How can I use the string value of a C# enum value in a case statement?

Question

I have defined a C# enum as

public enum ORDER {     ...     unknown,     partial01,     partial12,     partial23, } 

and can use its value as a string as in:

            string ss = ORDER.partial01.ToString(); 

However when I try to use it in a case statement it fails to compile:

string value = ... switch (value) {     case null:         break;     case "s":         // OK         break;     case ORDER.partial01.ToString():         // compiler throws "a constant value is expected"          break;   ... 

I thought enums were constants. How do I get around this?

(I cannot parse the value into an enum as some of the values are outside the range)

Answer 1

Since C# 6, you can use: case nameof(SomeEnum.SomeValue):

Nameof is evaluated at compile time, simply to a string that matches the (unqualified) name of the given variable, type, or member. Naturally, it changes right along should you ever rename the enum option name.