string.split question

[Senthil]

Code
----------------------
string Line = "\"A\",\"B\",\" C\",\"D\"";

string Line2 = Line.Replace("\ ",\"","\"\",\"\ "");

string [] CSVColumns = Line2.Split("\" ,\"".ToCharArra y());

I expect 4 values in my CSVColumns Array ("A", "B", "C", "D"). But it
returns me 18 values with lot of empty strings.

Let me know if I am missing anything.

Thanks

[C# Learner]

On 9 Jun 2004 18:44:35 -0700, Senthil wrote:

Code
----------------------
string Line = "\"A\",\"B\",\" C\",\"D\"";

string Line2 = Line.Replace("\ ",\"","\"\",\"\ "");

string [] CSVColumns = Line2.Split("\" ,\"".ToCharArra y());
The problem is here. You are asking it to split on a set of individual
characters, not on a string. You can't split on a *string* with
String.Split.

Instead, you'll have to use the following:

string [] CSVColumns =
System.Text.Reg ularExpressions .Regex.Split(Li ne2, "\",\"");
I expect 4 values in my CSVColumns Array ("A", "B", "C", "D"). But it
returns me 18 values with lot of empty strings.

In any case, the following achieves the same effect in a more efficient
manner.

string line = "\"A\",\"B\",\" C\",\"D\"";
string[] csvColumns = line.Split(',') ;

[Jerry]

"Senthil" wrote:

Code
----------------------
string Line = "\"A\",\"B\",\" C\",\"D\"";

string Line2 = Line.Replace("\ ",\"","\"\",\"\ "");
Why is this line here? I don't understand the purpose of adding more quotes to your string.
string [] CSVColumns = Line2.Split("\" ,\"".ToCharArra y());

I expect 4 values in my CSVColumns Array ("A", "B", "C", "D"). But it
returns me 18 values with lot of empty strings.

string.Split splits the string on *each* character given. You seem to be expecting "," to be treated as a three-character delimiter, but it's actually three one-character delimiters. The empty strings you're getting are the zero-length strings between the quotes and commas in your input string.

[Justin Rogers]

http://weblogs.asp.net/justin_rogers.../14/89545.aspx

An algorithm for splitting based on string based delimiter.
--
Justin Rogers
DigiTec Web Consultants, LLC.
Blog: http://weblogs.asp.net/justin_rogers

"Jerry" <Je***@discussi ons.microsoft.c om> wrote in message
news:09******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

"Senthil" wrote:

Code
----------------------
string Line = "\"A\",\"B\",\" C\",\"D\"";

string Line2 = Line.Replace("\ ",\"","\"\",\"\ "");
Why is this line here? I don't understand the purpose of adding more quotes to

your string.

string [] CSVColumns = Line2.Split("\" ,\"".ToCharArra y());

I expect 4 values in my CSVColumns Array ("A", "B", "C", "D"). But it
returns me 18 values with lot of empty strings.

string.Split splits the string on *each* character given. You seem to be

expecting "," to be treated as a three-character delimiter, but it's actually
three one-character delimiters. The empty strings you're getting are the
zero-length strings between the quotes and commas in your input string.

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Senthil,
In addition to the other comments.

There are three Split functions in .NET:

Use Microsoft.Visua lBasic.Strings. Split if you need to split a string based
on a specific word (string). It is the Split function from VB6.

Use System.String.S plit if you need to split a string based on a collection
of specific characters. Each individual character is its own delimiter.

Use System.Text.Reg ularExpressions .RegEx.Split to split based
on matching patterns.
By referencing the Microsoft.Visua lBasic assembly in C# you can use the
Strings.Split function to split a string based on a word.

Something like:
string [] CSVColumns = Strings.Split(L ine2, "\",\"", -1,
CompareMethod.B inary);

Hope this helps
Jay
"Senthil" <se***********@ yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:46******** *************** **@posting.goog le.com...

Code
----------------------
string Line = "\"A\",\"B\",\" C\",\"D\"";

string Line2 = Line.Replace("\ ",\"","\"\",\"\ "");

string [] CSVColumns = Line2.Split("\" ,\"".ToCharArra y());

I expect 4 values in my CSVColumns Array ("A", "B", "C", "D"). But it
returns me 18 values with lot of empty strings.

Let me know if I am missing anything.

Thanks

[Senthil]

"Jerry" <Je***@discussi ons.microsoft.c om> wrote in message news:<09******* *************** ************@mi crosoft.com>...

"Senthil" wrote:

Code
----------------------
string Line = "\"A\",\"B\",\" C\",\"D\"";

string Line2 = Line.Replace("\ ",\"","\"\",\"\ "");

Why is this line here? I don't understand the purpose of adding more quotes to your string.

string [] CSVColumns = Line2.Split("\" ,\"".ToCharArra y());

I expect 4 values in my CSVColumns Array ("A", "B", "C", "D"). But it
returns me 18 values with lot of empty strings.

string.Split splits the string on *each* character given. You seem to be expecting "," to be treated as a three-character delimiter, but it's actually three one-character delimiters. The empty strings you're getting are the zero-length strings between the quotes and commas in your input string.

I am trying to break a csv file. I can't break it by comma as one of
column value itself can have a comma. So, I am replacing all "," with
"","" and break it by ",". That is the reason I have to do that
replace. Now I understood what I missed. Thanks for your help. I will
use the method suggested in the previous message.

Thanks

Senthil

[Justin Rogers]

int offset = 0;
int[] offsets = new int[input.Length];

int quotes = 0;
for(int i = 0; i < input.Length; i++) {
if ( input[i] == '\"' ) { quotes++; }
else if ( input[i] == ',' && quotes % 2 == 0 ) {
offsets[offset++] = i;
}
}

The breaker above should use matching quotes to decide wether or not the comma
can be a splitting character. The values left in offsets can then be used to
grab out
particular columns as needed or can be used to provide a full string[] split.
--
Justin Rogers
DigiTec Web Consultants, LLC.
Blog: http://weblogs.asp.net/justin_rogers

"Senthil" <se***********@ yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:46******** *************** **@posting.goog le.com...

"Jerry" <Je***@discussi ons.microsoft.c om> wrote in message news:<09******* *************** ************@mi crosoft.com>...

"Senthil" wrote:

Code
----------------------
string Line = "\"A\",\"B\",\" C\",\"D\"";

string Line2 = Line.Replace("\ ",\"","\"\",\"\ "");

Why is this line here? I don't understand the purpose of adding more quotes to your string.

string [] CSVColumns = Line2.Split("\" ,\"".ToCharArra y());

I expect 4 values in my CSVColumns Array ("A", "B", "C", "D"). But it
returns me 18 values with lot of empty strings.

string.Split splits the string on *each* character given. You seem to be

expecting "," to be treated as a three-character delimiter, but it's actually
three one-character delimiters. The empty strings you're getting are the
zero-length strings between the quotes and commas in your input string.
I am trying to break a csv file. I can't break it by comma as one of
column value itself can have a comma. So, I am replacing all "," with
"","" and break it by ",". That is the reason I have to do that
replace. Now I understood what I missed. Thanks for your help. I will
use the method suggested in the previous message.

Thanks

Senthil