Getting text from within a string

[jcrouse]

I’m using VB .Net 2003. I am reading a file into memory. Here is a sniplet of the file

[88games
gamename='88 Game
numPlayers=
alternating=
mirrored=
tilt=
usesService=
miscDetails=Thi s is a 4 player team type game where 2 players compete each tim
P1NumButtons=
P1Controls=Just Buttons+butto
P1_BUTTON1=Ru
P1_BUTTON2=Jum
P1_BUTTON3=Ru

[005
gamename=00
numPlayers=
alternating=
mirrored=
tilt=
usesService=
miscDetails
P1NumButtons=
P1Controls=4-way Joystick+joy4wa
P1_BUTTON1=Fir
P1_JOYSTICK_UP= U
P1_JOYSTICK_DOW N=Dow
P1_JOYSTICK_LEF T=Lef
P1_JOYSTICK_RIG HT=Righ

[yard

It is quite large. Anyways. Now that I have it into a variable I would like to pull out a specific section into another variable. Say the “[005]� section. I have the code returning what character the string “[005]� starts at but don’t know the command or syntax to start at a certain character number (which I have) and then read until the first blank line then put it into another variable

After that I want to do the same thing, kind of, and put the parts after the “=� sign into separate labels that I have on my form

What is my best way to accomplish this

Thank you
Joh

[Tom Shelton]

In article <06************ *************** *******@microso ft.com>, jcrouse wrote:

I?m using VB .Net 2003. I am reading a file into memory. Here is a sniplet of the file:

[88games]
gamename='88 Games
numPlayers=2
alternating=0
mirrored=1
tilt=0
usesService=0
miscDetails=Thi s is a 4 player team type game where 2 players compete each time
P1NumButtons=3
P1Controls=Just Buttons+button
P1_BUTTON1=Run
P1_BUTTON2=Jump
P1_BUTTON3=Run

[005]
gamename=005
numPlayers=2
alternating=1
mirrored=1
tilt=0
usesService=0
miscDetails=
P1NumButtons=1
P1Controls=4-way Joystick+joy4wa y
P1_BUTTON1=Fire
P1_JOYSTICK_UP= Up
P1_JOYSTICK_DOW N=Down
P1_JOYSTICK_LEF T=Left
P1_JOYSTICK_RIG HT=Right

[yard]

It is quite large. Anyways. Now that I have it into a variable I would like to pull out a specific section into another variable. Say the ?[005]? section. I have the code returning what character the string ?[005]? starts at but don?t know the command or syntax to start at a certain character number (which I have) and then read until the first blank line then put it into another variable.

After that I want to do the same thing, kind of, and put the parts after the ?=? sign into separate labels that I have on my form.

What is my best way to accomplish this?

Thank you,
John

Hmm, looks like a standard windows ini file... Personally, I would
suggest using P/Invoke to call GetPrivateProfi leString to get the pieces
you want. Others may disagree, but why write a parsing routine for
something the system already handles:)

Private Declare Auto Function GetPrivateProfi leString Lib "kernel32" _
(ByVal lpAppName As String, _
ByVal lpKeyName As String, _
ByVal lpDefault As String, _
ByVal lpReturnedStrin g As System.Text.Str ingBuilder, _
ByVal nSize As Integer, _
ByVal lpFileName As String) As Integer

You can read an entire section into a single buffer by passing Nothing
to the lpKeyName parameter. It will fill the buffer with all keys in
the section separated by null chars...

You're other option is to look into System.Text.Reg ularExpressions to
extract the piece of data you would like from the string...

--
Tom Shelton [MVP]

[Sven Groot]

jcrouse wrote:

I'm using VB .Net 2003. I am reading a file into memory. Here is a
sniplet of the file:
<omitted>

It is quite large. Anyways. Now that I have it into a variable I
would like to pull out a specific section into another variable. Say
the "[005]" section. I have the code returning what character the
string "[005]" starts at but don't know the command or syntax to
start at a certain character number (which I have) and then read
until the first blank line then put it into another variable.
You probably don't want to be doing this in memory, especially since you say
the file is quite large.
Why not instead read the file line by line using StreamReader.Re adLine, and
parse the file as you go. Just keep reading lines and discarding them until
you get the line that reads "[005]", then read the lines after that parsing
them until you get to a blank line.
After that I want to do the same thing, kind of, and put the parts
after the "=" sign into separate labels that I have on my form.

You'd want to use String.Split for that.

--
Sven Groot

http://unforgiven.bloghorn.com

[jcrouse]

That's all well and dandy but I need code. As earlier stated, I can't seem to store or retrieve anything but the starting character numer of the beginning of the matching expression. How do I do a StreamReader.Re adLine and then put it into a varaible or label.text property

Thank you
John

[jcrouse]

What do I do with your sample code. Pardon me for asking, I'm a little confused and new at this. How do I invoke it in startup? I obviously need to fill the variables somehow

HELP
John

[jcrouse]

Tom....Here is my code. It keeps underlining the word declare and saying that "Keyword is not valid as an identifier"? I'm stumped

Joh
Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArg s) Handles btn1.Clic

Public Declare Function GetPrivateProfi leString Lib "kernel32"
(ByVal lpAppName As String,
ByVal lpKeyName As String,
ByVal lpDefault As String,
ByVal lpReturnedStrin g As System.Text.Str ingBuilder,
ByVal nSize As Integer,
ByVal lpFileName As String) As Intege

lpAppName = lblInput.Tex
lpKeyName = "P1_BUTTON1
lpDefault = "
lpReturnedStrin g = (256
lpNsize = Len(lpReturnedS tring
lpFileName = "C:\CPViewer\Co ntrols.ini
End Su

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

John,
Put the declare outside the Sub! As the Declare is used to declare a
Function or a Sub that is external to the program, remember that VB does not
allow subs & functions to be nested inside of other subs or functions.

Public Declare Function GetPrivateProfi leString Lib "kernel32" _
(ByVal lpAppName As String, _
ByVal lpKeyName As String, _
ByVal lpDefault As String, _
ByVal lpReturnedStrin g As System.Text.Str ingBuilder, _
ByVal nSize As Integer, _
ByVal lpFileName As String) As Integer Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArg s) Handles btn1.Click
Hope this helps
Jay

"jcrouse" <an*******@disc ussions.microso ft.com> wrote in message
news:BF******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Tom....Here is my code. It keeps underlining the word declare and saying that "Keyword is not valid as an identifier"? I'm stumped.
John

Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArg s) Handles btn1.Click
Public Declare Function GetPrivateProfi leString Lib "kernel32" _
(ByVal lpAppName As String, _
ByVal lpKeyName As String, _
ByVal lpDefault As String, _
ByVal lpReturnedStrin g As System.Text.Str ingBuilder, _
ByVal nSize As Integer, _
ByVal lpFileName As String) As Integer

lpAppName = lblInput.Text
lpKeyName = "P1_BUTTON1 "
lpDefault = ""
lpReturnedStrin g = (256)
lpNsize = Len(lpReturnedS tring)
lpFileName = "C:\CPViewer\Co ntrols.ini"
End Sub

[jcrouse]

Well...here's my code

Private Declare Auto Function GetPrivateProfi leString Lib "kernel32"
(ByVal lpAppName As String,
ByVal lpKeyName As String,
ByVal lpDefault As String,
ByVal lpReturnedStrin g As System.Text.Str ingBuilder,
ByVal lpNsize As Integer,
ByVal lpFileName As String) As Intege

Dim x As Lon

Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArg s) Handles btn1.Clic

lpAppName = "1942
lpKeyName = "P1_BUTTON1
lpDefault = "
lpReturnedStrin g = (256
lpNsize = Len(lpReturnedS tring
lpFileName = "C:\CPViewer\Co ntrols.ini

x = GetPrivateProfi leString(lpAppN ame, lpKeyName, lpDefault, lpReturnedStrin g, lpNsize, lpFileName

lblOutput.Text =

End Su

Now I get an error on button click that says

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Invalid CastException' occurred in WindowsApplicat ion2.ex
Additional information: Specified cast is not valid

Anymore ideas? I'm close here. I think the parameters for the buffer may be wrong
John

[Brian W]

see inline...
"jcrouse" <an*******@disc ussions.microso ft.com> wrote in message
news:84******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

Well...here's my code:

Private Declare Auto Function GetPrivateProfi leString Lib "kernel32" _
(ByVal lpAppName As String, _
ByVal lpKeyName As String, _
ByVal lpDefault As String, _
ByVal lpReturnedStrin g As System.Text.Str ingBuilder, _
ByVal lpNsize As Integer, _
ByVal lpFileName As String) As Integer

Dim x As Long

Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArg s) Handles btn1.Click
lpAppName = "1942"
lpKeyName = "P1_BUTTON1 "
lpDefault = ""
lpReturnedStrin g = (256) <<==== what is this?????
try instead
lpReturnedStrin g = New System.Text.Str ingBuilder(256)

then this lpNsize = Len(lpReturnedS tring)
becomes
lpNsize = 256

or if you like

lpNsize = lpReturnedStrin g.Length
lpFileName = "C:\CPViewer\Co ntrols.ini"

x = GetPrivateProfi leString(lpAppN ame, lpKeyName, lpDefault, lpReturnedStrin g, lpNsize, lpFileName)
lblOutput.Text = x

End Sub

Now I get an error on button click that says:

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Invalid CastException' occurred in WindowsApplicat ion2.exe Additional information: Specified cast is not valid.

Anymore ideas? I'm close here. I think the parameters for the buffer may be wrong. John

[Tom Shelton]

On Wed, 26 May 2004 19:16:03 -0700, jcrouse wrote:

Tom....Here is my code. It keeps underlining the word declare and saying that "Keyword is not valid as an identifier"? I'm stumped.

John

Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArg s) Handles btn1.Click

Public Declare Function GetPrivateProfi leString Lib "kernel32" _
(ByVal lpAppName As String, _
ByVal lpKeyName As String, _
ByVal lpDefault As String, _
ByVal lpReturnedStrin g As System.Text.Str ingBuilder, _
ByVal nSize As Integer, _
ByVal lpFileName As String) As Integer

lpAppName = lblInput.Text
lpKeyName = "P1_BUTTON1 "
lpDefault = ""
lpReturnedStrin g = (256)
lpNsize = Len(lpReturnedS tring)
lpFileName = "C:\CPViewer\Co ntrols.ini"
End Sub

Public Declare Function GetPrivateProfi leString Lib "kernel32" _
(ByVal lpAppName As String, _
ByVal lpKeyName As String, _
ByVal lpDefault As String, _
ByVal lpReturnedStrin g As System.Text.Str ingBuilder, _
ByVal nSize As Integer, _
ByVal lpFileName As String) As Integer

Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, _
ByVal e As System.EventArg s) Handles btn1.Click

Dim lpReturnedStrin g As New System.Text.Str ingBuilder(256)

GetPrivateProfi leString( _
"88games",
"P1_BUTTON1 ",
String.Empty,
lpReturnedStrin g,
lpReturnedStrin g.Capacity,
"C:\CPViewer\Co ntrols.ini"

MessageBox.Show ("P1_BUTTON1 =" & lpReturnedStrin g.ToString())
End Sub

HTH
--
Tom Shelton [MVP]