c# - How should I encapsulate this multi-dimensional enum? -

in application i've got information can 1 of small set of values - i'd use enum hold it, ensuring valid values through type-safety @ compile time:

public enum { a1, a2, a3, b1, b2, c1 }; 

these enums represent multi-dimensional data (they have letter , number in example above), i'd able value associated them, e.g.

something example = something.a1; // want able query values example: example.letter; // want "a" example.number; // "1"i want 1 

i've 2 possible solutions, neither of them feel 'clean', interested in people prefer, , why, or whether has better ideas.

option 1: create struct wraps enum, , provides properties on wrapped data, e.g.

public struct somethingwrapper {     public value { get; private set; }      public somethingwrapper(something val)     {         value = val;     }      public string letter     {                 {             // switch on value...         }     }      public int number     {                 {             // switch on value...         }     } } 

option 2: leave enum , create static helper class provides static functions values:

public static class somethinghelper {     public static string letter(something val)     {         // switch on val parameter     }      public static int number(something val)     {         // switch on val parameter     } } 

which should choose, , why? or there better solution i've not thought of?

third option: second option, extension methods:

public static class somethinghelper {     public static string letter(this val)     {         // switch on val parameter     }      public static int number(this val)     {         // switch on val parameter     } } 

then can do:

something x = ...; string letter = x.letter(); 

it's unfortunate there aren't extension properties, such life.

alternatively, create own pseudo enum: this:

public sealed class  {     public static a1 = new something("a", 1);     public static a2 = ...;      private something(string letter, int number)     {         letter = letter;         number = number;     }      public string letter { get; private set; }     public int number { get; private set; } }