xamarin.android - How to cast a Java.Lang.Enum to an integer? -

in monodroid, have java binding returns java.lang.enum object.

when try cast object int throws.

system.invalidcastexception: cannot cast source type destination type. 

here in immediate window of debugger:

state {opening} base: {java.lang.enum} isclosed: false isopened: false thresholdclass: 0x1d200832 thresholdtype: {system.monotype} 

i surprised enum can not converted int ?

you use java.lang.enum.ordinal() return int value represents position of enum constant within definition of enum class type of object.

for example, if definition of enum class this:

enum example {     cat, dog, fish, goat } 

then cat.ordinal() return int value 0, dog.ordinal() return int value 1, fish.ordinal() return int value 2, , on.

however, ordinal position of enum constant not guaranteed stay same, should never used without being change in enum definition (which change ordinal values) won't break code.