[RESOLVED] Stream Reader

[hawksfan03]

What I am doing is using a stream reader to read data from a file each line of the file contains 3 parts:
ToolCode,Description,Price
Obviously I am using the "," as the delimiter character
I would like to split up the three parts into three separate arrays. I have a textbox set up where the user inputs a toolcode (must match exactly) and i would like it to display the description and the price in separate textboxes. I know where my problem resides I just can't find anything that tells me how to define the variable properly.
This is the code for the Load Event:

'Declare variables and constants
        Dim strFileName As String
        Dim strLine As String
        Dim chrDelimiter As Char
 
        'Declare delimiter character
        chrDelimiter = ","
 
        strFileName = CurDir() & "\tools.txt"
        Dim srdReadFile As System.IO.StreamReader = New System.IO.StreamReader(strFileName)
 
        Do Until srdReadFile.peek = -1
            ReDim Preserve strToolCode(intNumTools) = strFields(0) 'I realize this is illegal but how do I define this so that I can display it later?
            ReDim Preserve strDescription(intNumTools)
            ReDim Preserve decPrices(intNumTools)
            strLine = srdReadFile.ReadLine
            strFields = strLine.Split(chrDelimiter)
            intNumTools = intNumTools + 1
        Loop
 
        'Close file
        FileClose()

This is the search button code:

'Declare variables
        Dim intCounter As Integer
        Dim intResults As Integer
        Dim strFindToolCode As String
        Dim blnFound As Boolean
        Dim intPartIndex As Integer
        Dim intNumRecords As Integer
 
        strFindToolCode = CStr(txtToolCode.Text)
        blnFound = False
 
        For intCounter = 0 To intNumTools - 1
            If UCase(strFindToolCode) = UCase(strToolCode(intCounter)) Then
                blnFound = True
                intPartIndex = intCounter
                Exit For
            End If
        Next
 
        If blnFound Then
            txtDesc.Text = strToolCode(intPartIndex)
        Else
            MsgBox("Part not found", MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation, "Harry's Hardware")
            Exit Sub
        End If

My 3 textboxes are txtToolCode, txtDesc, and txtPrice

[jmcilhinney]

I'd ditch the arrays frankly. I'd be inclined to use ADO.NET to read the file directly into a DataTable. Even using a StreamReader, you can still set up a DataTable manually and populate it. The next best alternative would be to use a HashTable keyed on the tool code. You could use two HashTables, one for description and one for price, or you could use a single HashTable where the value was an array, a collection, or a structure of your own definition.

[gigemboy]

Well you are splitting your string after you try to assign it... just do it beforehand, and you can use arraylist, which is easier since you are working with strings, and with arraylist, you can just use the .Add method to add an item to it, or use JM's methods he had mentioned..

ReDim Preserve strToolCode(intNumTools) = strFields(0) 'errors because you havent split yet
            ReDim Preserve strDescription(intNumTools)
            ReDim Preserve decPrices(intNumTools)
            strLine = srdReadFile.ReadLine
            strFields = strLine.Split(chrDelimiter) '<----- do this line first.. move it to the top

[FatBear]

You can use RegularExpression in system.text
<vbcode>
imports system.text.regularExpression
dim temp as new regex(",") ' this line to define the delimiter character
dim tempArray as string() = temp.Split(<content>)
'Then you ca get the content from the array you have defined
tempArray.GetValue(<index>)
</vbcode>

Try this code.
Take care and good luck

[jmcilhinney]

There's no point using Regex.Split over String.Split unless you want to use a multi-character string as the delimiter instead of a single character. String.Split will be more efficient so unless you need the additional functionality of Regex.Split, i.e. split on a string or a pattern, then it is less desirable.