overriding ToString () method for enumerations in C#

overriding ToString () method for enumerations in C#

• Seshu Palachulla

  Franz,

  Unfortunately it's not possible to override ToString() on a enumeration. Instead, you need to provide a helper method to do this:

  public static string ToString(MyEnum value) { return "This is my customized ToString():" + value.ToString(); }

  
  
  

• frozennose

  Sorry that I had misunderstood the question previously. Now I know that you cannot override ToString() method in enumerations. You have to write some utility functions to do so.
  
  
  

• TGAR

  You might want to take a look at the [Flag] attribute, which gives you a cheap ToString() override (albeit to the name of the enumerated value):
  
  http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp url=/library/en-us/cpref/html/frlrfsystemflagsattributeclasstopic.asp
  

• tom-b

  Hallo rabin
  
  your example overrides the ToString() method of a class.
  But I have to override the method of an enumeration type.
  
  
  My example:
  
  class ImportItem
  {
    public enum ImportState { ImportIt, DontImportIt, Importing, Imported, ImportFailed }
  
    public ImportState State { get { return mState; } }
    private ImportState mState;
  
    .....
  }
  
  class Test
  {
    public static void Main ()
    {
       ImportItem Item = new ImportItem ();
       .....
       Console.WriteLine (Item.State);
    }
  }
  
  
  This will output "ImportIt", but I would like to override ToString () such that it outputs i.e. "Import required".
  
  Thanks for a tip
  Franz
  
  
  
  

  
  
• overriding ToString () method for enumerations in C#