# enum question **URL:** \ **Category:** Community Support\ **Tags:** kdb-and-q\ **Created:** [November 25, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/enum-question/11371 "2016-11-25T03:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![User7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7ea924/32.png) [@User7](https://forum.kx.com/u/User7)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/enum-question/11371/1 "2016-11-25T03:44:00Z")
ll:“1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3” k)ul:(“1”;“2”;“3”) `ul$ll /type error ul$ll /length error Can enums be done with non symbol lists ? ---
**Author:** ![AquaQMatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@AquaQMatt](https://forum.kx.com/u/AquaQMatt)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 8:19am UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/enum-question/11371/2 "2016-11-25T08:19:00Z")
Hi, Is this perhaps similar to what you’re looking for? **Not** using the build in enum (e:`x$y) q)ll “1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3” q)ul “123” q)show e:ul?ssr[ll;" “;”"]              (ssr to remove the blank space from the string, if you want this enumed then you can keep it in) 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 Regards, Matt ---
**Author:** ![effbiae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@effbiae](https://forum.kx.com/u/effbiae)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 8:32am UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/enum-question/11371/3 "2016-11-25T08:32:00Z")
if it’s just a char, you could use the same char as it’s “code” (1byte + overhead) - do you gain much by enumerating at all? of course, for arbitrary lists, you need a strategy, eg for strings, `$ and enumerate