> Why do I have to explicitly convert to Int? After all, I thought this was
> just a good way to get the intellisense to prompt me with values for t
when
> I type

"Charles Law" <blank@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:e6vLbmg4DHA.2656@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hi Guys
>
> I'm sure there is a plausible explanation for this, but ...
>
> <code>
> Public Enum Test
> Abra = 5
> Cadabra = 76
> End Enum
>
> Dim t as Test
>
> t = Test.Cadabra
> </code>
>
> At the end of this I expect t to contain 76, but it doesn't. It contains
> Cadabra.
>
> In the command window, I get the following
>
> ?t
> Cadabra
>
> Alternatively,
>
> ?CInt(t)
> 76
>
> Why do I have to explicitly convert to Int? After all, I thought this was
> just a good way to get the intellisense to prompt me with values for t
when
> I type
>
> t =
>
> Can anyone explain?
>
> TIA
>
> Charles
>
>

"Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-here@gmx.at> wrote in message
news:%23oEycvg4DHA.3548@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> * "Charles Law" <blank@nowhere.com> scripsit:
> > I'm sure there is a plausible explanation for this, but ...
> >
> > <code>
> > Public Enum Test
> > Abra = 5
> > Cadabra = 76
> > End Enum
> >
> > Dim t as Test
> >
> > t = Test.Cadabra
> > </code>
> >
> > At the end of this I expect t to contain 76, but it doesn't. It contains
> > Cadabra.
>
> 'Cadabra' is a constant with value 76.
>
> > In the command window, I get the following
> >
> > ?t
> > Cadabra
> >
> > Alternatively,
> >
> > ?CInt(t)
> > 76
> >
> > Why do I have to explicitly convert to Int? After all, I thought this
was
> > just a good way to get the intellisense to prompt me with values for t
when
> > I type
>
> I think the console will simply call the "object's" 'ToString' method
> which will return the name of the constant for an enumeration (AFAIR).
>
> --
> Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]
> <http://www.mvps.org/dotnet>

> Hi Guys
>
> I'm sure there is a plausible explanation for this, but ...
>
> <code>
> Public Enum Test
> Abra = 5
> Cadabra = 76
> End Enum
>
> Dim t as Test
>
> t = Test.Cadabra
> </code>
>
> At the end of this I expect t to contain 76, but it doesn't. It
> contains Cadabra.
>
> In the command window, I get the following
>
> ?t
> Cadabra
>
> Alternatively,
>
> ?CInt(t)
> 76
>
> Why do I have to explicitly convert to Int? After all, I thought this
> was just a good way to get the intellisense to prompt me with values
> for t when I type
>
> t =
>
> Can anyone explain?

> I'm sure there is a plausible explanation for this, but ...
>
> <code>
> Public Enum Test
> Abra = 5
> Cadabra = 76
> End Enum
>
> Dim t as Test
>
> t = Test.Cadabra
> </code>
>
> At the end of this I expect t to contain 76, but it doesn't. It contains
> Cadabra.

> In the command window, I get the following
>
> ?t
> Cadabra
>
> Alternatively,
>
> ?CInt(t)
> 76
>
> Why do I have to explicitly convert to Int? After all, I thought this was
> just a good way to get the intellisense to prompt me with values for t when
> I type

"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Jay_Harlow_MVP@msn.com> wrote in message
news:uS9Kc8g4DHA.3944@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Charles,
> In addition to the others comments:
>
> > Why do I have to explicitly convert to Int? After all, I thought this
was
> > just a good way to get the intellisense to prompt me with values for t
> when
> > I type
>
> Don't think of an Enum in terms of its implementation!
>
> Don't think of Enums as integers! Think of Enums as distinct named
constants
> that are of that specific Enum type. As that is IMHO what the intent of
> Enums are. If you want integer constants use the Const keyword.
>
> Enums just happen to be implemented as Integers. (which for performance
> reasons make sense, otherwise it does not make sense, I can see lots of
> value in String enums or Char enums!)
>
> In your example: Cadabra is a specific value for Test, as is Abra.
>
> Hope this helps
> Jay
>
> "Charles Law" <blank@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:e6vLbmg4DHA.2656@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Hi Guys
> >
> > I'm sure there is a plausible explanation for this, but ...
> >
> > <code>
> > Public Enum Test
> > Abra = 5
> > Cadabra = 76
> > End Enum
> >
> > Dim t as Test
> >
> > t = Test.Cadabra
> > </code>
> >
> > At the end of this I expect t to contain 76, but it doesn't. It contains
> > Cadabra.
> >
> > In the command window, I get the following
> >
> > ?t
> > Cadabra
> >
> > Alternatively,
> >
> > ?CInt(t)
> > 76
> >
> > Why do I have to explicitly convert to Int? After all, I thought this
was
> > just a good way to get the intellisense to prompt me with values for t
> when
> > I type
> >
> > t =
> >
> > Can anyone explain?
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > Charles
> >
> >
>
>

> Ah, but why does the following do the same?
>
> <code>
> Dim str As String
>
> str = String.Format("t={0}", t)
> </code>
>
> str now contains "t=Cadabra". It is very painful, not to say error prone if
> I have to remember to write
>
> <code>
> Dim str As String
>
> str = String.Format("t={0}", CInt(t))
> </code>
>
> Or is that what you would expect?

> Hi Herfried
>
> Ah, but why does the following do the same?
>
> <code>
> Dim str As String
>
> str = String.Format("t={0}", t)
> </code>
>
> str now contains "t=Cadabra". It is very painful, not to say error
> prone if I have to remember to write
>
> <code>
> Dim str As String
>
> str = String.Format("t={0}", CInt(t))
> </code>
>
> Or is that what you would expect?

> So I get the advantage of intellisense. When I type

> Public NotInheritable Class Special
> Const Abra As Integer = &H1
> Const Cadabra As Integer = &H2

> End Class

> MyVal = Special.

"Charles Law" <blank@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:epbIo9l4DHA.1936@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi Armin
>
> So I get the advantage of intellisense. When I type
>
> MyVal =
>
> I want the convenience of a list popping up to choose from.
>
> It is rare that I need the underlying value, as people have indicated, it
is
> not common to use them in this way. However, I have the case where a
> parameter in a structure can take values from a set list, e.g.
>
> Public Enum Special
> Abra = &H1
> Cadabra = &H2
> End Enum
>
> Public Structure MyStruct
> Dim Param1 as Integer
> Dim Param2 as Special
> End Structure
>
> Then, I may want to do this
>
> Dim MyStructInstance As MyStruct
>
> MyStructInstance.Param2 = Abra Or Cadabra
>
> Should Param2 now contain 3? It probably will in this case. But what about
>
> MyStructInstance.Param2 = Abra
>
> Now, perhaps Param2 contains Abra. I haven't tried this, but this is the
> type of thing I wish to do.
>
> Am I going about this the wrong way? The values will not always be binary
as
> above, but sometimes. How would you do it?
>
> Charles
>
>
> "Armin Zingler" <az.nospam@freenet.de> wrote in message
> news:eSTXN$k4DHA.384@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > "Charles Law" <blank@nowhere.com> schrieb
> > > Hi Herfried
> > >
> > > Ah, but why does the following do the same?
> > >
> > > <code>
> > > Dim str As String
> > >
> > > str = String.Format("t={0}", t)
> > > </code>
> > >
> > > str now contains "t=Cadabra". It is very painful, not to say error
> > > prone if I have to remember to write
> > >
> > > <code>
> > > Dim str As String
> > >
> > > str = String.Format("t={0}", CInt(t))
> > > </code>
> > >
> > > Or is that what you would expect?
> >
> > Also what I would expect.
> >
> > Why do you use an enum if you are interested in the numeric values? (see
> > also my other post)
> >
> >
> > --
> > Armin
> >
> > http://www.plig.net/nnq/nquote.html
> > http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html
> >
>
>

"Armin Zingler" <az.nospam@freenet.de> wrote in message
news:eSTXN$k4DHA.384@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> "Charles Law" <blank@nowhere.com> schrieb
> > Hi Herfried
> >
> > Ah, but why does the following do the same?
> >
> > <code>
> > Dim str As String
> >
> > str = String.Format("t={0}", t)
> > </code>
> >
> > str now contains "t=Cadabra". It is very painful, not to say error
> > prone if I have to remember to write
> >
> > <code>
> > Dim str As String
> >
> > str = String.Format("t={0}", CInt(t))
> > </code>
> >
> > Or is that what you would expect?
>
> Also what I would expect.
>
> Why do you use an enum if you are interested in the numeric values? (see
> also my other post)
>
>
> --
> Armin
>
> http://www.plig.net/nnq/nquote.html
> http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html
>

> Hi Armin
>
> So I get the advantage of intellisense. When I type
>
> MyVal =
>
> I want the convenience of a list popping up to choose from.
>
> It is rare that I need the underlying value, as people have
> indicated, it is not common to use them in this way. However, I have
> the case where a parameter in a structure can take values from a set
> list, e.g.
>
> Public Enum Special
> Abra = &H1
> Cadabra = &H2
> End Enum
>
> Public Structure MyStruct
> Dim Param1 as Integer
> Dim Param2 as Special
> End Structure
>
> Then, I may want to do this
>
> Dim MyStructInstance As MyStruct
>
> MyStructInstance.Param2 = Abra Or Cadabra
>
> Should Param2 now contain 3? It probably will in this case. But what
> about
>
> MyStructInstance.Param2 = Abra
>
> Now, perhaps Param2 contains Abra. I haven't tried this, but this is
> the type of thing I wish to do.
>
> Am I going about this the wrong way? The values will not always be
> binary as above, but sometimes. How would you do it?

"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Jay_Harlow_MVP@msn.com> wrote in message
news:%23y4QP$o4DHA.3224@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Charles,
>
> > So I get the advantage of intellisense. When I type
>
> What I normally do in that case is define const members of a class
>
> > Public NotInheritable Class Special
> > Const Abra As Integer = &H1
> > Const Cadabra As Integer = &H2
>
> Private Sub New()
> End Sub
>
> > End Class
>
> > MyVal = Special.
>
> Of course I need to type the name of the class, however I then get the
names
> of the constants...
>
> Note the Notinheritable prevents others from inheriting the Special class,
> while Private Sub New prevents others form instantiating the Special
class,
> as Special is intended only to offer constants.
>
> Hope this helps
> Jay
>
> "Charles Law" <blank@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:epbIo9l4DHA.1936@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > Hi Armin
> >
> > So I get the advantage of intellisense. When I type
> >
> > MyVal =
> >
> > I want the convenience of a list popping up to choose from.
> >
> > It is rare that I need the underlying value, as people have indicated,
it
> is
> > not common to use them in this way. However, I have the case where a
> > parameter in a structure can take values from a set list, e.g.
> >
> > Public Enum Special
> > Abra = &H1
> > Cadabra = &H2
> > End Enum
> >
> > Public Structure MyStruct
> > Dim Param1 as Integer
> > Dim Param2 as Special
> > End Structure
> >
> > Then, I may want to do this
> >
> > Dim MyStructInstance As MyStruct
> >
> > MyStructInstance.Param2 = Abra Or Cadabra
> >
> > Should Param2 now contain 3? It probably will in this case. But what
about
> >
> > MyStructInstance.Param2 = Abra
> >
> > Now, perhaps Param2 contains Abra. I haven't tried this, but this is the
> > type of thing I wish to do.
> >
> > Am I going about this the wrong way? The values will not always be
binary
> as
> > above, but sometimes. How would you do it?
> >
> > Charles
> >
> >
> > "Armin Zingler" <az.nospam@freenet.de> wrote in message
> > news:eSTXN$k4DHA.384@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > "Charles Law" <blank@nowhere.com> schrieb
> > > > Hi Herfried
> > > >
> > > > Ah, but why does the following do the same?
> > > >
> > > > <code>
> > > > Dim str As String
> > > >
> > > > str = String.Format("t={0}", t)
> > > > </code>
> > > >
> > > > str now contains "t=Cadabra". It is very painful, not to say error
> > > > prone if I have to remember to write
> > > >
> > > > <code>
> > > > Dim str As String
> > > >
> > > > str = String.Format("t={0}", CInt(t))
> > > > </code>
> > > >
> > > > Or is that what you would expect?
> > >
> > > Also what I would expect.
> > >
> > > Why do you use an enum if you are interested in the numeric values?
(see
> > > also my other post)
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Armin
> > >
> > > http://www.plig.net/nnq/nquote.html
> > > http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html
> > >
> >
> >
>
>