how to count a particular symbol in a file

[nivaz]

hai frnds i am doing my project in VB. i have to count some character sin a file.

for ex

nivaz is new******* here
so plz help him******ok



got that, from that i have to count each and every star in a line and also have to display that in a text box. how to do this help me guys. send ur replys, view to my inbox. thanks

[VBWheaties]

hai frnds i am doing my project in VB. i have to count some character sin a file.

for ex

nivaz is new******* here
so plz help him******ok



got that, from that i have to count each and every star in a line and also have to display that in a text box. how to do this help me guys. send ur replys, view to my inbox. thanks

You want the split function. This will return an array. From an array, you can count how many values there are using UBOUND.

Example:

Dim MyString As String 
Dim Astericks
Dim AsterickCount 
 
MyString = "This is my mother****ing string!!!"
 
Astericks = Split(MyString, "*") 
 
AsterickCount = UBOUND(Astericks)
 

On the other hand, you probably havent learned that function (Split or Ubound).
In that case, you will need to iterate each character in a loop.
I'm certain you were taught Instr and/or Mid.

so..

Dim i As Integer
Dim MyString As String 
Dim iCount as Integer
Dim sChar As String 
 
For i = 1 to Len(MyString) 
   sChar = MID(MyString, i, 1) 
   If sChar = "*" Then 
      iCount = iCount + 1
   End If 
Next i 
 
msgbox "There are " & iCount & " astericks in my string!" 
 
 

[kadghar]

...
I'm certain you were taught Instr and/or Mid.
...

I think Instr could be faster than Mid:

Dim i As Long
Dim MyString As String 
Dim iCount as Integer
Dim sChar As String 
do
    i=instr(i+1,mystring,schar)
    if i = 0 then exit do
    icount = icount+1
loop until i > len(mystring) 'this is just in case the last character of the string is sChar.
msgbox "There are " & iCount & " " & sChar & " in my string!" 
 

Anyway, using split and ubound will make things easier and faster than any of this two.

[kadghar]

Anyway, using split and ubound will make things easier and faster than any of this two.

My mistake, it'll only make things easier. Instr is the fastest, then Mid, and split-ubound is the slowest way (see, i've got so much free time =P):

Sub TimeTest()
Dim a() As String
Dim str1 As String
Dim i As Long
Dim t(2) As Single
Dim r(2) As Long
 
str1 = string(250000,"*")
 
t(0) = Timer
a = Split(str1, "*")
r(0) = UBound(a)
t(0) = Timer - t(0)
 
t(1) = Timer
For i = 1 To Len(str1)
   If Mid(str1, i, 1) = "*" Then
      r(1) = r(1) + 1
   End If
Next i
t(1) = Timer - t(1)
 
t(2) = Timer
i = 0
Do
    i = InStr(i + 1, str1, "*")
    If i = 0 Then Exit Do
    r(2) = r(2) + 1
Loop Until i > Len(str1)
t(2) = Timer - t(2)
MsgBox t(0) & "  -  " & r(0) & Chr(13) _
        & t(1) & "  -  " & r(1) & Chr(13) _
        & t(2) & "  -  " & r(2) & Chr(13)
End Sub

Note : Of course the Split method could be faster if there are only a few * in the string, this will make the array smaller and faster as well. while the MID will be as fast-slow as it is. Anyway, i'd say the Instr is the more convenient.