Searching for text in a text file

Hi, this will probably be simple for you guys but, I'm trying to search a text file for a last name, and then display the corresponding info underneath the name from the text file such as phone number, address, etc...After it finds it, it then displays it neatly in a windows form. I can't get it to work though..this is what I have so far.

VB Code:

Private Sub btnSearch_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnSearch.Click
        Dim input As String 'What I'm searching for
        Dim friendFile As System.IO.StreamReader
        friendFile = System.IO.File.OpenText("database.txt")
        'Use an input box to gain the search string
        input = InputBox("Enter the last name of the data you'd like to see.", "Enter Last Name")
        
        'This will only return true if I search for the first name in the text file, but I want it to be able to go down the entire text file
Do            
If friendFile.ReadLine = input.ToUpper Then
                txtLastName.Text = input.ToUpper
                txtFirstName.Text = friendFile.ReadLine()
                txtCustNumber.Text = friendFile.ReadLine()
            Else : MessageBox.Show("Customer not found.", "Error")
            End If
    Loop Until friendFile.ReadLine() <> input.ToUpper
    End Sub

Hi,

This will become an unended job if your file is not formatted properly. I think you are going to write the file right. While writing in the file write it with specific format. Then read the file in the same format, loop thru it once you find your name, display the coresponding values.

-Jai

can you post a chunk of the file(doesnt need to contant sensitive data just the proper formatting)

Did you make this file? If so use a Database (access or SQL) or XML

OK, I got it to find and display the records from the text file that I want, however, I can't get the error box to display correctly if the user inputs the last name of a customer who doesn't exist.

The problem is that once it finds the record from the text file, it then continues to loop through until the end of the text file, while displaying an error message for every line that doesn't match before and after the correct record. How do I stop the loop once it has found the customer I want? Thanks for any help you may have.

VB Code:

Private Sub btnSearch_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnSearch.Click
        Dim input As String
        Dim friendFile As System.IO.StreamReader
        friendFile = System.IO.File.OpenText("database.txt")
        input = InputBox("Enter the last name of the data you'd like to see.", "Enter Last Name")
        Do Until friendFile.Peek = -1
            If friendFile.ReadLine = input.ToUpper Then
                txtLastName.Text = input.ToUpper 'Display input in first text box
                txtFirstName.Text = friendFile.ReadLine() 'Display first name of customer in second text box
                txtCustNumber.Text = friendFile.ReadLine() 'Display customer number in third text box
            Else : MessageBox.Show("Customer not found.", "Error")
            End If
        Loop
    End Sub

ok from what I see the file looks like this:

Code:

---

LastName
FirstName
CustomerNumber
LastName
FirstName
CustomerNumber
...

---

This should do the trick:

VB Code:

Public Structure Customer
        Dim LastName As String
        Dim FirstName As String
        Dim CustomerNumber As String
    End Structure
 
    Public Function FindCustomer(ByRef CustomerInfo As Customer) As Boolean
        Dim sr As New System.IO.StreamReader("Database.txt")
 
        Dim strFile() As String = Split(sr.ReadToEnd, vbCrLf)
 
        Dim I As Integer
 
        For I = 0 To strFile.GetUpperBound(0) Step 3 ' Stepping 3 always makes sure we land on a last name
            If strFile(I).ToUpper = CustomerInfo.LastName.ToUpper Then
 
                CustomerInfo.FirstName = strFile(I + 1)
                CustomerInfo.CustomerNumber = strFile(I + 2)
                'we found what we were looking for now lets not waste any time :D
                Return True
            End If
 
        Next
 
    End Function

now to use this:

VB Code:

'Put this in ur btnSearch's Click event
        Dim CustomerToFind As Customer
 
        CustomerToFind.LastName = InputBox("Please Type Customer Name: ", "Find Customer")
 
        If FindCustomer(CustomerToFind) = True Then
            'We Found a Customer
            MsgBox(CustomerToFind.LastName & ", " & CustomerToFind.FirstName & " was Found!" & vbCrLf & _
                "Customer Number: " & CustomerToFind.CustomerNumber, MsgBoxStyle.Information, "Customer Found!")
        Else
            MsgBox("Customer not Found!")
        End If

Awesome, it worked great!!!!!!! Now maybe I can watch football on sunday in peace...