How to avoid using Magic string in C# code.

Question

User-1042970710 posted

Hi Friends,

I am working with Arabic applications and utilizing Arabic text off and on.   I want to avoid using magic strings and wanted to replace them with  Enums in C#.   (to make it more readable).

Can anyone provide me a good example?

Thanks.

Answer 1

User475983607 posted

I am working with Arabic applications and utilizing Arabic text off and on.   I want to avoid using magic strings and wanted to replace them with  Enums in C#.   (to make it more readable).

Can anyone provide me a good example?

Do you have an actual coding problem?  Have you tried reading the official enumeration documentation?

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/language-reference/builtin-types/enum

Perhaps you really want string constants rather than enumerations?

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/programming-guide/classes-and-structs/constants#:~:text=Constants%20are%20declared%20with%20the,and%20arrays%2C%20cannot%20be%20const%20.

Is there any way you can provide code so we can see where you need help?

Answer 2

User753101303 posted

Hi,

If you really have an "off" and "on" value, couldn't it be just a boolean? Maybe also https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/19953/Localizing-NET-Enums if this is a localizarion issue?

Or give some more context so that we first better iunderstand which kind of sample you need.

Answer 3

User303363814 posted

I'm guessing that you don't really want an enum.  You have just grabbed the enum idea as a 'solution' to help you.  I suspect that a better fit for your request would be to use a Resource file.

Right-click somewhere in your project and choose 'Add item'  then choose 'Resources File'.

Once created, double clicking the .resx file will open a designer which lets you give a name and a value to each of your strings.  I have a Resource file called ApiMessages.  It has a resource (string) called CannotCreateEvent which has a value of "Does not have the ClubEventCreate permission"

In your code you can refer to the string with ResourceFileName.ResourceName In my case that is ApiMessages.CannotCreateEvent