System.ComponentModel.DescriptionAttribute in portable class library

Question

I am using the Description attribute in my enums to provide a user friendly name to an enum field. e.g.

public enum InstallationType
{
    [Description(\"For         


        

Answer 1

Since DescriptionAttribute is not available for portable class libraries you need to use another attribute. The namespace System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations which is available for portable class libraries provides the attribute DisplayAttribute that you can use instead.

public enum InstallationType
{
    [Display(Description="Forward of Bulk Head")]
    FORWARD = 0,

    [Display(Description="Rear of Bulk Head")]
    REAR = 1,

    [Display(Description="Roof Mounted")]
    ROOF = 2,
}

Your method needs to be changed to

public static string GetDescriptionFromEnumValue(Enum value)
    {
        DisplayAttribute attribute = value.GetType()
            .GetField(value.ToString())
            .GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DisplayAttribute ), false)
            .SingleOrDefault() as DisplayAttribute ;
        return attribute == null ? value.ToString() : attribute.Description;
    }