How to check if a string starts with a certain character

[garyusenet]

Hello,

Can someone tell me how to check if a string variable starts with a
dash.
' - '

Thanks,
Gary.

[Kalpesh]

Have a look at the docs.
You can use StartsWith method

HTH
Kalpesh

[tony lock]

Ask the string variable all string variables have a StartsWith Method that
returns true or false
ie
string strvar = "-abc";

strvar.StartsWith("-") will return true.
"ga********@myway.com" wrote:

Hello,

Can someone tell me how to check if a string variable starts with a
dash.
' - '

Thanks,
Gary.

[garyusenet]

Sorry I should have been more specifc. I've already discovered
..startswith but can't see how to use it properly.

I want to do something while a string DOES NOT start with a certain
value.

i.e. while the string does not start with a dash '-' do something,
otherwise stop.

any ideas,

thanks.

[garyusenet]

line = sr.ReadLine();
while ((line.StartsWith("-") = false))
{
Console.WriteLine(line);
line = sr.ReadLine();
}

this is what i tried, but i get an error when i add the = false to the
while condition...

[Marc Gravell]

you are using = when you mean ==

while(!StartsWith("-")) is neater, and IMO clearer

Marc

[Lyny]

Any comparaison must use "==", not "="
And any caracter can be read in a string with the "[]"
But of course, in that case, be sure length > 0 or an error will be throw.

<ga********@myway.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
11**********************@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups. com...

line = sr.ReadLine();
while ((line.StartsWith("-") = false))
{
Console.WriteLine(line);
line = sr.ReadLine();
}

this is what i tried, but i get an error when i add the = false to the
while condition...