asked on

Retrieve a reference from a string

I have a string and I want to look for a reference in a specific format which could be anywhere in the string. This reference is random, but will always be in the same format.

The format looks like this. N######NN##

The string would look like this.

Dim MyString as String = "this is my string Z123456TW00 and I need to obtain the reference"

My aim is to take this value and compare it to a reference in my database.

Any ideas how I can obtain anything in the format above regardless of the numbers or letters?

Dirk Haest

If there is no logic in your strings to get the reference, like for example it always start with a "Z" and ends when a space (or end of the string) is found, then it will be impossible to do.

Perhaps you can perform it in the other direction.

Take the reference from your database and check if that is a part of your string.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Easwaran Paramasivam

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DoutorApedeuta

An easy way, I think, will be to split the string by the whitespace character, and then with the resulting strings do:
1. compare each agains the database, or;
2. validate the format of each string, to search the one that corresponds to the reference, and then compare it to the database.

Robert Schutt

EaswaranP is close but I think you need this:

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim MyRef As String = GetRef("this is my string Z123456TW00 and I need to obtain the reference")
        MsgBox(MyRef)
    End Sub

    Private Function GetRef(ByVal MyString As String)
        Dim Matches = Regex.Matches(MyString, "\b\w\d{6}\w{2}\d{2}\b")
        Dim ret As String
        If Matches.Count > 0 Then
            ret = Matches(0).Value
        Else
            ret = "N/A"
        End If
        Return ret
    End Function

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paulandyt

ASKER

Using expressions worked!

Here is my code:

Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Globalization
Imports System.Text.RegularExpressions

Public Module Example

Public Sub Main()
Dim pattern As String = "\w{1}\d{6}\w{4}\b"
Dim input As String = "this is my string Z123456TW00 and I need to obtain the reference"
For Each match As Match In Regex.Matches(input, pattern, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)
Console.WriteLine("{0}", _
match.Value, match.Groups(1).Value, match.Index)
Next
Console.Read()
End Sub

End Module

paulandyt

ASKER

Apologies Robert, your suggestion also worked!

Robert Schutt

No worries, you figured it out yourself quicker!