Parsing an array

Question

I am in need of parsing an array or characters that is a fixed length but can have just about any combination of letter or number. My 50 digit array looks like this: NL1NAMEOFCO-B032144221111000100600000-A35499001

This array represents a vast combination of settings within our product. I need to extract all reference designators in the array. The first 3 characters represent a particular model NL1, the next 8 characters represent a company NAMEOFCO. The ‘-‘ will always be in the same location. The B (digit 13) represents some value, etc, etc. Also, some values are represented by 2 digits. Digits 20 & 21 (which store the value 22), represent some specific settings.

So by now you get the idea. I can parse the array and extract the values I need by using the following code:

String Company = ConfigCode[3].ToString() +
                 ConfigCode[4].ToString() + 
                 ConfigCode[5].ToString() + 
                 ConfigCode[6].ToString() + 
                 ConfigCode[7].ToString() + 
                 ConfigCode[8].ToString() +
                 ConfigCode[9].ToString() +
                 ConfigCode[10].ToString();

This works without any problems, but to me, there should be an easier way of doing this. I would have thought the following would work, but it does not.

String Company = ConfigCode[3..10].ToString();

Can someone explain to me why it doesn’t work and what would be a better way of extracting the information I need?

Thanks!

string.Substring(startIndex, length) is a bit nicer.

idstam
– idstam

2014-12-17 14:31:52 +00:00
Commented Dec 17, 2014 at 14:31 — idstam
– idstam, Commented Dec 17, 2014 at 14:31

Saggio · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-17 14:42:57Z

2

I believe that String.Substring method is what you're looking for. The signature for the overloaded method you're looking for is:

public string Substring(
    int startIndex,
    int length

)

The documentation for it is here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aka44szs(v=vs.110).aspx

For example, your Company name would be (going by the description of a character length of 8):

string CompanyName = configCode.Substring(3, 8);

edited Dec 17, 2014 at 14:42

answered Dec 17, 2014 at 14:35

Saggio

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3 Comments

ryanyuyu Over a year ago

Not length of 8? The code shows 6, but the question mentions 8 chars.

Saggio Over a year ago

@ryanyuyu good catch, I was going by the code :] I'll update

MTH Over a year ago

Thanks! Substring is exactly what I was looking for. Also corrected mistake in question. Thanks again everyone!

ryanyuyu · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-17 14:46:08Z

0

Like mentioned before, you can use the Substring extension method like so:

String Company = ConfigCode.Substring(3, 8);

The square-bracket operators for strings, like in ConfigCode[3], actually return individual chars at that specific index. And C# isn't as pretty as other programming languages where stuff like array[3..10] actually gives you a portion of an array (or in this case, a string).

answered Dec 17, 2014 at 14:46

ryanyuyu

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1 Comment

MTH Over a year ago

Interesting. Thanks for the info!

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