for loop for a string variable

Question

this is my code -

for i as integer = 0 to rows.count - 1
   output &= "Name =" & row(i)("Name")
   output &= "lastName =" & row(i)("lastName")
... 50 more fields
next

i need the output to be like this

Applicant1Name = MikeApplicant1lastName = ditkaApplicant2Name = TomApplicant2lastName = Brady ...

how do i do this without putting the following code 50 times - output &= "Applicant" & i.tostring() + 1 &"Name =" & row(i)("Name") ... and so on. is there a way to make a for loop and run applicant 1,2,3,4.... in one shot? thanks

Answer 1

You really cant as you are trying to append 50 different fields. The only thing you can shorten is the variable name:

Dim strLN as String = row(i)("lastName")
Dim strFirstName as String = row(i)("firstName")

Then you simply put it all together

output &= strLN & strFirstName...etc

Answer 2

looks like you want to create an array of all the fields you have and then include a nested loop.

    Dim fields As String() = {"Name", "LastName", "SSN", "Birthdate"}
    Dim output As String = ""

    For i As Integer = 1 To rows.count
        For Each field As String In fields
            output = String.Concat(output, "Applicant ", i, field, "=", row(i)(field), " ")
        Next
    Next

Answer 3

Try:

Dim output as New StringBuilder("")

For i as Integer = 0 To rows.Count - 1
    output.append("Applicant" + i.ToString())
    Foreach(col as DataColumn in dt.Columns)  ' The datatable where your rows are
        Dim colName as string = col.ColumnName
        output.append(colName & "=" & rows(i)(colName).ToString())
    Next
    If i < rows.Count - 1 Then output.Append("|")
Next

StringBuilder is faster for string concatenations, and if you keep your rows in a datatable (which I assume is happening because that's how it looks like you're accessing them), then you can just iterate through the columnnames at the top level.