Question About Text Files

[JonSea31]

If I had two text files: one that contains a question, and the other that contains a series of answers, in the same fashion as Family Feud, and if the questions in the questions.txt file go like this:

1,Tell me a man's name that starts with the letter K.
2,Name a food that's red on the inside.
3,Name a famous Bob.

And the answers in the answers.txt file go like this, for example:

1,Kenneth/Ken,36
1,Keith,21
1,Kevin,13
1,Kyle,7
2,Watermelon,42
2,Strawberry,27
2,Tomato,17
2,Raw Beef/Steak,3
3,Bob Hope,28
3,Bob Barker,24
3,Bob Dylan,19
3,Bob Newhart,12
3,Bob Saget,7
3,Bob Marley,4
3,Bob Denver,2
3,Bob Eubanks,2

If the first number on each line of the text files represents the question ID number in the questions.txt file, how do I retrieve the answers for that corresponding question number in the answers.txt file in order from top to bottom, and display them in a text label in VB?

Also, if I were to count each instance of answers for that corresponding question number, how do I do it?

[Zvoni]

Have you thought about using the INI-System?
The Question-No. would be the Section, the Answers the keys, and the Value would be the value to the Key(s)

'INI-File "answers.ini"
[1]
Kenneth_Ken = 36
Keith = 21
Kevin = 23
Kyle = 7
[2]
Watermelon = 42
Strawberry = 27
Tomato = 17
Steak = 3
[3]
Bob_Hope = 28
Bob_Barker = 24
....

[JonSea31]

Actually, I have the database done already and I have thousands of questions and corresponding answers up to this point (and more coming). so creating the INI format would create more work than I need, since I would have to redo the database for thousands of questions (about 5,000, to be exact), and redoing the database in INI format would be quite time-consuming in fact.

But thanks anyways, Zvoni. If anybody can please help me out with my original question, that would be a great help.

[Zvoni]

The only way i can think of is to run through your answers-file sequentially, do a split on each line with comma as separator, compare arrLine(0) if it is your question-No.
If yes, read arrLine(1) and arrLine(2) (Answer and Value).

Problem: For a question which is at the end of your file (Say you have 1000 Questions) and you want to retrieve the answers for Question 967....... i think you see your problem.

You have to rework your answer-file into the INI-Format only once.

EDIT: After thinking on it, a "real" database (even if it's just Access) might be a better solution, since you could then use simple SQL-Queries
SELECT Answer, Value FROM AnswerTable WHERE QuestionID = 3

[Doogle]

I must admit, I'm a great 'lover' of ini files, and for this particular application (which would be better suited to a 'proper' SQL Database) would give you direct access to required answers, given the question number.

How about a little conversion utility to convert from your csv approach to an ini format ?

Option Explicit

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim strData As String
Dim strAnswer() As String
Dim strInFile As String
Dim strOutFile As String
Dim intFileIn As Integer
Dim intFileOut As Integer
Dim intLast As Integer
strInFile = "C:\MyDir\Answers.txt"
strOutFile = "C:\MyDir\Answers.ini"
intFileIn = FreeFile
Open strInFile For Input As intFileIn
intFileOut = FreeFile
Open strOutFile For Output As intFileOut
Do
    Line Input #intFileIn, strData
    strAnswer = Split(strData, ",")
    If CInt(strAnswer(0)) <> intLast Then
        Print #intFileOut, "[" & strAnswer(0) & "]"
        intLast = CInt(strAnswer(0))
    End If
    Print #intFileOut, strAnswer(1) & " = " & strAnswer(2)
Loop Until EOF(intFileIn)
Close intFileIn
Close intFileOut
MsgBox "Conversion Complete"
End Sub

[JonSea31]

I must admit, I'm a great 'lover' of ini files, and for this particular application (which would be better suited to a 'proper' SQL Database) would give you direct access to required answers, given the question number.

How about a little conversion utility to convert from your csv approach to an ini format ?

Option Explicit

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim strData As String
Dim strAnswer() As String
Dim strInFile As String
Dim strOutFile As String
Dim intFileIn As Integer
Dim intFileOut As Integer
Dim intLast As Integer
strInFile = "C:\MyDir\Answers.txt"
strOutFile = "C:\MyDir\Answers.ini"
intFileIn = FreeFile
Open strInFile For Input As intFileIn
intFileOut = FreeFile
Open strOutFile For Output As intFileOut
Do
    Line Input #intFileIn, strData
    strAnswer = Split(strData, ",")
    If CInt(strAnswer(0)) <> intLast Then
        Print #intFileOut, "[" & strAnswer(0) & "]"
        intLast = CInt(strAnswer(0))
    End If
    Print #intFileOut, strAnswer(1) & " = " & strAnswer(2)
Loop Until EOF(intFileIn)
Close intFileIn
Close intFileOut
MsgBox "Conversion Complete"
End Sub

I will definitely give that a try, Doogle. Thanks!

Once I get the answer file converted to .ini format, how would the program be able to rank the answers from top to bottom (from #1 at the top to the lowest-ranked answer), and how would the question number be located based on what question ID number was randomly selected, since the question ID number is within square brackets, and how would the answers and their numeric values be placed in text labels?

LIke, say, if the program were to select Question ID #2 in the Questions.txt file, and in the answers.ini file, there are 4 answers on the survey. If the program were to look for Question ID #2 in the answers.ini file, and then look for the answers below it right until the first square bracket below the lowest-ranking answer, and display each answer and corresponding value in their own respective text labels, how would I do it?

[SamOscarBrown]

JonSea....How would you like to share that db?
I built a Family Feud Game, but have nowhere near the same number of Qs & As....just asking...Sammi
(Sorry for the interuption guys....)

EDIT: OR the text files...I can load into my db (access).

[Zvoni]

Read all Keys from your section (=Question-No., Say Question 3), put them in a two-dimensional array, send that array to a sorting-function to sort it by value (in this case the second dimension)
Then you would be always on the right side and not depending that your entries in the INI-File are in the correct order (from Top to Bottom)

There are some more API's to read information from INI-Files (Get All section Names, Get all Keys within one section etc.), and Doogle is the man to know for it ;-)

[JonSea31]

Well, I could try creating the INI file and trying to figure out how to retrieve the lines of code and place them in the appropriate text labels, but I will need Doogle's help on this task.

As for right now, I think the Access Database is probably a good idea at this point, just for the time being. But if somebody can help me out with the retrieving of data from the INI file, I would appreciate that greatly.

And what does two-dimensional array mean? What format is used to denote the two-dimensional array? Something along the lines of strAns(#, #)?

[Doogle]

Here's something to get you going

Option Explicit

Private Declare Function GetPrivateProfileSection Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetPrivateProfileSectionA" _
                    (ByVal lpAppName As String, _
                     ByVal lpReturnedString As String, _
                     ByVal nSize As Long, _
                     ByVal lpFileName As String) As Long
                     

Private Const ANSWER_FILE As String = "C:\MyDir\Answers.ini"

Private Function GetSortedAnswers(strQuestion As String) As String()
Dim strBuffer As String
Dim strTemp As String
Dim strTemp1 As String
Dim strInfo() As String
Dim strData() As String
Dim strT() As String
Dim lngLen As Long
Dim lngALen As Long
Dim intI As Integer
Dim intJ As Integer
Do
    lngLen = lngLen + 100
    strBuffer = Space(lngLen)
    lngALen = GetPrivateProfileSection(strQuestion, strBuffer, lngLen, ANSWER_FILE)
Loop Until lngALen <> lngLen - 2
strInfo = Split(strBuffer, Chr(0))
ReDim strData(UBound(strInfo) - 2, 1)
For intI = 0 To UBound(strInfo) - 2
    strT = Split(strInfo(intI), "=")
    strData(intI, 0) = Trim$(strT(0))
    strData(intI, 1) = Trim$(strT(1))
Next intI
For intI = UBound(strData, 1) To 0 Step -1
    For intJ = 0 To intI - 1
        If CInt(strData(intJ, 1)) < CInt(strData(intJ + 1, 1)) Then
            strTemp = strData(intJ, 0)
            strTemp1 = strData(intJ, 1)
            strData(intJ, 0) = strData(intJ + 1, 0)
            strData(intJ, 1) = strData(intJ + 1, 1)
            strData(intJ + 1, 0) = strTemp
            strData(intJ + 1, 1) = strTemp1
        End If
    Next intJ
Next intI
GetSortedAnswers = strData
End Function

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim strA() As String
Dim intI As Integer
strA = GetSortedAnswers("3")
For intI = 0 To UBound(strA, 1)
    Debug.Print strA(intI, 0), strA(intI, 1)
Next intI
End Sub

After converting your example to a .ini format the results were

Bob Hope      28
Bob Barker    24
Bob Dylan     19
Bob Newhart   12
Bob Saget     7
Bob Marley    4
Bob Denver    2
Bob Eubanks   2

EDIT: If you want them in ascending order then change

        If CInt(strData(intJ, 1)) < CInt(strData(intJ + 1, 1)) Then

to

        If CInt(strData(intJ, 1)) > CInt(strData(intJ + 1, 1)) Then

(Can't believe only 19 remembered Bob Dylan )

[Doogle]

And what does two-dimensional array mean? What format is used to denote the two-dimensional array? Something along the lines of strAns(#, #)?

Conceptually you can think of a 2D array as a Grid. One dimension representing the Rows and the other the Columns. Each element is identified by it's row and column number.

You'd define a static 2D array like 'Dim strArray(5,1)' which would define a Grid of 6 X 2 elements. It's completely up to you as to whether you consider it having 6 rows and 2 columns or 6 columns and 2 rows - but once you've made the decision you have to stick with it for that particular array.

Similarly, you can think of a 3D array as a cubic with each element having a row, column and 'depth' (eg. Dim strArray(x,y,z)) and a 4D array as a row of cubics each element having the row number containing the cubic, and a row, a column and a depth within that cubic (eg. Dim strArray(r,x,y,z)). A 5D array would be a grid of cubics(eg. Dim strArray(r,c,x,y,z)) and a 6D array a cubic of cubics (eg. Dim strArray(r,c,d,x,y,z)), after that it gets a bit difficult to visualise.

[JonSea31]

I did convert the contents of the Answers.txt file to .ini format, plus I got the contents of each answer to a question added to a control array. Thanks!

Now, Doogle, I have one more question before I mark this thread resolved: If I were to open two text files (Questions.txt and Answers.txt) and consolidate the question and survey answers into one area, so that it appears like this:

[1]
Tell me a man's name that starts with the letter K. <== from Questions.txt
Kenneth/Ken = 36 <== from Answers.txt
Keith = 21 <== from Answers.txt
Kevin = 13 <== from Answers.txt
Kyle = 7 <== from Answers.txt
[2]
Name a food that's red on the inside.
Watermelon = 42
Strawberry = 27
Tomato = 17
Raw Beef/Steak = 3
[3]
Name a famous Bob.
Bob Hope = 28
Bob Barker = 24
Bob Dylan = 19
Bob Newhart = 12
Bob Saget = 7
Bob Marley = 4
Bob Denver = 2
Bob Eubanks = 2

What would be a good way to code it?

[SamOscarBrown]

I found it is so much simpler using a small database for something like this. And, instead of two tables, I use just one (the queries to retrieve a q and n answers takes NO time of course). Thanks to you my DB now has about 7000 records, each one having fields for the answers and values. So, When I query for an answer, brigns back just one record's worth of fields. I HATE parsing text files...you never know what kind of 'character' may be lurking in there. :-)
I hope Doog can answer you, as I am sure you are well beyond wanting to use a database approach.

But if you did, here is a very small sample of the one I use for my FF project: (Notice, I have 8 'rounds', 3 rounds (instead of 4 as in TV show(s)), and 5 questions (I call rounds in the DB) to use in the 'fast money' "round".

Attachment 106517

[Doogle]

What would be a good way to code it?

The simplest method might be to use

[1]
Question = Tell me a man's name that starts with the letter K.
Kenneth/Ken = 36
Keith = 21
Kevin = 13
Kyle = 7
[2]
Question = Name a food that's red on the inside.
Watermelon = 42
Strawberry = 27
Tomato = 17
Raw Beef/Steak = 3
[3]
Question = Name a famous Bob.
Bob Hope = 28
Bob Barker = 24
Bob Dylan = 19
Bob Newhart = 12
Bob Saget = 7
Bob Marley = 4
Bob Denver = 2
Bob Eubanks = 2

and

Option Explicit

Private Declare Function GetPrivateProfileSection Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetPrivateProfileSectionA" _
                    (ByVal lpAppName As String, _
                     ByVal lpReturnedString As String, _
                     ByVal nSize As Long, _
                     ByVal lpFileName As String) As Long
                     

Private Const ANSWER_FILE As String = "C:\MyDir\Answers.ini"

Private Function GetQuestionAndSortedAnswers(strQuestionNumber As String, strQ As String) As String()
Dim strBuffer As String
Dim strTemp As String
Dim strTemp1 As String
Dim strInfo() As String
Dim strData() As String
Dim strT() As String
Dim lngLen As Long
Dim lngALen As Long
Dim intI As Integer
Dim intJ As Integer
Do
    lngLen = lngLen + 100
    strBuffer = Space(lngLen)
    lngALen = GetPrivateProfileSection(strQuestionNumber, strBuffer, lngLen, ANSWER_FILE)
Loop Until lngALen <> lngLen - 2
strInfo = Split(strBuffer, Chr(0))
ReDim strData(UBound(strInfo) - 3, 1)
Do
    strT = Split(strInfo(intI), "=")
    If UCase(Trim$(strT(0))) <> "QUESTION" Then
        strData(intJ, 0) = Trim$(strT(0))
        strData(intJ, 1) = Trim$(strT(1))
        intJ = intJ + 1
    Else
        strQ = Trim$(strT(1))
    End If
    intI = intI + 1
Loop Until intJ > UBound(strData, 1)
For intI = UBound(strData, 1) To 0 Step -1
    For intJ = 0 To intI - 1
        If CInt(strData(intJ, 1)) < CInt(strData(intJ + 1, 1)) Then
            strTemp = strData(intJ, 0)
            strTemp1 = strData(intJ, 1)
            strData(intJ, 0) = strData(intJ + 1, 0)
            strData(intJ, 1) = strData(intJ + 1, 1)
            strData(intJ + 1, 0) = strTemp
            strData(intJ + 1, 1) = strTemp1
        End If
    Next intJ
Next intI
GetQuestionAndSortedAnswers = strData
End Function

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim strA() As String
Dim strQ As String
Dim intI As Integer
strA = GetQuestionAndSortedAnswers("3", strQ)
Debug.Print "Question: "; strQ
For intI = 0 To UBound(strA, 1)
    Debug.Print strA(intI, 0), strA(intI, 1)
Next intI
End Sub