String Enumerations in VB.NET

Introduction

You have a program that needs to parse commands and then based on the result do something?

String enumeration in VB.NET would be the ideal answer, but enumerations in .NET are limited to numbers.

After a lot of web searching for a quick few lines of code, I put this code together to help others as many sites show more complex usage of enumerations as set examples.

The only rule in your program's command strings is keep the string simple without spaces, when you put them into your enumeration.

This little code snippet will then make parsing your command strings simple.

Using the code

Using the code will just require a new VB.NET Windows Forms project with a Textbox (Textbox1) , Label (Label1), and Button (Button1).

All your program command strings are put in the enumeration "ProgramCommands". Running the example will just need you to enter in the input box the exact string as found in your Enum. The label will show if your command was parsed OK.

Note the most important line in the code uses the [Enum].Isdefined function which checks if your string is in the Enum which returns true or false. Then we can parse the test string to see if a match is found. The matching string can then be used in the "Select Case" to perform actions on the command.

'Simple Commands via string enumeration by David. Rathbone.
Public Class Form1

'Enumeration of your programs commands note all in upper case
Private Enum ProgramCommands
    RUN_MOTOR
    STOP_MOTOR
    MOVE_ARM
    FIRE_GUN
End Enum

'Test button to input a command from a textbox
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
        ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

    'Get Command From your programs input 
    Dim sCommandToTest As String = TextBox1.Text.ToUpper 'Keep string to upper case

    'First is the command to check in your program commands Enumeration? (True=Yes False= no)
    If CBool(CType([Enum].IsDefined(GetType(ProgramCommands), sCommandToTest), ProgramCommands)) Then

        'Command IS in Enumeration ~ now look though all the commands and get the one selected
        Dim testcase As ProgramCommands = _
               CType([Enum].Parse(GetType(ProgramCommands), sCommandToTest, True), ProgramCommands)

        'Just go through each case to add your commands action
        Select Case testcase
            Case ProgramCommands.RUN_MOTOR
                Label1.Text = "Run motor action stuff here"
            Case ProgramCommands.STOP_MOTOR
                Label1.Text = "Stop motor action Stuff here"
            Case ProgramCommands.MOVE_ARM
                Label1.Text = "Move arm action stuff here"
            Case ProgramCommands.FIRE_GUN
                Label1.Text = "Fire gun action stuff here"
            Case Else
                Label1.Text = "Should never get here!"
        End Select
    Else

        'Command Not in Enumeration
        Label1.Text = "False :- No such command"
    End If
End Sub
End Class

Points of Interest

For further details on string enumerations, please see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/essfb559(v=vs.90).aspx, which will outline more details. In fact the MSN example gave me the idea that a more simple answer was needed!

History

First version: 13/08/2012.