[comp.lang.ada] enumeration literal/internal codes

stt@ada-uts (01/12/89)

Unchecked-conversion to integer is the most straightforward way to
determine the internal code used for an enumeration value.
There is some pushing for Ada9X to have an attribute function similar to
'POS which will return the internal code rather than the position
number (plus the inverse, analagous to 'VAL).

S. Tucker Taft
Intermetrics, Inc.

ryer@inmet.UUCP (01/20/89)

When you put a rep spec on an enumerated type, the type is more like a
bit string or packed integer than just a "pure" enumeration.  When you
start accessing the internal value with explicit code, the type begins
to look quite unlike an enumerated type.  Perhaps the application that
wants to use these types would be happier with _named constants_ of a type
that is a packed array of booleans or an integer with a restricted
range.  I'm sure that someone will be proposing access to the internals
of an enumerated type for Ada 9X, so it may be important to know whether
the particular application really wants to be coded that way.

Mike Ryer
Intermetrics