C++ - Getting an enumerated value from a string variable

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I have an enumerated type such as

enum Colors(Red, Blue, Green);

and a CString test_string = "Blue"

How do I get to the 2nd value in the enumerated type by the string?

What I am trying to get to is:

int retValue = Colors(test_string);

or something like that that will produce retValue = 1

I do not want to use if statements or case statements to accomplish this since I have about 100 elements in the enumeration. I would also like to keep this a simple as possible (I am not a great C programmer).

Posted 24-Feb-10 2:44am

cotsjdixon

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CPallini · Answer 1 · 2010-02-24T03:22:00

With C++ you have to do some work (C#, for instance gently provides it).
Your best bet is (unfortunately, maybe...) a std::map.

C++

// the enum
enum Color
{
  Red,
  Green,
  Blue
};

// the mapping of the string with the enum
map<CString , Color> m;
m.insert(make_pair<CString, Color>(_T("Red"),Red));
m.insert(make_pair<CString, Color>(_T("Green"),Green));
m.insert(make_pair<CString, Color>(_T("Blue"),Blue));

// usage...
Color c = m[_T("Green")];

stebich · Answer 2 · 2010-02-24T03:01:00

Solution 1

There is no way to access the enum value by a string at runtime, like you want.

Put all possible srings in an array corresponding to your enumeration and use a loop to iterate through the array to find the int value for your string.

Posted 24-Feb-10 3:01am

stebich

Eugen Podsypalnikov · Answer 3 · 2010-02-24T03:52:00

Solution 3

This usage could be thinkable too:

Colored<CString, Blue> cszString(_T("Blue"));
ASSERT(Blue == cszString.GetColor());

I describe it when you will want it... :)

Posted 24-Feb-10 3:52am

Eugen Podsypalnikov