c# - Enum item mapped to another value -

i have enum:

enum myenum{     aaaval1,     aaaval2,     aaaval3, }   

i need have abbreviated version of 'myenum' maps every item 'myenum' different values. current approach method translates every item:

string translate(myenum myenum) {     string result = "";     switch ((int)myenum)     {         0:   result = "abc";         1:   result = "dft";         default: result = "fsdfds"     }     return result; } 

the problem approach every time programmer changes myenum should change translate method.

this not way of programming.

so..

is there more elegant solution problem?

thank :-)

four options:

• decorate enum values attributes, e.g.

  enum myenum {     [description("abc")]     aaaval1,     [description("dft")]     aaaval2,     aaaval3, }  

  then can create mapping (like dictionary solution below) via reflection.

• keep switch statement switch on enum value instead of number better readability:

  switch (myenum) {     case myenum.aaaval1: return "abc";     case myenum.aaaval2: return "dft";     default:             return "fsdfds"; } 

• create dictionary<myenum, string>:

  private static dictionary<myenum, string> enumdescriptions =      new dictionary<myenum, string> {     { myenum.aaaval1, "abc" },     { myenum.aaaval2, "dft" },         }; 

  you'd need handle defaulting in method, of course.

• use resource file, entry each string representation. better if you're trying translate in way might need different translations different cultures.