Convert an enum to List string

Question

How do I convert the following Enum to a List of strings    Flags  public enum DataSourceTypes       None   0      Grid   1      ExcelFile   2      ODBC   4      I couldn t find this exact question  this Enum to List is the closest but I specifically want List lt string gt

User · Accepted Answer

Use Enum s static method  GetNames  It returns a string    like so   Enum GetNames typeof DataSourceTypes     If you want to create a method that does only this for only one type of enum  and also converts that array to a List  you can write something like this   public List lt string gt  GetDataSourceTypes         return Enum GetNames typeof DataSourceTypes   ToList        You will need Using System Linq  at the top of your class to use  ToList

User · Answer

I want to add another solution   In my case  I need to use a Enum group in a drop down button list items  So they might have space  i e  more user friendly descriptions needed      public enum CancelReasonsEnum        Description  In rush        InRush       Description  Need more coffee        NeedMoreCoffee       Description  Call me back in 5 minutes         In5Minutes     In a helper class  HelperMethods  I created the following method    public static List lt string gt  GetListOfDescription lt T gt    where T   struct               Type t   typeof T           return  t IsEnum   null   Enum GetValues t  Cast lt Enum gt    Select x   gt  x GetDescription    ToList            When you call this helper you will get the list of item descriptions    List lt string gt  items   HelperMethods GetListOfDescription lt CancelReasonEnum gt       ADDITION  In any case  if you want to implement this method you need  GetDescription extension for enum  This is what I use    public static string GetDescription this Enum value                Type type   value GetType            string name   Enum GetName type  value           if  name    null                        FieldInfo field   type GetField name               if  field    null                                DescriptionAttribute attr  Attribute GetCustomAttribute field typeof DescriptionAttribute   as DescriptionAttribute                  if  attr    null                                        return attr Description                                                    return null             how to use             MyEnum x   MyEnum NeedMoreCoffee              string description   x GetDescription

[c#] Convert an enum to List<string>

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