matching one data type to another

I'm trying to come up with a better solution than the one shown below to match one data type to another. Frequently I see code such as below where a switch is done in order to match one type to another. The example shows two enums but they need not be.

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

enum color
{
        BLUE = 0,
        RED,
        GREEN,
        YELLOW
};

enum object
{
        APPLE = 0,
        SKY,
        FIRE,
        SUN
};

object color_2_object(unsigned char color);
color object_2_color(unsigned char object);

int main(void)
{
        object object1;
        color  color1;

        cout << "Hello\n";
       
        object1 = color_2_object(YELLOW);
        cout << "color YELLOW matches object: " << object1 << "\n";

        color1 = object_2_color(APPLE);
        cout << "object APPLE matches color: " << color1 << "\n";
}

object color_2_object(unsigned char color)
{
        object local_object = SKY;

        switch(color)
        {
        case        BLUE:
                local_object = SKY;
                break;
        case        RED:
                local_object = FIRE;
                break;
        case        GREEN:
                local_object = APPLE;
                break;
        case        YELLOW:
                local_object = SUN;
                break;
        default:
                break;
        }
        return        local_object;
}

color object_2_color(unsigned char object)
{
        color local_color = GREEN;

        switch(object)
        {
        case        APPLE:
                local_color = GREEN;
                break;
        case        SKY:
                local_color = BLUE;
                break;
        case        FIRE:
                local_color = RED;
                break;
        case        SUN:
                local_color = YELLOW;
                break;
        default:
                break;
        }

        return        local_color;

}

---

I've also come across situations where 'just by chance' the two enums match up and therefore a simple = is used.

Code:

---

enum color
{
        BLUE = 0,
        RED,
        GREEN,
        YELLOW
};

enum object
{
        SKY = 0,
        FIRE,
        APPLE,
        YELLOW
};

color1 = (color)object1;

---

My concern is when or if one or both of the data types are changed. Multiple places (switches) must be changed and I'm trying to think of a good way to avoid this. Is the only solution to create these type of conversion or matching routines? I only tend to need to do the conversion once and therefore a procedure seems a little wasteful. However on the other hand there are many of these data types which I need to convert and I don't like adding many switches in the code.

I've used some simple c++ here so please excuse!
TIA

Are you writing C or C++? This is the C board, and you're posting C++ code.

Moved to right board.

For integer based conversions I think a couple simple conversion functions would be best. Use the switch inside the conversion functions and just call the conversion functions wherever you need to.

You could also use maps if you are converting non-integer data. Load the maps once and then your conversion functions can just do lookups.

Or for enums you can use simple arrays.

But there is no way around the fact that, every time you change the enums, you must remember to update the converter. There simply is no other way - the computer cannot magically know which value goes with which.

Thanks all.
@CornedBee

Quote:

---

Or for enums you can use simple arrays.

---

can you give an example please?

Code:

---

color object_to_color[] = { BLUE, // SKY = 0
                            RED, // FIRE
                            GREEN, // APPLE
                            YELLOW // SUN
};

object color_to_object[] = { SKY, // BLUE = 0
                            FIRE, // RED
                            APPLE, // GREEN
                            SUN // YELLOW
};

object color_2_object(color clr) { return color_to_object[clr]; }
color object_2_color(object obj) { return object_to_color[obj]; }

---

That requires you to keep the arrays accurate and the enums must be contiguous and starting from 0.