Adding a dictionary instead of a list

[nqioweryuadfge]

Ok, am trying to replace bad words with Good words from a RichTextBox from a dictionary file. The program as it is, can only do it from a preloaded list. How do you do this in Visual Basic? Press F8 to run the program to see what it can do.

This is a grammar checker. Check my file from this link.

Dictionary wordlist

Public Class Form1
    Friend WithEvents RichTextBox1 As New RichTextBox With {.Dock = DockStyle.Fill}
    Friend WithEvents ReplaceMenu As New ContextMenuStrip

    Private replacements As New Dictionary(Of String, IEnumerable(Of TextReplacement))
    Private nextCheckIndex As Integer

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Controls.Add(RichTextBox1)
        replacements.Add("a bad advice", {New TextReplacement("a bad suggestion", "Replace advice with suggestion."),
                                      New TextReplacement("some bad advice", "Replace a with some.")})
        replacements.Add("irregardless", {New TextReplacement("regardless", "Irregardless is not a word."),
                                      New TextReplacement("in spite", "Reword the phrase.")})
        RichTextBox1.Text = "You provided a bad advice, irregardless of your intention. You provided a bad advice, irregardless of your intention. "
    End Sub

    Private Sub RichTextBox1_KeyUp(sender As Object, e As KeyEventArgs) Handles RichTextBox1.KeyUp
        If e.KeyCode = Keys.F8 Then
            nextCheckIndex = 0
            CheckForReplacementText()
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub CheckForReplacementText()
        If nextCheckIndex = replacements.Count Then
            MessageBox.Show("Check complete.")
        Else
            Dim checkWord = replacements.Keys.ElementAt(nextCheckIndex)
            Dim foundIndex = RichTextBox1.Find(checkWord, 0, RichTextBox1.TextLength, RichTextBoxFinds.WholeWord)
            If foundIndex > -1 Then
                ReplaceMenu.Items.Clear()
                For Each replacement In replacements(checkWord)
                    With ReplaceMenu.Items.Add(replacement.Text, Nothing, Sub(sndr As Object, ea As EventArgs)
                                                                          RichTextBox1.SelectedText = replacement.Text
                                                                          CheckForReplacementText()
                                                                      End Sub)
                        .AutoToolTip = True
                        .ToolTipText = replacement.Reason
                    End With
                Next
                ReplaceMenu.Show(RichTextBox1, RichTextBox1.GetPositionFromCharIndex(RichTextBox1.SelectionStart + RichTextBox1.SelectionLength))
            Else
                nextCheckIndex += 1
                CheckForReplacementText()
            End If
        End If
    End Sub
End Class

Public Class TextReplacement
    Public Property Text As String
    Public Property Reason As String
    Public Sub New(replacementText As String, replacementReason As String)
        Text = replacementText
        Reason = replacementReason
    End Sub
End Class

[jmcilhinney]

If you're going to post code then please use code tags. Not surprisingly, quote tags are for quotes, not code. As you can see, the lack of formatting makes the code less than simple to read.

[nqioweryuadfge]

Please now help me I have done it.

[nqioweryuadfge]

Please help!

[jmcilhinney]

I'm a little confused. You already have a Dictionary in there. What exactly do you want that you don't already have? Do you actually want to know how to use the Dictionary, despite the fact that your question actually asks how to add it? Are you asking how to populate the Dictionary from some external source? Please be clear.

[nqioweryuadfge]

yes, am trying to populate it from a file. I have a big file, but it cannot fit in the code program of my program. So, I only want to use my file as a dictionary instead of list that you put in a program. I will really appreciate this help that your offering. It will be good to know how you do this sought of thing, and again for Christmas.

[jmcilhinney]

Your first post doesn't mention anywhere that your issue is reading data from a file. You really need to be CLEAR when posting. We know nothing about what you're doing other than what you tell us so you have to tell us everything that is relevant. Don't expect us to read between the lines; write an extra line.

It's still not 100% clear to me what you're asking for either. Are you saying that you want to know how to read data from the file into a generic Dictionary object or that you want to read directly from the file as required instead of using a generic Dictionary object?

[nqioweryuadfge]

Ok, I have edited the question now you can understand it.

[jmcilhinney]

You generally read a text file using a StreamReader or perhaps a TextFieldParser. What does the format of the file look like?

[nqioweryuadfge]

It looks like this:

avoided|averted

That is how it is delimited

[jmcilhinney]

Then you should probably use a TextFieldParser. The MSDN documentation for the class provides a code example of its use.

[nqioweryuadfge]

I know how it is used and I have a sample. The tricky part is with (Of String, IEnumerable(Of TextReplacement))

I could not find any documentation anywhere.

[nqioweryuadfge]

If I use (Of String, String)
it gives me an error on my list, but when I change the below sections to ToString, it works, but only shows one character at a time.

With ReplaceMenu.Items.Add(replacement.Text


RichTextBox1.SelectedText = replacement.Text

[jmcilhinney]

The tricky part is with (Of String, IEnumerable(Of TextReplacement))

Why has it taken you until post #12 to say that, even after talking about posting clearly earlier?

Firstly, do you actually need an IEnumerable(Of TextReplacement)? Are you going to store multiple values against each key? If not then there's no need for an IEnumerable at all. Also, what is a TextReplacement? Are you intending to use them or do you just want to store simple text? If the latter then just use String instead.

You need to first be clear about what you're going to use and then actually use it. If you put Strings into the Dictionary then you are going get Strings out so you have to use them as Strings, which will not work if the code expects TextReplacement objects. If you need TextReplacement objects then that's what you have to create in the first place.

As for an IEnumerable, the most common implementation would be either an array or a generic List. So, if you want to use a Dictionary(Of String, IEnumerable(Of TextReplacement) then you would most likely add a TextReplacement array or a List(Of TextReplacement) against each String key.

[nqioweryuadfge]

Ok, how can I use this code to work in my program. Here is the link to my dictionary file

Dim replacements As New Dictionary(Of String, Tuple(Of String, String))
replacements.Add("bad word", New Tuple(Of String, String)("good word", "reason this is better"))

Dim replacement = replacements("bad word")
Dim newWord = replacement.Item1
Dim reason = replacement.Item2

[nqioweryuadfge]

I have tried to do a research and found nothing that can help me to solve this issue. But if there is a way you can demonstrate with your code, that would be helpful.

[nqioweryuadfge]

Please help, I have done all my research and found no solutions.

[jmcilhinney]

Assuming that each line of the file is two string separated by a pipe, you can populate a Dictionary like this:

Dim replacements As New Dictionary(Of String, String)
 
Using reader As New StreamReader("file path here")
    Do Until reader.EndOfStream
        Dim parts = reader.ReadLine().Split("|"c)
 
        replacements.Add(parts(0), parts(1))
    Loop
End Using

You could then use the replacements like so:

For Each key In replacements.Keys
    sourceText = sourceText.Replace(key, replacements(key))
Next

[nqioweryuadfge]

It is saying sourceText is not declared, but how will it fit here:

                For Each replacement In replacements(checkWord)
                    With ReplaceMenu.Items.Add(replacement.ToString, Nothing, Sub(sndr As Object, ea As EventArgs)
                                                                                  RichTextBox1.SelectedText = replacement.ToString
                                                                                  CheckForReplacementText()
                                                                              End Sub)

[jmcilhinney]

It is saying sourceText is not declared...

Of course it does, if you didn't declare it. It seems like some people don't understand the concept of an example. I've shown you how to the Dictionary in that example. Noe you apply that same concept to your own situation.

[nqioweryuadfge]

That was not the issue. The problem was to apply the code on ContextMenu.

[nqioweryuadfge]

If I use this code as it is, it will not allow the Context to work! Also, it is abit complecated for me to adjust it on the part I have just highlighted because I have not reached that level in programming.

[jmcilhinney]

And again you haven't actually explained what you want but have just expected me to work it from code that doesn't actually do it.

[nqioweryuadfge]

I just wanted to use a file instead of a preloaded list. You told me you understood that earlier! I only want your code to work on the ContextMenu that I sent to you earlier. It's where am stack.

[nqioweryuadfge]

My knowledge is very limited to execute the kind of thing your asking me to do.

[nqioweryuadfge]

I know its hard to feed me that in-tell, but this verse says: 1 Thessalonians5: 11 So encourage each other to build each other up.

You may send me a private message.

[FunkyDexter]

I would suggest that quoting scripture to JMc is unlikely to get you a positive outcome.

You have code here:-

For Each replacement In replacements(checkWord)
                    With ReplaceMenu.Items.Add(replacement.ToString, Nothing, Sub(sndr As Object, ea As EventArgs)

...that will populate a context menu from a dictionary called replacement. It was working when you populated the dictionary from code. JM has shown you how to populate a dictionary from a file. Your code to populate the context menu should remain completely unaffected and should just work.

So where are you actually struggling now? Where does your code fail?


edit>Ah, I think I might see it. You are populating your dictionary in the form load event and I think you are assuming that any given keyword (checkWord) might have several values in the dictionary. That's why you originally had a Dictionary of string, ienumerable - so that each check word could have several possible replacements. Is that correct.

[nqioweryuadfge]

Yes, I see you get it now! That is what I was hoping for. The (checkWord) was very puzzling as to how, it can be replaced.

Also, I was wondering how this code would be implemented in the Context:

For Each key In replacements.Keys
              sourceText = sourceText.Replace(key, replacements(key))
         Next

[nqioweryuadfge]

This part is saying an item with the same key has already been added:

replacements.Add(parts(0), parts(1))

[nqioweryuadfge]

How can I resolve the problem

[nqioweryuadfge]

Ok, I will try to find the content online..

[FunkyDexter]

I don't have visual studio to hand so I'm typing straight off the cuff and am liable to make small mistakes. Hopefully I can point you in the right direction though.

I was wondering how this code would be implemented in the Context:

First you'd get the iEnumerable of replacement words from your dictionary:-

Dim replacementWords = iEnumerable(of String)
replacementWords = replacements(checkWord)

Then you would iterate through the enumerable adding each word to your context menu:-

For Each word as String In replacementWords
   ReplaceMenu.Items.Add(word)
Next

The code to populate your dictionary will also need to change slightly. JM gave you the basic code in post 18 but we're going to need to change the bit where it adds to the dictionary. Instead of this (which will always add an element to a dictionary):-

replacements.Add(parts(0), parts(1))

...you want to check whether your checkWord (which will be parts(0)) is already in the dictionary. If it is, retrieve the enumerable and add your new replacement word to it. If it isn't you create a new enumerable and add that to your dictionary:-

if replacements.contains(parts(0))
   replacements(parts(0)).Add(parts(1))
else
   Dim newWordList as iEnumerable(of String)
   newWordList.Add(parts(1))
   replacements.Add(parts(0), newWordList)
end if

I think that's correct but be wary of my syntax. Without visual studio in front of me it's very likely I've made a mistake or two which you will have to correct. Regardless, it should help demonstrate the principle.

[Baileykos]

1
down vote


Your question has already been answered, but IIRC you can replace lines like:

if d.has_key(scope_item):

with:

if scope_item in d:

That is, d references d.keys() in that construction. Sometimes defaultdict isn't the best option (for example, if you want to execute multiple lines of code after the else associated with the above if), and I find the in syntax easier to read.
Thanks ,

[nqioweryuadfge]

I think that will work, let me try it.

[nqioweryuadfge]

First am getting this errors here:

Dim replacementWords = iEnumerable(Of String)()

Enumerable is a type, and cannot be used as an expression

Secondly, am getting this error here:

String cannot be converted to Systems.Collections.Generic.KeyValuePair(Of String, Systems.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable(Of WindowsApplication1.TextReplacement)

from here:

                replacements.Add(parts(0), parts(1))

                If replacements.Contains(parts(0)) Then
                    replacements(0).Add(parts(1))
                Else
                    Dim newWordList As IEnumerable(Of String)
                    newWordList.Add(parts(1))
                    replacements.Add(parts(0), newWordList)
                End If

[FunkyDexter]

I did say I'd probably make a few syntax errors

First am getting this errors here:

Change the = to an As

String cannot be converted to Systems.Collections.Generic.KeyValuePair(Of String, Systems.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable(Of WindowsApplication1.TextReplacement)

I believe Baileykos's answer in post 33 should fix that. Instead of using replacements.contains use replacements.has_key.

Also, note that you should have removed "replacements.Add(parts(0), parts(1))". Your post makes it look like you've left it in there.

[nqioweryuadfge]

OK, I was researching on the problems. That is why I was caught up in the mix up. But thanks

[nqioweryuadfge]

I get you now, did you mean for here:

if d.has_key(scope_item):

with:

if scope_item in d:

To be implemented here:

     If replacements.Contains(parts(0)) Then
                    replacements(0).Add(parts(1))

[FunkyDexter]

I think that should correctly read either:-

if replacements.has_key(parts(0))
   replacements(parts(0)).Add(parts(1))

or

if parts(0) in replacements.keys()
   replacements(parts(0)).Add(parts(1))

depending on the syntax you prefer

[nqioweryuadfge]

There is an error on Add

Add is not a member of Systems.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable

Now, I have done some research, and considered that maybe this might resolve the issue, but how would it work on a file delimited file?

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/z883w3dc%28v=vs.110%29.aspx