search text document

[snoopy03]

hi im new to vb.net, i wanted to know how to search a text doc for a user entered character and another search for a user entered word. if the character or word exists, the user needs to be prompted with a message box. i can open a text doc using FileStream and get a message box to appear but im unsure how to find the character or word in the doc.

Cheers
Snoopy

[Slow_Learner]

Check out the String.IndexOf method:

ms-help://MS.VSCC/MS.MSDNVS/cpref/html/frlrfSystemStringClassIndexOfTopic.htm

e.g. something like

Dim strFoo As String = "somestring"
Dim strStringToFind As String = "str"
Dim iIndex As Integer

iIndex = strFoo.IndexOf(strStringToFind)  'iIndex = 4
MsgBox("Found string at position " + iIndex)

[snoopy03]

Originally posted by Slow_Learner
Check out the String.IndexOf method:

ms-help://MS.VSCC/MS.MSDNVS/cpref/html/frlrfSystemStringClassIndexOfTopic.htm

e.g. something like

Dim strFoo As String = "somestring"
Dim strStringToFind As String = "str"
Dim iIndex As Integer

iIndex = strFoo.IndexOf(strStringToFind)  'iIndex = 4
MsgBox("Found string at position " + iIndex)

I tried out your code, this isn't for vb.net is it? I renamed msgbox to messagebox.show bla bla..but it didnt understand the +iIndex) at the end of the line...

its sounds like ur on the right lines (sorry, i have no idea with this heh task of mine)

Cheers
Snoopy

[Slow_Learner]

Well sorry, there was a little bug with the MsgBox line (forgot to convert iIndex to string).

Here's a little project with just this code in it:

[snoopy03]

I have sorted the word search out now! thanks a lot!!! (for sending that string demo)

========================================
So if i searched for a word how would i get the program to tell me how many times that word is present in the document?

[Slow_Learner]

Something like this will work:

        Dim strFoo As String = "aaabbbaaabbbaaabbbaaabbbaaabbbaaabbb"
        Dim strStringToFind As String = "aaa"
        Dim iStartIndex, iFound, iCount As Integer

        iStartIndex = 0

        Do While iFound <> -1
            iFound = strFoo.IndexOf(strStringToFind, iStartIndex)
            If iFound <> -1 Then
                iStartIndex = iFound + strStringToFind.Length
                iCount += 1
            End If
        Loop
        MsgBox("Found string " + CStr(iCount) + " times.")

More complex fiddling with text, especially long strings of text, is probably better done with Regular Expressions. Read:
ms-help://MS.VSCC/MS.MSDNVS/cpguide/html/cpconcomregularexpressions.htm
ms-help://MS.VSCC/MS.MSDNVS/cpguide/html/cpconusingregularexpressionclasses.htm

[snoopy03]

(i dont know if you got the message)

do u have any suggestions; if the word was present in the document; display the word with and without its vowels? getting tough now

Thanks for any help

Snoopy

[Slow_Learner]

Read the RegEx samples:
ms-help://MS.VSCC/MS.MSDNVS/Cpqstart/html/cpsmpnetsamples-howtoregularexpressions.htm

Your problem isn't very hard (take a look at the RegexReplace sample). Time for some elbow grease.

[snoopy03]

hey i had a look at that link it looks a bit complicated and it looks like it deals with nos..maybe it works with letters to..
I found another suggestion (repeating the process for all vowels):

MyString.Remove(CChar("a"), "")

MyString.Remove(CChar("a"), CChar(""))

but the error msg appeared:

An unhandled exception of type 'System.InvalidCastException' occurred in microsoft.visualbasic.dll

Additional information: Cast from string "a" to type 'Integer' is not valid.

then i tried this instead, it didnt like this at all

MyString.Remove("a", "")

hmm any suggestions ?

Snoopy

[Slow_Learner]

MyString.Remove(CChar("a"), "")

Why are you trying to convert "a" to character? Also why are you trying to give String.Remove a character anyhow? Read the docs for String.Remove:

ms-help://MS.VSCC/MS.MSDNVS/cpref/html/frlrfsystemstringclassremovetopic.htm

Note what it expects as parameters.

[shutty]

Regular Expressions arnt that hard once you get your teeth into them and they're very powerful as well. Just give em a chance.