Question

I have a enum type

public enum DataType:int
    {   
        None = 0,
        [Description("A")]
        Alpha = 1,
        [Description("N")]
        Numeric,
        [Description("AN")]
        AlphaNumeric,
        [Description("D")]
        Date
    }

How do I retrieve the description attribute value of, say, Alpha.

Eg(ideal) : DataType.Alpha.Attribute should give “A”

Answer 1

Use this

private string GetEnumDescription(Enum value)
{
    // Get the Description attribute value for the enum value
    FieldInfo fi = value.GetType().GetField(value.ToString());
    DescriptionAttribute[] attributes = (DescriptionAttribute[])fi.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DescriptionAttribute), false);

    if (attributes.Length > 0)
        return attributes[0].Description;
    else
        return value.ToString();
}