Best way to implement Enums with Core Data

Question

What is the best way to bind Core Data entities to enum values so that I am able to assign a type property to the entity? In other words, I have an entity called Item<

Answer 1

The code pasted below works for me, and I've added it as full working example. I'd like to hear opinions on this approach, as I plan to used it extensively throughout my apps.

• I've left the @dynamic in place, as it is then satisfied by the getter/setter named in the property.

• As per the answer by iKenndac, I have not overridden the default getter/setter names.

• I've included some range checking via a NSAssert on the typedef valid values.

• I've also added a method to obtain a string value for the given typedef.

• I prefix constants with "c" rather than "k". I know the reasoning behind "k" (math origins, historical), but it feels like I am reading ESL code with it, so I use "c". Just a personal thing.

There is a similar question here: typedef as a Core data type

I'd appreciate any input on this approach.

Word.h

#import 
#import 

typedef enum {
    cPresent            = 0,    
    cFuturProche        = 1,    
    cPasseCompose       = 2,    
    cImparfait          = 3,    
    cFuturSimple        = 4,    
    cImperatif          = 5     
} TenseTypeEnum;

@class Word;
@interface Word : NSManagedObject

@property (nonatomic, retain) NSString * word;
@property (nonatomic, getter = tenseRaw, setter = setTenseRaw:) TenseTypeEnum tense;

// custom getter & setter methods
-(void)setTenseRaw:(TenseTypeEnum)newValue;
-(TenseTypeEnum)tenseRaw;
- (NSString *)textForTenseType:(TenseTypeEnum)tenseType;

@end


Word.m


#import "Word.h"

@implementation Word

@dynamic word;
@dynamic tense;

// custom getter & setter methods
-(void)setTenseRaw:(TenseTypeEnum)newValue
{
    NSNumber *numberValue = [NSNumber numberWithInt:newValue];
    [self willChangeValueForKey:@"tense"];
    [self setPrimitiveValue:numberValue forKey:@"tense"];
    [self didChangeValueForKey:@"tense"];
}


-(TenseTypeEnum)tenseRaw
{
    [self willAccessValueForKey:@"tense"];
    NSNumber *numberValue = [self primitiveValueForKey:@"tense"];
    [self didAccessValueForKey:@"tense"];
    int intValue = [numberValue intValue];

    NSAssert(intValue >= 0 && intValue <= 5, @"unsupported tense type");
    return (TenseTypeEnum) intValue;
}


- (NSString *)textForTenseType:(TenseTypeEnum)tenseType
{
    NSString *tenseText = [[NSString alloc] init];

    switch(tenseType){
        case cPresent:
            tenseText = @"présent";
            break;
        case cFuturProche:
            tenseText = @"futur proche";
            break;
        case cPasseCompose:
            tenseText = @"passé composé";
            break;
        case cImparfait:
            tenseText = @"imparfait";
            break;
        case cFuturSimple:
            tenseText = @"futur simple";
            break;
        case cImperatif:
            tenseText = @"impératif";
            break;
    }
    return tenseText;
}


@end