How can I read individual lines of a CSV file into a string array, to then be selectively displayed via combobox input?.

Question

Thanks for your help guys, I've managed to solve the problem now.

It was merely a matter calling loops at the right point in time.

Answer 1

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.visualbasic.fileio.textfieldparser.aspx

I think your main problem is understanding how arrays work (hence the error message).

You can use split and join functions to convert strings into and out of arrays

dim s() as string = split("1,2,3",",") gives and array of strings with 3 elements
dim ss as string = join(s,",") gives you the string back

Answer 2

Firstly, it's actually really good that you are using the TextFieldParser for reading CSV files - most don't but you won't have to worry about extra commas and quoted text etc...

The Readline method only gives you the raw string, hence the "Error 1 Value of type 'String' cannot be converted to '1-dimensional array of String'."

What you may find easier with combo boxes etc is to use an object (e.g. 'systemspecs') rather than strings. Assign the CSV data to the objects and override the "ToString" method of the 'systemspecs' class to display in the combo box how you want with formatting etc. That way when you handle the SelectedIndexChanged event (or similar) you get the "SelectedItem" from the combo box (which can be Nothing so check) and cast it as the 'systemspecs' to use it. The advantage is that you are not restricted to display the exact data in the combo etc.

' in "systemspecs"...
   Public Overrides Function ToString() As String
      Return Name ' or whatever...
   End Function ' ToString

e.g.

dim item as new systemspecs
item.ID = csvalue(1)
item.Name = csvalue(2)
' etc...

combobox1.Items.Add(item)

Let me know if that makes sense!

PK :-)

Answer 3

I would recommend using FileHelpers (filehelpers.com) to do the reading. The binding shouldn't be an issue after that.

Here is the Quickstart for Delimited Records

Dim engine As New FileHelperEngine(GetType( Customer))
// To Read Use:
Dim res As  Customer() = DirectCast(engine.ReadFile("FileIn.txt"), Customer())
// To Write Use:
engine.WriteFile("FileOut.txt", res)

When you get the file read, put it into a normal class and just bind to the class or use the list of items you have to do custom stuff with the combobox. Basically, get it out of the file and into a real class asap, then things will be easier.

At least take a look at the library. After using it, we use a lot more simple flat files since it is so easy, and we haven't written a file access routine since (for that kinda stuff).