Public Class ClassUtils
    ''' <summary>
    ''' Generates a random short (8 characters) guid
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <returns>The generated guid as a String</returns>
    Public Shared Function ShortGUID() As String
        Return Guid.NewGuid().ToString().GetHashCode().ToString("x")
    End Function

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Converts a String value to the given Enum
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <typeparam name="T">The Enum Type</typeparam>
    ''' <param name="value">The string value to convert</param>
    Public Shared Function ToEnum(Of T)(value As String) As T
        Return [Enum].Parse(GetType(T), value)
    End Function
End Class