clap/examples/13b_enum_values_manual.rs

// If you require more complex configuration than simple_enum! provides, you can implement the
// trait manually, as in the following example.
//
// In the following example we will create an enum with 4 values, assign a positional argument
// that accepts only one of those values, and use clap to parse the argument.
//
// Start with bringing the trait into scope.
use std::str::FromStr;

// Add clap like normal
#[macro_use]
extern crate clap;

use clap::{App, Arg};

// Define your enum
enum Vals {
    Foo,
    Bar,
    Baz,
    Qux
}

// Implement the trait
impl FromStr for Vals {
    type Err = &'static str;

    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
        match s {
            "Foo" => Ok(Vals::Foo),
            "Bar" => Ok(Vals::Bar),
            "Baz" => Ok(Vals::Baz),
            "Qux" => Ok(Vals::Qux),
            _     => Err("no match")
        }
    }
}

fn main() {
    // Create the application like normal
    let enum_vals = ["Foo", "Bar", "Baz", "Qux"];
    let m = App::new("myapp")
                    // Use a single positional argument that is required
                    .arg(Arg::from_usage("<type> 'The type to use'")
                            // Define the list of possible values
                            .possible_values(&enum_vals))
                    .get_matches();

    let t = value_t_or_exit!(m.value_of("type"), Vals);

    // Now we can use our enum like normal.
    match t {
        Vals::Foo => println!("Found a Foo"),
        Vals::Bar => println!("Found a Bar"),
        Vals::Baz => println!("Found a Baz"),
        Vals::Qux => println!("Found a Qux")
    }
}