Hi ALex,You can still use an enum but show a single letter (or a full name) to the user. Our enum BO's just have the following code:
    Private Sub boenBatchTypes_ParentFormLoading() Handles Me.ParentFormLoading
        Dim ColDesc As String = "Description"
        Dim dt As New Data.DataTable
        dt = MicroFour.StrataFrame.Tools.Common.BuildDataTableFromEnum(GetType(UtilEnums.clsEnum.BatchTypes))
        ' Localise Batch names
        For i As Integer = 0 To dt.Rows.Count - 1
            dt.Rows.Item(i).Item(ColDesc) = UtilLocalisation.clsLocalise.Localise(dt.Rows.Item(i).Item(ColDesc).ToString)
        Next
        dt.DefaultView.Sort = ColDesc
        Me.CopyDataFrom(dt.DefaultView.ToTable, MicroFour.StrataFrame.Business.BusinessCloneDataType.ClearAndFillFromCompleteTable)
        dt = Nothing
    End Sub
In this example:
.BuildDataTableFromEnum - standard SF function to extract our "batch name" enums and creates a data table
UtilLocalisation.. - is our own function to localise the enum description.
Me.CopyDataFrom - standard SF sub to load the populate the BO.
Easy as and works a treat.
Cheers, Peter