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EncodeFlags

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csharpdatabase
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  • P PIEBALDconsult

    I suspect it happened the other way around. The database was already screwed -- storing a character flag (yuck) -- but the dev is smart enough to use an enum in the code instead. However, I (not being an average bear) would add a DescriptionAttribute to each member of the enum:

    [Flags]
    public enum EventType
    {
    [Description("")]
    None = 0,
    [Description("P")]
    PreAlarm = 1,
    [Description("A")]
    Alarm = 2,
    [Description("M")]
    Malfunction = 4
    }

    Then, to get the textual representation of the state, you get the Description from the enum -- and members can be added and removed to/from the enum without having to update the code. To take it a step further, I store the enum members and their textual representations in a Dictionary for easy look-up.

    Richard DeemingR Offline
    Richard DeemingR Offline
    Richard Deeming
    wrote on last edited by
    #4

    Surely it would be simpler to cheat? :)

    public enum EventType : ushort
    {
    None = 0,
    PreAlarm = 'P',
    Alarm = 'A',
    Malfunction = 'M',
    }

    var foo = (EventType)'P'; // foo == PreAlarm
    char bar = (char)foo; // bar == 'P'


    "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

    "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined" - Homer

    P 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • Richard DeemingR Richard Deeming

      Surely it would be simpler to cheat? :)

      public enum EventType : ushort
      {
      None = 0,
      PreAlarm = 'P',
      Alarm = 'A',
      Malfunction = 'M',
      }

      var foo = (EventType)'P'; // foo == PreAlarm
      char bar = (char)foo; // bar == 'P'


      "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

      P Online
      P Online
      PIEBALDconsult
      wrote on last edited by
      #5

      Yes. Many years ago, in C, I used a short to hold two characters for some text file parsing I needed to do.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • B Bernhard Hiller

        An expert of programming and C# with some 25+ years of experience in software engineering wrote a really useful function:

        private string EncodeFlags(EventType _eventType)
        {
        if (_eventType == EventType.Alarm)
        {
        return "A";
        }
        if (_eventType == EventType.PreAlarm)
        {
        return "P";
        }
        if (_eventType == EventType.Malfunction)
        {
        return "M";
        }
        return "";
        }

        Already this function alone is some kind of WTF. But let's look at the definition of the input parameter which he translates:

        [Flags]
        public enum EventType
        {
        None = 0,
        PreAlarm = 1,
        Alarm = 2,
        Malfunction = 4
        }

        So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually. :~ X|

        P Offline
        P Offline
        Plamen Dragiyski
        wrote on last edited by
        #6

        Bernhard Hiller wrote:

        store that value in a database eventually.

        Did I miss important new trend in databases? When did they stopped supporting integers?

        F 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • P Plamen Dragiyski

          Bernhard Hiller wrote:

          store that value in a database eventually.

          Did I miss important new trend in databases? When did they stopped supporting integers?

          F Offline
          F Offline
          F ES Sitecore
          wrote on last edited by
          #7

          Looking at "QA" they also seem to have dropped support for dates.

          Richard DeemingR 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • P PIEBALDconsult

            I suspect it happened the other way around. The database was already screwed -- storing a character flag (yuck) -- but the dev is smart enough to use an enum in the code instead. However, I (not being an average bear) would add a DescriptionAttribute to each member of the enum:

            [Flags]
            public enum EventType
            {
            [Description("")]
            None = 0,
            [Description("P")]
            PreAlarm = 1,
            [Description("A")]
            Alarm = 2,
            [Description("M")]
            Malfunction = 4
            }

            Then, to get the textual representation of the state, you get the Description from the enum -- and members can be added and removed to/from the enum without having to update the code. To take it a step further, I store the enum members and their textual representations in a Dictionary for easy look-up.

            F Offline
            F Offline
            Fabio Franco
            wrote on last edited by
            #8

            PIEBALDconsult wrote:

            Then, to get the textual representation of the state

            It's a flagged enum, so how would he represent the state Alarm | Malfunction ?

            To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson ---- Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction - Francis Picabia

            R 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • B Bernhard Hiller

              An expert of programming and C# with some 25+ years of experience in software engineering wrote a really useful function:

              private string EncodeFlags(EventType _eventType)
              {
              if (_eventType == EventType.Alarm)
              {
              return "A";
              }
              if (_eventType == EventType.PreAlarm)
              {
              return "P";
              }
              if (_eventType == EventType.Malfunction)
              {
              return "M";
              }
              return "";
              }

              Already this function alone is some kind of WTF. But let's look at the definition of the input parameter which he translates:

              [Flags]
              public enum EventType
              {
              None = 0,
              PreAlarm = 1,
              Alarm = 2,
              Malfunction = 4
              }

              So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually. :~ X|

              M Offline
              M Offline
              Marc Clifton
              wrote on last edited by
              #9

              Bernhard Hiller wrote:

              with some 25+ years of experience in software engineering

              var experience = EventType.None | EventType.Alarm | EventType.Malfunction; ;) Marc

              Latest Article - Create a Dockerized Python Fiddle Web App Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

              K 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • B Bernhard Hiller

                An expert of programming and C# with some 25+ years of experience in software engineering wrote a really useful function:

                private string EncodeFlags(EventType _eventType)
                {
                if (_eventType == EventType.Alarm)
                {
                return "A";
                }
                if (_eventType == EventType.PreAlarm)
                {
                return "P";
                }
                if (_eventType == EventType.Malfunction)
                {
                return "M";
                }
                return "";
                }

                Already this function alone is some kind of WTF. But let's look at the definition of the input parameter which he translates:

                [Flags]
                public enum EventType
                {
                None = 0,
                PreAlarm = 1,
                Alarm = 2,
                Malfunction = 4
                }

                So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually. :~ X|

                F Offline
                F Offline
                Fabio Franco
                wrote on last edited by
                #10

                It makes no sense: 1 - There are combinations not covered by the encoder. ie Alarm | Malfunction 2 - It only makes sense to encode it if whatever is using does not support integers (or maybe it's meant to have a meaningful representation on a digital display, still what if it's alarming and malfunctioning). 3 - Should have used enum's HasFlag method. Now, an expert in C# and 25+ years in programming could only do this if he's hung over, lazy, dumb or having an idea so bright nobody can understand.

                To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson ---- Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction - Francis Picabia

                P T 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • B Bernhard Hiller

                  An expert of programming and C# with some 25+ years of experience in software engineering wrote a really useful function:

                  private string EncodeFlags(EventType _eventType)
                  {
                  if (_eventType == EventType.Alarm)
                  {
                  return "A";
                  }
                  if (_eventType == EventType.PreAlarm)
                  {
                  return "P";
                  }
                  if (_eventType == EventType.Malfunction)
                  {
                  return "M";
                  }
                  return "";
                  }

                  Already this function alone is some kind of WTF. But let's look at the definition of the input parameter which he translates:

                  [Flags]
                  public enum EventType
                  {
                  None = 0,
                  PreAlarm = 1,
                  Alarm = 2,
                  Malfunction = 4
                  }

                  So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually. :~ X|

                  T Offline
                  T Offline
                  thund3rstruck
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #11

                  Bernhard Hiller wrote:

                  So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually.

                  I learned decades ago that its a fool errand to insult the previous developer(s), especially if one was not there participating in the decision making process. There are a multitude of factors and/or external forces that impact decisions like this and arrogantly criticizing these choices accomplishes little.

                  P J B 3 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • F F ES Sitecore

                    Looking at "QA" they also seem to have dropped support for dates.

                    Richard DeemingR Offline
                    Richard DeemingR Offline
                    Richard Deeming
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #12

                    It's worse than that: based on QA, they've also dropped support for parameterized queries! :rolleyes:


                    "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

                    "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined" - Homer

                    N 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • F Fabio Franco

                      It makes no sense: 1 - There are combinations not covered by the encoder. ie Alarm | Malfunction 2 - It only makes sense to encode it if whatever is using does not support integers (or maybe it's meant to have a meaningful representation on a digital display, still what if it's alarming and malfunctioning). 3 - Should have used enum's HasFlag method. Now, an expert in C# and 25+ years in programming could only do this if he's hung over, lazy, dumb or having an idea so bright nobody can understand.

                      To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson ---- Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction - Francis Picabia

                      P Online
                      P Online
                      PIEBALDconsult
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #13

                      First, assume a legacy database schema...

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • T thund3rstruck

                        Bernhard Hiller wrote:

                        So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually.

                        I learned decades ago that its a fool errand to insult the previous developer(s), especially if one was not there participating in the decision making process. There are a multitude of factors and/or external forces that impact decisions like this and arrogantly criticizing these choices accomplishes little.

                        P Online
                        P Online
                        PIEBALDconsult
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #14

                        Hear hear!

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • T thund3rstruck

                          Bernhard Hiller wrote:

                          So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually.

                          I learned decades ago that its a fool errand to insult the previous developer(s), especially if one was not there participating in the decision making process. There are a multitude of factors and/or external forces that impact decisions like this and arrogantly criticizing these choices accomplishes little.

                          J Offline
                          J Offline
                          Jorgen Andersson
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #15

                          Especially knowing that I am also a previous developer to someone else. :rolleyes:

                          Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • F Fabio Franco

                            PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                            Then, to get the textual representation of the state

                            It's a flagged enum, so how would he represent the state Alarm | Malfunction ?

                            To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson ---- Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction - Francis Picabia

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            Rob Grainger
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #16

                            Well spotted.

                            "If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough." Alan Kay.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • T thund3rstruck

                              Bernhard Hiller wrote:

                              So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually.

                              I learned decades ago that its a fool errand to insult the previous developer(s), especially if one was not there participating in the decision making process. There are a multitude of factors and/or external forces that impact decisions like this and arrogantly criticizing these choices accomplishes little.

                              B Offline
                              B Offline
                              Bernhard Hiller
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #17

                              thund3rstruck wrote:

                              I learned decades ago that its a fool errand to insult the previous developer(s), especially if one was not there participating in the decision making process. There are a multitude of factors and/or external forces that impact decisions like this and arrogantly criticizing these choices accomplishes little.

                              I agree with you. I know the guy who wrote that code, and the circumstances: it's fresh code written this week. Some time ago, I discussed with him his obsession of encoding everything in magical ints or one-letter-strings, sometimes also providing "endode"/"decode" functions for converting between the magical ints and the one-letter-strings and the other way round...

                              T 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Richard DeemingR Richard Deeming

                                It's worse than that: based on QA, they've also dropped support for parameterized queries! :rolleyes:


                                "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

                                N Offline
                                N Offline
                                Nelek
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #18

                                It is even worst than that, based on the QA they have also dropped support for brains

                                M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • M Marc Clifton

                                  Bernhard Hiller wrote:

                                  with some 25+ years of experience in software engineering

                                  var experience = EventType.None | EventType.Alarm | EventType.Malfunction; ;) Marc

                                  Latest Article - Create a Dockerized Python Fiddle Web App Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

                                  K Offline
                                  K Offline
                                  kalberts
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #19

                                  Experience is the ability to recognize a mistake when you repeat it.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • K KarstenK

                                    He has a bug in in code by not returning a useful defalut value. And its also missing in the enum. If he is an expert in Solitaire I may know him? :~

                                    Press F1 for help or google it. Greetings from Germany

                                    T Offline
                                    T Offline
                                    TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #20

                                    KarstenK wrote:

                                    useful defalut

                                    What's that?

                                    #SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • F Fabio Franco

                                      It makes no sense: 1 - There are combinations not covered by the encoder. ie Alarm | Malfunction 2 - It only makes sense to encode it if whatever is using does not support integers (or maybe it's meant to have a meaningful representation on a digital display, still what if it's alarming and malfunctioning). 3 - Should have used enum's HasFlag method. Now, an expert in C# and 25+ years in programming could only do this if he's hung over, lazy, dumb or having an idea so bright nobody can understand.

                                      To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson ---- Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction - Francis Picabia

                                      T Offline
                                      T Offline
                                      TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #21

                                      Fabio Franco wrote:

                                      could only do this if he's

                                      pissed-off at legacy crap.

                                      #SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • B Bernhard Hiller

                                        An expert of programming and C# with some 25+ years of experience in software engineering wrote a really useful function:

                                        private string EncodeFlags(EventType _eventType)
                                        {
                                        if (_eventType == EventType.Alarm)
                                        {
                                        return "A";
                                        }
                                        if (_eventType == EventType.PreAlarm)
                                        {
                                        return "P";
                                        }
                                        if (_eventType == EventType.Malfunction)
                                        {
                                        return "M";
                                        }
                                        return "";
                                        }

                                        Already this function alone is some kind of WTF. But let's look at the definition of the input parameter which he translates:

                                        [Flags]
                                        public enum EventType
                                        {
                                        None = 0,
                                        PreAlarm = 1,
                                        Alarm = 2,
                                        Malfunction = 4
                                        }

                                        So he translates an enum with a Flags attribute to a string, ignoring the fact that they are flags, in order to store that value in a database eventually. :~ X|

                                        T Offline
                                        T Offline
                                        TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #22

                                        Bernhard Hiller wrote:

                                        ignoring the fact that they are flags

                                        It could have been changed to [Flags] after-the-fact and this code was just not updated.

                                        #SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • B Bernhard Hiller

                                          thund3rstruck wrote:

                                          I learned decades ago that its a fool errand to insult the previous developer(s), especially if one was not there participating in the decision making process. There are a multitude of factors and/or external forces that impact decisions like this and arrogantly criticizing these choices accomplishes little.

                                          I agree with you. I know the guy who wrote that code, and the circumstances: it's fresh code written this week. Some time ago, I discussed with him his obsession of encoding everything in magical ints or one-letter-strings, sometimes also providing "endode"/"decode" functions for converting between the magical ints and the one-letter-strings and the other way round...

                                          T Offline
                                          T Offline
                                          TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #23

                                          Ignore my previous post. I used to work with someone like that. He no longer works here. Smart guy, very capable, but continuously made "mistakes" like that. His "code" has caused us lots of grief.

                                          #SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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