a list of all of
its
| members. I don't know how else to put it.
|
|
|
| "steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:hXD4e.6115$HC3.5488@fe07.lga...
| > the quandry, of course, is that the type of object of an enum is...enum.
| the
| > possible values of the members of an enum were not what i commented on,
| but
| > the fact that the members themselves are all, and always, integer
values.
| >
| > hence, to me, you question is a bit vexing...an enum object is an enum
| type
| > and its members are integers.
| >
| > could you be more specific is what it is you'd like to discover about an
| > enum?
| >
| >
| > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
| > news:osD4e.908411$6l.111545@pd7tw2no...
| > | ?
| > |
| > | I don't understand what the possible values of an Enum has to do with
| > | getting a Type object for an Enum.
| > |
| > |
| > | "steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:MoD4e.1415$AF6.312@fe04.lga...
| > | > not sure i follow, don...
| > | >
| > | > all enums only have integer/numeric members. perhaps you mean
| something
| > | > else?
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
| > | > news:EaD4e.904575$Xk.345025@pd7tw3no...
| > | > | How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
| > | > |
| > | > | e.g.
| > | > |
| > | > | Dim enumType as System.Type
| > | > | Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
| > | > |
| > | > | enumType = ???(enumName)
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | > | I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's type
| by
| > | > name,
| > | > | but I always get the value Nothing in return.
| > | > |
| > | > | - Don
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

re: How to get Enum type using Enum name?

This is the solution to my problem (which I posted in a different branch of
my original thread):

' Known information about Enum
Dim assemblyName as String = "OtherDLL"
Dim enumName as String = "OtherDLL.Enumerations+abc"

Dim ax As System.Reflection.Assembly = _
System.Reflection.Assembly.Load(assemblyName)
Dim tx As Type = ax.GetType(enumName)

What's stored in the tx variable is the result I was seeking. I wanted to
get the type of an Enum using just a string containing the Enum's name.
This is how to do it (when the Enum is in a different assembly). It boils
down to this:

<Assembly>.GetType(<EnumNameAsString>)

- Don


"steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:KKV4e.16$gy6.4@fe05.lga...[color=blue]
> hmmm...
>
> so you're saying that when you create an enum, you are actually creating[/color]
an[color=blue]
> object who's base class is enum? such that:
>
> enum foo
> bar = 0
> end enum
>
> dim e as foo
> if typeof e is foo then return true
>
> would not throw an error and neither would:
>
> dim e as object = foo
> if typeof e is enum then return true
>
> both would return true...that about right? perhaps, i just haven't had[/color]
need[color=blue]
> to discover that nuance yet. i have seen in this ng code that does exactly
> what you're wanting to do. have you googled yet?
>
>
> "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> news:qnR4e.915721$6l.12993@pd7tw2no...
> | When you create an Enum, you create a new Type. Any variable that is
> | declared as an Enum has that Enum as it's type. A variable is not of[/color]
type[color=blue]
> | Integer when declared as an Enum you've created. The System.Type class
> even
> | has a property call IsEnum. I've written other code that retrieves all
> | nested types of a class, and Enums declared in the class are returned as
> | Types. I know you can get the Type of an Enum. I just can't seem to[/color]
get[color=blue]
> it
> | to work when I'm just passing the name of the Enum to Type.GetType().
> |
> | I am trying to determine all the members of an Enum, given only the[/color]
Enum's[color=blue]
> | name. That is, I want to get the Enum's Type so I can use the
> | Enum.GetNames() or Enum.GetValues() method to retrieve a list of all of
> its
> | members. I don't know how else to put it.
> |
> |
> |
> | "steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:hXD4e.6115$HC3.5488@fe07.lga...
> | > the quandry, of course, is that the type of object of an enum[/color]
is...enum.[color=blue]
> | the
> | > possible values of the members of an enum were not what i commented[/color]
on,[color=blue]
> | but
> | > the fact that the members themselves are all, and always, integer
> values.
> | >
> | > hence, to me, you question is a bit vexing...an enum object is an enum
> | type
> | > and its members are integers.
> | >
> | > could you be more specific is what it is you'd like to discover about[/color]
an[color=blue]
> | > enum?
> | >
> | >
> | > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> | > news:osD4e.908411$6l.111545@pd7tw2no...
> | > | ?
> | > |
> | > | I don't understand what the possible values of an Enum has to do[/color]
with[color=blue]
> | > | getting a Type object for an Enum.
> | > |
> | > |
> | > | "steve" <a@b.com> wrote in message[/color]
news:MoD4e.1415$AF6.312@fe04.lga...[color=blue]
> | > | > not sure i follow, don...
> | > | >
> | > | > all enums only have integer/numeric members. perhaps you mean
> | something
> | > | > else?
> | > | >
> | > | >
> | > | > "Don" <unknown@oblivion.com> wrote in message
> | > | > news:EaD4e.904575$Xk.345025@pd7tw3no...
> | > | > | How do I get an Enum's type using only the Enum name?
> | > | > |
> | > | > | e.g.
> | > | > |
> | > | > | Dim enumType as System.Type
> | > | > | Dim enumName as String = "MyEnum"
> | > | > |
> | > | > | enumType = ???(enumName)
> | > | > |
> | > | > |
> | > | > | I've tried using Type.GetType(enumName) to retrieve an Enum's[/color]
type[color=blue]
> | by
> | > | > name,
> | > | > | but I always get the value Nothing in return.
> | > | > |
> | > | > | - Don
> | > | > |
> | > | > |
> | > | >
> | > | >
> | > |
> | > |
> | >
> | >
> |
> |
>
>[/color]