Feature request: Built-in way to convert between Enumeration and its value

DrScott

As rgb noted, there’s no built-in conversion from enumeration values to integers (using, for example, Value or ToInteger()), or from integers to enumeration values using a typecast. The programmer has to write helper functions to do that using Select Case with cases for each enumeration value returning its integer equivalent, or in the other direction, a cases with the integer values returning the equivalent enumeration value. A built-in way to convert between them would be useful.

Garry

Thanks for raising this. I’ve implemented it for the next release.

The enum-to-integer direction was already supported using Integer(...). The missing reverse conversion is now available as a checked cast using the enum type:

Var rawStatus As Integer = Integer(HttpStatus.OK)
Var status As HttpStatus = HttpStatus(rawStatus)

Integer-to-enum conversion only accepts values declared by the enum. Invalid constants are caught during compilation, while invalid values encountered at runtime raise TypeMismatchException.

This also supports explicit, sparse, negative, and aliased values, along with built-in and qualified enum types. Converting deliberately between different enum types requires both conversions to be explicit:

Var destination As DestinationEnum = DestinationEnum(Integer(source))

You can follow the completed feature here: Support checked conversion from Integer to enumeration values.