Convert multi line string into a multidimensional array?

Question

I have a string like this:

Option1: Value1
Option2: Value2
Option3: Value3

I am trying to put this into a multidimensional array so that I can then lookup the values depending on what I put for 'Option', it will return the value.

So far I have this which will put each line into the array:

string[] Header = Headers.Split(new[] { "\r\n", "\r", "\n" }, StringSplitOptions.None);

I am unsure how to split this into a 2 dimensional array so that it will split the line based on the colon delimiter?

How can I then perform a lookup? for example in PHP I would use the varible: $Header['Option2'] in order to return the value for "Option2".

Thanks.

Could you add to your question an example of the output you desire. — phuzi
– phuzi, Commented Oct 9, 2018 at 14:50

Martin Zikmund · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-09 15:04:21Z

6

You can construct the lookup dictionary entirely with LINQ:

var dictionary = text.Split(new []{Environment.NewLine}, StringSplitOptions.None)
          .Select(line => line.Split(':'))
          .ToDictionary(lineParts => lineParts[0], lineParts => lineParts[1]);

Explanation on what it does in simple code:

var lines = text.Split(new []{Environment.NewLine}, StringSplitOptions.None); //split the string in lines
var dictionary = new Dictionary<string, string>();
foreach (var line in lines)
{
    var lineParts = line.Split(':'); //split line to parts with : as delimiter
    var key = lineParts[0]; //first part is the key
    var value = lineParts[1]; //second part is the value
    dictionary.Add(key, value);
}

Now you can simply lookup like this:

var value = dictionary["Option2"];

edited Oct 9, 2018 at 15:04

answered Oct 9, 2018 at 14:49

Martin Zikmund

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15 Comments

DavidG Over a year ago

Style question: did you mean to put the . at the end of the preceding line rather than before the method name? I've not seen that done before and if I'm honest, I hate it!

DavidG Over a year ago

Oh also, though OP doesn't specify clearly, you probably need to Trim the value.

Martin Zikmund Over a year ago

@phuzi I think the reason OP asked for two-dimensional array is the fact that PHP would approach the problem this way, in C# Dictionary is I think the correct counterpart

DavidG Over a year ago

And while I'm here (sorry!) I would also recommend doing line.Split(new[] { ':' }, 1)) in case the value contains a :

DavidG Over a year ago

(because what you have here doesn't actually compile...)

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