How to save enum in database as string

Question

This is my Model Class where we have a Type, which could be a Zombie or Human.

public class User {     public int ID { get; set; }     public string Name { get; set; }     public Type Type { get; set; }     public List<Weapon> WeaponsInList { get; set; } }    public enum Type {        [Description("Zombie")]     Zombie,          [Description("Human")]     Human } 

Currently, it is saving data in Int.

I want to save the data as Human and Zombie, not with int.

Answer 1

In Entity Framework Core you can specify the built-in conversion:

modelBuilder     .Entity<DataSet>()     .Property(d => d.SemanticType)     .HasConversion(new EnumToStringConverter<DataSetSemanticType>()); 

More details here.

Answer 2

You can save the enum to the db as a string, and I agree with dotctor that it is not the best idea, but if you need to, you need to make a few changes.

public class User {     public int ID { get; set; }     public string Name { get; set; }     public List<Wepon> WeposInList { get; set; }      [Column("Type")]     public string TypeString     {        get { return Type.ToString(); }        private set { Type= value.ParseEnum<Type>(); }     }      [NotMapped]     public Type Type { get; set; } }   

Add this extension class to your project.

public static class StringExtensions {     public static T ParseEnum<T>(this string value)     {         return (T)Enum.Parse(typeof(T), value, true);     } } 

Full details are here - http://NoDogmaBlog.bryanhogan.net/2014/11/saving-enums-as-strings-with-entity-framework/