How do I extract certain words from a sentence.

Question

4.00/5 (1 vote)

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I am looking for a best method to extract the words.

I have sentence called TestTest - CustID : 1200005#14102016_0412- ARF or it may be TestTest - CustID:1200005#14102016_0412- ARF

This 'CustID : 1200005#' may be with or without spaces. I need to extract '1200005' from this.

C#

string subject = "TestTest - CustID : 1200005#14102016_0412- ARF"

if (subject.Trim().Contains(CustID:))
                {
                    customerId = ExtractFromString(mailSubject, "CustID:","#");
                }
                else if (subject.Trim().Contains(CustID:))
                {
                    customerId = ExtractFromString(mailSubject, "CustID:","#");
                }
}
 
<pre lang="C#">private static List&lt;string&gt; ExtractFromString(string text, string startString, string endString)
       {
           List&lt;string&gt; matched = new List&lt;string&gt;();
           int indexStart = 0, indexEnd = 0;
           bool exit = false;
           while (!exit)
           {
               indexStart = text.IndexOf(startString);
               indexEnd = text.IndexOf(endString);
               if (indexStart != -1 &amp;&amp; indexEnd != -1)
               {
                   matched.Add(text.Substring(indexStart + startString.Length,
                       indexEnd - indexStart - startString.Length));
                   text = text.Substring(indexEnd + endString.Length);
               }
               else
                   exit = true;
           }
           return matched;
       }</pre>

This is working but i am looking for some better option considering both CustID : 1200005# or CustID:1200005#

What I have tried:

What i tried has been appended.

C#

string subject = "TestTest - CustID : 1200005#14102016_0412- ARF"
if (subject.Trim().Contains("CustID"))
                {
                    customerId = ExtractFromString(mailSubject, "CustID:","#");
                }
                else if (subject.Trim().Contains(CustID:))
                {
                    customerId = ExtractFromString(mailSubject, "CustID:","#");
                }
}

<pre lang="C#">private static List&lt;string&gt; ExtractFromString(string text, string startString, string endString)
       {
           List&lt;string&gt; matched = new List&lt;string&gt;();
           int indexStart = 0, indexEnd = 0;
           bool exit = false;
           while (!exit)
           {
               indexStart = text.IndexOf(startString);
               indexEnd = text.IndexOf(endString);
               if (indexStart != -1 &amp;&amp; indexEnd != -1)
               {
                   matched.Add(text.Substring(indexStart + startString.Length,
                       indexEnd - indexStart - startString.Length));
                   text = text.Substring(indexEnd + endString.Length);
               }
               else
                   exit = true;
           }
           return matched;
       }</pre>

Posted 14-Oct-16 2:16am

Member 8478234

Updated 16-Oct-16 7:58am

v2

Add a Solution

3 solutions

Solution 2

Quote:
This is working

Are you sure ?

C#

string subject = "TestTest - CustID : 1200005#14102016_0412- ARF"
if (subject.Trim().Contains("CustID"))
{
    if (subject.Trim().Contains(CustomerID:))
    {
        customerId = ExtractFromString(mailSubject, "CustomerID:","#");
    }
    else if (subject.Trim().Contains(CustID:))
    {
        customerId = ExtractFromString(mailSubject, "CustomerID:","#");
    }
}

I see 2 syntax errors, 3 misuse and at 4 error of logic.
And from the code, I suspect the example to not be complete.
I expect 2 main examples with optional spaces.

it stings my eyes.

So what is the question and the problem ?

[UpDate]
When I see your new code:

C#

if (subject.Trim().Contains("CustID"))
    {
        customerId = ExtractFromString(mailSubject, "CustID:","#");
    }
    else if (subject.Trim().Contains(CustID:))
    {
        customerId = ExtractFromString(mailSubject, "CustID:","#");
    }
}

You do not understand what this code does, it can't be yours, it do not even compile !
Advice: Learn properly C#

Posted 14-Oct-16 6:15am

Patrice T

Updated 16-Oct-16 19:06pm

v4

Comments

#realJSOP 14-Oct-16 12:35pm

He was looking for something that would extract the actual customer ID regardless of the inclusion/location of spaces in the string being parsed. See my solution.

Patrice T 14-Oct-16 12:45pm

I know, but he also claim that the code is working ! :)

Solution 3

Solution 1 by John Simmons / outlaw programmer[^] is very good. As an alternative you can use Regex class[^] which is used to find matched string.

I'd suggest to use Regex.Match[^] method:

C#

string subject = "TestTest - CustID : 1200005#14102016_0412- ARF";
string pattern = @"\d{1,}#";

Match m = Regex.Match(subject, pattern, RegexOptions.Singleline);
if(m.Success)
	Console.WriteLine(m.Value.Replace("#",""));

Note: change the pattern to your needs.

For further details, please, see:
Regular Expression Language - Quick Reference[^]

Posted 15-Oct-16 23:35pm

Maciej Los

Updated 15-Oct-16 23:36pm

v2

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#realJSOP · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-14T02:24:00

You're over-engineering it.

C#

string text = "TestTest - CustID : 1200005#14102016_0412- ARF";
string[] parts = text.Split(':');
string[] parts2 = parts[1].Split('#');
string result = parts2[0].Trim();

or even

C#

string text = "TestTest - CustID : 1200005#14102016_0412- ARF";
string result = text.Split(':')[1].Split('#')[0].Trim();

If you need some error trapping in there, you should probably use the 1st version.