How do I add multiple attributes to an Enum?

Question

I have a SQL lookup-table called ClientCreditResolutionPlanActionType that I want to convert to an enum in c#.

Very basic request, right? Right.

My table, now enum, however, has several columns, or now, description properties that need to go with it:

• StatusIcon
• StatusText
• TypeText

---

So I figured I could do ...

namespace System.ComponentModel
{
    class StatusIconAttribute : Attribute
    {
        public string StatusIcon;
        public StatusIconAttribute(string statusIcon) { StatusIcon = statusIcon; }
    }

    class StatusTextAttribute : Attribute
    {
        public string StatusText;
        public StatusTextAttribute(string statusText) { StatusText = statusText; }
    }

    class TypeTextAttribute : Attribute
    {
        public string TypeText;
        public TypeTextAttribute(string typeText) { TypeText = typeText; }
    }
}

... in my Extensions.cs class ...

public static class EnumExtensions
{
    public static string GetStatusIcon(this Enum value)
    {
        var type = value.GetType();

        string name = Enum.GetName(type, value);              
        if (name == null) { return null; }

        var field = type.GetField(name);
        if (field == null) { return null; }

        var attr = Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(field, typeof(StatusIconAttribute)) as StatusIconAttribute;
        if (attr == null) { return null; }

        return attr.StatusIcon;
    }

    public static string GetStatusText(this Enum value)
    {
        var type = value.GetType();

        string name = Enum.GetName(type, value);              
        if (name == null) { return null; }

        var field = type.GetField(name);
        if (field == null) { return null; }

        var attr = Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(field, typeof(StatusTextAttribute)) as StatusTextAttribute;
        if (attr == null) { return null; }

        return attr.StatusText;
    }

    public static string GetTypeText(this Enum value)
    {
        var type = value.GetType();
        string name = Enum.GetName(type, value);              

        var type = value.GetType();

        string name = Enum.GetName(type, value);              
        if (name == null) { return null; }

        var field = type.GetField(name);
        if (field == null) { return null; }

        var attr = Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(field, typeof(TypeTextAttribute)) as TypeTextAttribute;
       if (attr == null) { return null; }

        return attr.TypeText;
    }
}

... and finally in my other project use it like:

namespace ClientSystemServiceLibrary.Enums
{
    [DataContract]
    public enum ClientCreditResolutionPlanActionType
    {
        [EnumMember]
        [TypeText("New resolution plan submitted.")]
        [StatusText("New Plan")]
        [StatusIcon("star.png")]
        NewPlan = 1,

        [EnumMember]
        [TypeText("Resolution plan waiting on approval.")]
        [StatusText("Under Review")]
        [StatusIcon("review.png")]
        UnderReview = 2,

        [EnumMember]
        [TypeText("Resolution plan approved.")]
        [StatusText("Approved")]
        [StatusIcon("check.png")]
        Approved = 3,

        [EnumMember]
        [TypeText("Resolution plan rejected.")]
        [StatusText("Rejected")]
        [StatusIcon("cross.png")]
        Rejected = 4,

        [EnumMember]
        [TypeText("New resolution plan comment submitted.")]
        [StatusText("New Comment")]
        [StatusIcon("message.png")]
        NewComment = 5
    }
}E

Except, what I figured was wrong, as I'm receiving these error messages:

'System.CompenentModel.TypeTextAttribute' is inaccessible due to its protection level

and

The type or namespace name 'TypeText' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

Same ... for all 3.

Solution

By default, all classes are internal. You should specify "public" access modifier, if you want them to be accessible from other assemblies. Like this:

public class TypeTextAttribute : Attribute
{
    public string TypeText;
    public TypeTextAttribute(string typeText) { TypeText = typeText; }
}

Comments

[Blorgbeard]

What do you mean, "what I figured was wrong"?

[Brad]

Why convert to an enum at all? Why not read from the table?

[Code Maverick]

exactly what I just did ... I can't mark yours as the answer because I got it working prior, but I will definitely +1

[Code Maverick]

oh what the heck ... I'll delete mine and give you the check =D