[RESOLVED] [2005] - Compare Text In 2 Files

[nolim8ts]

Hi All,

I been asked to write a program that will compare the contents of 2 files.
Example of the 2 files.

Text File 1:

Bloggs, Joe, Sydney


Text File 2:

Bloggs, Joe, Sydney
Smith, Stan, Perth


The program should find "Bloggs, Joe, Sydney" as a match.

I was thinking that the files could be read into seperate arrays but there could be 5000+ lines from each file. Any idea's

[chris128]

would the names all be on seperate lines?

[nolim8ts]

Hi,

Yes, each name would be on a separate line. The possibility is that the 2 files would be in .CSV format which each line containing the person's name, address, telephone.

For now, I would be limiting the value to the person's first name, surname and suburb. Each value would be separated by a comma.

[chris128]

OK here's one way you could do it, its probably not the best way but its all I could come up with.

Dim textone As String
        Dim texttwo As String
        Dim textonenames() As String
 
        textone = My.Computer.FileSystem.ReadAllText("C:\test1.txt")
        texttwo = My.Computer.FileSystem.ReadAllText("C:\test2.txt")
 
        textonenames = textone.Split(vbNewLine)
 
        For Each line As String In textonenames
            If texttwo.Contains(line) Then
                MsgBox(line)
            End If
 
        Next

The only problem with this method is that the file you are comparing to (C:\test2.txt in my example) MUST have a blank line at the start of it for this to work... which is a bit pants really so im sure there will be a better solution.

[stanav]

How do you define a match? For example, in file1 you have:

Joe, Jane, Nick
Brian, Helen, Jim
Tom, Bill, Paul

And in file2 you have

Nick, Joe, Jane
Tom, Helen, Jim
Paul, Brian, Bill

Note that both files contain the same names, only in different listing order.
In this case, do you have a match or not?

[chris128]

I'm guessing he needs the lines to match exactly as he says this may be in csv format, which often means each string between the comma's represents specific data that is the same for each line. E.g first word = first name, next word after comma = surname, next word after comma = town etc etc
Im sure you probably already knew that though
In the examples he gave, the first string was a surname, the second string was a first name and the last string in each line was the name of a place so it does look like each line represents just one person
So Joe, Bloggs, Sydney isnt the same as Bloggs, Joe, Sydney but of course it would be helpful for the thread starter to confirm

[nolim8ts]

Hi chris128,

You are correct that it goes; Surname, First Name, Location. Each line will represent 1 person

If File 1 had "Bloggs, Joe, Sydney" and File 2 had "Joe, Bloggs, Sydney", this would be considered not a match

[chris128]

So does the code I posted help you out at all?

[nolim8ts]

Hi chris128,

Haven't been into the office yet but when I have implemented the posted code, I will let you know

[chris128]

Ah ok cool, let us know if it helps or not

[nolim8ts]

Hi chris128,

You posted code works perfectly after placing a blank line at the start of the second file.