Searching for text in a text file

[<ABX]

ok from what I see the file looks like this:

LastName
FirstName
CustomerNumber
LastName
FirstName
CustomerNumber
...

This should do the trick:

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:

'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