C#: Enums and implicit conversions

[Titeuf]

I'm trying to make a program with C# (and mono), but I found the following:

Code: Select all

...
public enum Directions:byte{
    Left = 0,
    Up = 1,
    Right = 2,
    Down = 3,
}
...
switch (Direction) {
            case Directions.Left:
                NewXPos--;
                break;
            case Directions.Up:
                System.Console.WriteLine("up");
                NewYPos--;
                break;
            case Directions.Right:
                NewXPos++;
                break;
            case Directions.Down:
                NewYPos++;
                break;
        }
...

When I try to compile this, I get the following error:

Code: Select all

stratego.cs(46) error CS0029: Cannot convert implicitly from `Directions' to `byte'

I know I can fix this problem by using "case (byte) Directions....", but I find it quiet strange, as in my book about C#, they don't have to convert it specifically.
Anyway to solve this without using (byte) ?

[Nori]

"Direction" in "switch (Direction)" seems to be type of byte, not type of Directions. with ":byte" you just say how memory is allocated for a Direction, but a member of your enum still is type of Directions, not byte. You cant't comapre byte with Directions even if Directions uses byte internally.

[Titeuf]

I see, just changing the type of Direction from byte to Directions fixed it.
thank you for your fast reply