Unique String Array in vb.net

[Paulers]

Hello all,

I have a string array with duplicate elements. I need to create a new
string array containing only the unique elements. Is there an easy way
to do this? I have tried looping through each element but I am having
issues using redim to adjust the new array. Any help or example code
would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[_AnonCoward]

Re: Unique String Array in vb.net


"Paulers" <SuperGh0d@gmai l.com> wrote in message
news:1139467217 .227961.95350@g 47g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...
:
: Hello all,
:
: I have a string array with duplicate elements. I need to create a new
: string array containing only the unique elements. Is there an easy way
: to do this? I have tried looping through each element but I am having
: issues using redim to adjust the new array. Any help or example code
: would be greatly appreciated. thanks!


Arrays are fixed length and generally are best used when you know in advance
(or can easily calculate) how large it needs to be and if you are not going
to be changing the size of the array frequently (if at all).

For your purposes here, try using the ArrayList object instead (see
namespace System.Collecti ons). You can dynamically add strings (or any
object for that matter) to the array without having to concern yourself with
the hassles and performance issues associated with redimensioning regular
arrays.

Here is a quick example (VB.NET 2.0):

'************** *************** *************** **********
Option Strict

Imports Microsoft.Visua lBasic
Imports System
Imports System.Collecti ons

Public Module MyModule

Public Sub Main

Dim S1(10) As String
Dim S2() As String
Dim AR As New ArrayList
Dim ndx As Integer

'Create a string array with duplicate entries for entries
'"Item 1", "Item 2" and "Item 6"
s1(0) = "Item 1"
s1(1) = "Item 3"
s1(2) = "Item 2"
s1(3) = "Item 4"
s1(4) = "Item 1"
s1(5) = "Item 2"
s1(6) = "Item 6"
s1(7) = "Item 5"
s1(8) = "Item 6"
s1(9) = "Item 2"
s1(10) = "Item 1"

'Display the contents of S1
DumpArray(S1, "Contents of S1()")

'Load only unique values to an array list object
For ndx = 0 To 10
If Not Ar.Contains(S1( ndx)) Then
Ar.Add(S1(ndx))
End If
Next

'Go ahead and sort this array list just for grins and giggles
Ar.Sort

'Turn this back into an array
ReDim S2(Ar.Count - 1)
For ndx = 0 To Ar.Count - 1
S2(ndx) = CType(Ar.Item(n dx), String)
Next

'Now let's print out the contents of array S2
DumpArray(S2, "Contents of S2()")

End Sub

Private Sub DumpArray(S() As String, msg As String)
Dim ndx As Integer

Console.WriteLi ne(msg)
Console.WriteLi ne("--------------------------------------")
For ndx = 0 to UBound(S)
Console.WriteLi ne(S(ndx))
Next
Console.WriteLi ne
End Sub

End Module
'************** *************** *************** **********


This will produce the following output:

Contents of S1()
--------------------------------------
Item 1
Item 3
Item 2
Item 4
Item 1
Item 2
Item 6
Item 5
Item 6
Item 2
Item 1

Contents of S2()
--------------------------------------
Item 1
Item 2
Item 3
Item 4
Item 5
Item 6


Please notice a few things about this code.

1 - I did not define the size of S2 at first since I didn't know going in
what size it would be when the process was complete


2 - I didn't assign an initial value to the ArrayList object either. I just
added objects as needed and it handled all that work


3 - I was able to easily avoid duplicate entries by using the .Contains
method of the ArrayList.


4 - The original array was not sorted but the final array was. All I needed
was a simple one-line statement to achieve this: AR.Sort


5 - The ArrayList stored everything as an Object. When I get those objects
back out of the ArrayList, I have to recast them as String objects (using
the CType keyword)


6 - I was able to correctly size array S2 when I finally reached that point
by referencing the .Count property of the ArrayList. There was no need for
me to track that myself.


HTH


Ralf
--
----------------------------------------------------------
* ^~^ ^~^ *
* _ {~ ~} {~ ~} _ *
* /_``>*< >*<''_\ *
* (\--_)++) (++(_--/) *
----------------------------------------------------------
There are no advanced students in Aikido - there are only
competent beginners. There are no advanced techniques -
only the correct application of basic principles.

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Re: Unique String Array in vb.net

Paulers,

I am in doubt if I had seen one simple method from Herfried, however as long
as he has not answered.

Why not Split the string, sort the resulting array, and than remove via one
of the classic methods for that the duplicates.

Cor

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

Re: Unique String Array in vb.net

"Paulers" <SuperGh0d@gmai l.com> schrieb:[color=blue]
> I have a string array with duplicate elements. I need to create a new
> string array containing only the unique elements. Is there an easy way
> to do this? I have tried looping through each element but I am having
> issues using redim to adjust the new array.[/color]

<URL:http://groups.google.d e/group/microsoft.publi c.dotnet.langua ges.vb/msg/5b636776cb33d1c d>

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://classicvb.org/petition/>

[Mythran]

Re: Unique String Array in vb.net


"_AnonCowar d" <abcdef@uvwxyz. com> wrote in message
news:QmCGf.1143 2$915.4717@sout heast.rr.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Paulers" <SuperGh0d@gmai l.com> wrote in message
> news:1139467217 .227961.95350@g 47g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...
> :
> : Hello all,
> :
> : I have a string array with duplicate elements. I need to create a new
> : string array containing only the unique elements. Is there an easy way
> : to do this? I have tried looping through each element but I am having
> : issues using redim to adjust the new array. Any help or example code
> : would be greatly appreciated. thanks!
>
>
> Arrays are fixed length and generally are best used when you know in
> advance
> (or can easily calculate) how large it needs to be and if you are not
> going
> to be changing the size of the array frequently (if at all).
>
> For your purposes here, try using the ArrayList object instead (see
> namespace System.Collecti ons). You can dynamically add strings (or any
> object for that matter) to the array without having to concern yourself
> with
> the hassles and performance issues associated with redimensioning regular
> arrays.
>
> Here is a quick example (VB.NET 2.0):
>
> '************** *************** *************** **********
> Option Strict
>
> Imports Microsoft.Visua lBasic
> Imports System
> Imports System.Collecti ons
>
> Public Module MyModule
>
> Public Sub Main
>
> Dim S1(10) As String
> Dim S2() As String
> Dim AR As New ArrayList
> Dim ndx As Integer
>
> 'Create a string array with duplicate entries for entries
> '"Item 1", "Item 2" and "Item 6"
> s1(0) = "Item 1"
> s1(1) = "Item 3"
> s1(2) = "Item 2"
> s1(3) = "Item 4"
> s1(4) = "Item 1"
> s1(5) = "Item 2"
> s1(6) = "Item 6"
> s1(7) = "Item 5"
> s1(8) = "Item 6"
> s1(9) = "Item 2"
> s1(10) = "Item 1"
>
> 'Display the contents of S1
> DumpArray(S1, "Contents of S1()")
>
> 'Load only unique values to an array list object
> For ndx = 0 To 10
> If Not Ar.Contains(S1( ndx)) Then
> Ar.Add(S1(ndx))
> End If
> Next
>
> 'Go ahead and sort this array list just for grins and giggles
> Ar.Sort
>
> 'Turn this back into an array
> ReDim S2(Ar.Count - 1)
> For ndx = 0 To Ar.Count - 1
> S2(ndx) = CType(Ar.Item(n dx), String)
> Next
>
> 'Now let's print out the contents of array S2
> DumpArray(S2, "Contents of S2()")
>
> End Sub
>
> Private Sub DumpArray(S() As String, msg As String)
> Dim ndx As Integer
>
> Console.WriteLi ne(msg)
> Console.WriteLi ne("--------------------------------------")
> For ndx = 0 to UBound(S)
> Console.WriteLi ne(S(ndx))
> Next
> Console.WriteLi ne
> End Sub
>
> End Module
> '************** *************** *************** **********
>
>
> This will produce the following output:
>
> Contents of S1()
> --------------------------------------
> Item 1
> Item 3
> Item 2
> Item 4
> Item 1
> Item 2
> Item 6
> Item 5
> Item 6
> Item 2
> Item 1
>
> Contents of S2()
> --------------------------------------
> Item 1
> Item 2
> Item 3
> Item 4
> Item 5
> Item 6
>
>
> Please notice a few things about this code.
>
> 1 - I did not define the size of S2 at first since I didn't know going in
> what size it would be when the process was complete
>
>
> 2 - I didn't assign an initial value to the ArrayList object either. I
> just
> added objects as needed and it handled all that work
>
>
> 3 - I was able to easily avoid duplicate entries by using the .Contains
> method of the ArrayList.
>
>
> 4 - The original array was not sorted but the final array was. All I
> needed
> was a simple one-line statement to achieve this: AR.Sort
>
>
> 5 - The ArrayList stored everything as an Object. When I get those objects
> back out of the ArrayList, I have to recast them as String objects (using
> the CType keyword)
>
>
> 6 - I was able to correctly size array S2 when I finally reached that
> point
> by referencing the .Count property of the ArrayList. There was no need for
> me to track that myself.
>
>
> HTH
>
>
> Ralf
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> * ^~^ ^~^ *
> * _ {~ ~} {~ ~} _ *
> * /_``>*< >*<''_\ *
> * (\--_)++) (++(_--/) *
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> There are no advanced students in Aikido - there are only
> competent beginners. There are no advanced techniques -
> only the correct application of basic principles.
>
>[/color]

Nice reply...but for dealing with strings, I would use the
System.Collecti ons.Specialized .StringCollecti on collection instead of the
ArrayList since this is what it was created for (a collection of strings).

Mythran

[_AnonCoward]

Re: Unique String Array in vb.net


"Mythran" <kip_potter@hot mail.comREMOVET RAIL> wrote in message
news:%23WsHekZL GHA.2904@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..
:
: "_AnonCowar d" <abcdef@uvwxyz. com> wrote in message
: news:QmCGf.1143 2$915.4717@sout heast.rr.com...
: >
: > "Paulers" <SuperGh0d@gmai l.com> wrote in message
: > news:1139467217 .227961.95350@g 47g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...
: > :
: > : Hello all,
: > :
: > : I have a string array with duplicate elements. I need to create a new
: > : string array containing only the unique elements. Is there an easy way
: > : to do this? I have tried looping through each element but I am having
: > : issues using redim to adjust the new array. Any help or example code
: > : would be greatly appreciated. thanks!


<snip>


: Nice reply...but for dealing with strings, I would use the
: System.Collecti ons.Specialized .StringCollecti on collection instead of the
: ArrayList since this is what it was created for (a collection of strings).
:
: Mythran


Agreed. I didn't think of that class when I wrote my response. Hopefully the
OP has enough information to achieve his/her objectives. Thanx,


Ralf
--
--
----------------------------------------------------------
* ^~^ ^~^ *
* _ {~ ~} {~ ~} _ *
* /_``>*< >*<''_\ *
* (\--_)++) (++(_--/) *
----------------------------------------------------------
There are no advanced students in Aikido - there are only
competent beginners. There are no advanced techniques -
only the correct application of basic principles.