Mapping @Enumerated to Numeric Values

[jfrankman]

All,

I have a column in a Table with values 1-9. Each value is a code that represents a certain value i.e.

1=Annual
2=Semi Annual
3=Quarterly

I want to map this column to an Enumeration. I have created the following Enumeration:

@Name("typePayment")
public enum TypePayment
{
1("Annual"),
2("SemiAnnual"),
3("Quarterly")
}

In my class I have mapped a column to this enumeration as follows:

 @Column(name = "TYPEPAYMENT")
 @Enumerated(EnumType.STRING)
 public TypePayment getTypePayment() {
 return typePayment;
 }

The problem is any value beginning with a number is not allowed as an enumerated value. So I get a compile error in my enumeration. I can change the enumeration to contain something like A, B, C instead of 1,2,3 but I am working against legacy data and cannot easily change the data values contained in the table from numbers to letters.

So my question is, how can I map an enumeration to a table column where the values contained in the column will be digits 0-9?

[jfrankman]

I found a partial solution. If I do the following:

1.change the column from varchar to integer in the DB table.
2. Change the EnumType to ORDINAL

@Column(name = "TYPEPAYMENT")
 @Enumerated(EnumType.ORDINAL)
 public TypePayment getTypePayment() {
 return typePayment;
 }

Then I can get it to work. This works except there is a gap in the values. Allowed values are 1-7 and 9. Zero and Eight are excluded. But since the ordinal begins with zero there is not a way for me to handle this unless I put a dummy enumerated values in positions 0 and 8 in my enumeration.

public enum TypePayment
{
DUMMY0("dummy0"),
ANNUAL("Annual"),
SEMI("Semi-Annual ($4 Fee)"),
FOUR_PAY("4-Pay ($12 Fee)"),
QUARTERLY("Quarterly ($12 Fee)"),
TWELVE_PAY("12-Pay (No Fee)"),
MONTHLY("Monthly"),
DEFERRED("Deferred ($7 Fee)"),
DUMMY8("dummy8"),
OTHER("Other")
;

The problem with the above solution is that I will have to exclude ordinals 0 and 8 in my application by makeing them not appear in drop down boxes, etc. I wish there was a way I could map and enumeration to numeric values using the EnumType(STRING).

Any ideas are appreciated.