best design for parse

[GS]

Re: best design for parse

thank you.

you do have a point but the application I have in mind to get most of easy
to do but boring and repetitive task out user quickly to get their buy in
for the next phrase. The application is not going to be perfect on version 0
but must be flexible to adapt to need change.

Furthermore I choose normalizing date format to yyyy-mm-dd because that is
the standard string date format that is acceptable by almost all standard
windows applications
for the users that I deal with despite locale, despite default display
format.

as a side note right now this application at version zero is not to automate
everything but help users to do their jobs and help us to gain understanding
of what they do. at the same time validate the transform process that will
be used later for automation. version 1 will automate a lot more and may
actually drive some excel, word application process


you could say the version zero is closer to Mickey mouse utility with, if
you wish

"Stephany Young" <noone@localhos twrote in message
news:ukTMMqsMHH A.4712@TK2MSFTN GP04.phx.gbl...

Again you're missing the point.
>
I think the best thing you can do is post a relatively small sample of the
text you are attempting to parse.
>
While you're doing that, execute the following and observe the results. It
demonstrates what I am talking about:
>
Dim _source As String = "On 07/01/2007 the quick brown fox jumps over

the

lazy dog." & Environment.New Line & _
"On 08/01/2007 the quick brown fox again jumps over the lazy dog." &
Environment.New Line & _
"On Jan/09/2007 the quick brown fox again jumps over the lazy dog." &
Environment.New Line & _
"On 10/Jan/2007 the quick brown fox again jumps over the lazy dog." &
Environment.New Line & _
"On 11/01/07 the quick brown fox again jumps over the lazy dog." &
Environment.New Line & _
"On 01/12/07 the quick brown fox again jumps over the lazy dog." &
Environment.New Line & _
"On Jan/13/07 the quick brown fox again jumps over the lazy dog." &
Environment.New Line & _
"On 14/Jan/07 the quick brown fox again jumps over the lazy dog." &
Environment.New Line & _
"On 15/01 the quick brown fox again jumps over the lazy dog." &
Environment.New Line & _
"The part number XYZ/72/84 is now discontinued."
>
Dim _regex As New
>

Regex("\d{2}/\d{2}/\d{4}|[A-Za-z]{3}/\d{2}/\d{4}|\d{2}/[A-Za-z]{3}/\d{4}|\d{
2}/\d{2}/\d{2}|[A-Za-z]{3}/\d{2}/\d{2}|\d{2}/[A-Za-z]{3}/\d{2}|\d{2}/\d{2}")

>
Dim _candidates As Integer = 0
Dim _matches As Integer = 0
>
Dim _match As Match = _regex.Match(_s ource)
>
While _match.Success
_candidates += 1
Console.WriteLi ne("{0} found at index {1}", _match.Value,

_match.Index)

Try
Console.WriteLi ne("Converted value = {0:yyyy-MM-dd}",
DateTime.ParseE xact(_match.Val ue, New String() {"dd/MM/yyyy",

"MM/dd/yyyy",

"MMM/dd/yyyy", "dd/MMM/yyyy", "dd/MM/yy", "MM/dd/yy", "dd/MMM/yy",
"MMM/dd/yy", "dd/MM"}, Nothing, DateTimeStyles. None))
_matches += 1
Catch _ex As Exception
Console.WriteLi ne(_ex.Message)
End Try
_match = _match.NextMatc h()
End While
>
Console.WriteLi ne("{0} candidates found", _candidates)
>
Console.WriteLi ne("{0} matches found", _matches)
>
>
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:eFm$y5rMHH A.4376@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

You are sort of on the same track as mine.


I must first apologize I did not tell you the complete story.

Although the application does not exactly know before hand what format

the

data may come in, however part of the application allow user to define

and

record favourite for a website
- to extract by text or html
- header content and format
- record format and date format ( that is where the date format mask
come in)
- optionally ordinal number for each column or re-ordering
- trailer content and format

For a given batch, at least for the body, date format are uniform

furthermore, the need to make the extract process generic and adaptable

to

the front end that takes the user definitions, I believe it would be
easier
to "normalize" date string to "yyyy-mm-dd".

Also the end target for of may not necessarily be SQL database but may

be

text, pasted to word report. or excel by user


Therefore, I can transform the date format mask to regex in the
appropriate
format and identifier I can use regex,replace to normalize the date. As

a

matter of fact the date separator does not have to / but can be space as
long as there are identifiable delimiter around the date string.

I already have code for dealing with regex for dates from prior project.
all I have to do is adapt to the present need

who knows, maybe I taken on a totally offbeat tract

"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:%23vnOBJiM HHA.1280@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..

thanks for all pitched in so far.
>
let give it another shot.
>
looks like an easier way out would be
1.copy the date format string regex string holder and then derive the
relevant regex expression to be used for date normalization later in

part

2:

replace the regex string the yyyy to regex year expression with

year

identifier
look for yy and replace with 20yy and repeat the step above
replace mmm with the month regex expression associated with month
identifier
replace mm with the 2 digit month regex expression associated with

month

identifier
replace dd with the 2 digit day regix expression assoc. with day
identifier
>
2. use the resulting regex in regex replace to normalize to yyyy--mm-dd
>
>
any problem with the above approach?
>
"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:%23Qj7TbWM HHA.3944@TK2MSF TNGP06.phx.gbl. ..
GS,

Maybe can you avoid this in 2007 and all things like that as
DateTime.parseE xact, but have a look to the nicely by Microsoft

inbuild

globalization and than the to that related ToString option.

Cor

"gs" <gs@dontMail.te lusschreef in bericht
news:OtrnsPTMHH A.4720@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...
let say I have to deal with various date format and I am give

format

string from one of the following
dd/mm/yyyy
mm/dd/yyyy
dd/mmm/yyyy
mmm/dd/yyyy
dd/mm/yy
mm/dd/yy
dd/mmm/yy
mmm/dd/yy
dd/mm
what is the best way to come up a relevant regex for the incoming

format

string
a) use two array and statically match
b) use regex to find the order
>


>
>

>
>

[Stephany Young]

Re: best design for parse

Now we're cooking with gas. I think that regex is overkill for this
'problem'. Sure, you can use it if you wish but I think you will be making a
rod for your own back.

Here is a solution that works for your sample data. Create a Windows Forms
project, plonk a button on the form and paste the following into the form:

Private m_source1 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11 Dec A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private m_source2 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11 12 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private m_source3 As String = "Parts Parts ID Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11/12/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private m_source4 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11/dec/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private m_source5 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"12 13 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 15 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 18 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 19 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles Button1.Click

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 1")

ProcessData(m_s ource1)

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 2")

ProcessData(m_s ource2)

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 3")

ProcessData(m_s ource3)

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 4")

ProcessData(m_s ource4)

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 5")

ProcessData(m_s ource5)

Console.WriteLi ne()

End Sub

Private Sub ProcessData(ByV al source As String)

' Assumption: Lines of data are seperated by a carriage return/line feed
pair
Dim _lines As String() = source.Split(Ne w String()
{Environment.Ne wLine}, StringSplitOpti ons.RemoveEmpty Entries)

' Determined by eyeballing data: All 'fields' are delimited by a pair of
spaces
Dim _ss As String() = _lines(0).Split (New String() {" "},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)

' Determine which line is the first line of actual data
' If the first line is a heading line then all characters of the first
field will be letters
Dim _lettercount As Integer = 0
For Each _c As Char In _ss(0)
If Char.IsLetter(_ c) Then _lettercount += 1
Next
Dim _firstline As Integer = 0
If _lettercount = _ss(0).Length Then _firstline = 1

'Split the first actual line on the field delimiter
_ss = _lines(_firstli ne).Split(New String() {" "},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)

' Determined by eyeballing data: The date field is always the first
field in the line

' Determine the delimiter to be used for the date format
Dim _delimiter As String = ""
If _ss(0).IndexOf( " ") 0 Then
_delimiter = " "
ElseIf _ss(0).IndexOf( "/") 0 Then
_delimiter = "/"
ElseIf _ss(0).IndexOf( "-") 0 Then
_delimiter = "-"
Else
Console.WriteLi ne("Unable to determine delimiter out of " & _ss(0))
Return
End If
Console.WriteLi ne("Determined delimiter as '" & _delimiter & "'")

' Construct the date format to be used
Dim _format As String = String.Empty
' Split the first field on the date format delimiter
Dim _parts As String() = _ss(0).Split(Ne w String() {_delimiter},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)
If _parts.Length = 2 Then
' If there are 2 parts then we only have day and month components
If Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsLetter(_ parts(1).Chars( 0)) Then
' The 1st part starts with a digit and the 2nd part starts with a
letter
' so we can assume that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd part is
the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & "MMM"
If _parts(1).Lengt h 3 Then _format &= "M"
ElseIf Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsDigit(_p arts(1).Chars(0 )) Then
' Both parts start with a digit
' Start with the assumption that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd
part is the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h))
If Integer.Parse(_ parts(1)) 12 Then
' The 1st part must be the month and the 2nd part must be the day
_format = New String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
End If
' There is big gotcha here if both parts are < 12 and are different
' E.G. We don't really if 01 02 (01/02, 01-02, etc.) should be 1
February or January 2
End If
ElseIf _parts.Length = 3 Then
' If there 3 parts then we have day, month and year components
' Assume that the year is always th 3rd part
If Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsLetter(_ parts(1).Chars( 0)) Then
' The 1st part starts with a digit and the 2nd part starts with a
letter
' so we can assume that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd part is
the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & "MMM"
If _parts(1).Lengt h 3 Then _format &= "M"
_format &= _delimiter & New String("y"c, _parts(2).Lengt h)
ElseIf Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsDigit(_p arts(1).Chars(0 )) Then
' Both parts start with a digit
' Start with the assumption that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd
part is the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
If Integer.Parse(_ parts(1)) 12 Then
' The 1st part must be the month and the 2nd part must be the day
_format = New String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
End If
' There is big gotcha here if the forst two parts are < 12 and are
different
' E.G. We don't really if 01 02 (01/02, 01-02, etc.) should be 1
February or January 2
End If
End If
If _format.Length = 0 Then
' We were unable to determine the date format from the available
information
Console.WriteLi ne("Unable to determine format from " & _ss(0))
Return
End If

' We were able to determine the date format so we can continue and parse
the dates
Console.WriteLi ne("Determined format as " & _format)

' Start from our actual first line of data
For _i As Integer = _firstline To _lines.Length - 1
_ss = _lines(_i).Spli t(New String() {" "}, StringSplitOpti ons.None)
Dim _date As DateTime = DateTime.ParseE xact(_ss(0), _format, Nothing)
Console.WriteLi ne("Read from input: " & _ss(0) & " - Interpreted date:
" & _date.ToString( "yyyy-MM-dd"))
Next

End Sub

Note, from the results, that if there is no year part then
DateTime.ParseE xact will interpret tahe date being in the current year as
determined from the system date at the time the code is executed.


"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:uceG$z0MHH A.4916@TK2MSFTN GP06.phx.gbl...

look like I am not expressing myself clearly. although the application
does
not know which format is used but does know for a given Set which date
format I deals with and can expect the same format for a given Set of
input.
I should not have used the term batch but a set of record. The only
possible variations are some records in certain sets may be split into 2
lines but that is not critical as the conditions can be described before
hand and normalized by the another parse component
>
sample date
>
Set1: date format mask is "dd MMM"
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total
Cost
11 Dec A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
>
Set 2 date format Mask is "dd MM yy"
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total
Cost
11 12 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
Set 3 date format mask "dd/MMM/06"
Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost
11/12/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2018/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2019/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2012/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
Set 4 date format mask ""
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total
Cost
11/dec/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
how do I deal with format without year, I do have cluse for other parts of
teh originatin website and optional default set by user
>
the sample data show variation of date format from set to set but the date
format that I need to deal within a given set are consistant and user has
influence to date format mask used.
>
Like Cor suggestion. don't let user enter the format but let the user pick
from a list. that will like be case at least n the version 0
>
>
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:eFm$y5rMHH A.4376@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

>You are sort of on the same track as mine.
>>
>>
>I must first apologize I did not tell you the complete story.
>>
>Although the application does not exactly know before hand what format
>the
>data may come in, however part of the application allow user to define
>and
>record favourite for a website
> - to extract by text or html
> - header content and format
> - record format and date format ( that is where the date format mask
>come in)
> - optionally ordinal number for each column or re-ordering
> - trailer content and format
>>
>For a given batch, at least for the body, date format are uniform
>>
>furthermore, the need to make the extract process generic and adaptable
>to
>the front end that takes the user definitions, I believe it would be

easier

>to "normalize" date string to "yyyy-mm-dd".
>>
>Also the end target for of may not necessarily be SQL database but may be
>text, pasted to word report. or excel by user
>>
>>
>Therefore, I can transform the date format mask to regex in the

appropriate

>format and identifier I can use regex,replace to normalize the date. As
>a
>matter of fact the date separator does not have to / but can be space as
>long as there are identifiable delimiter around the date string.
>>
>I already have code for dealing with regex for dates from prior project.
>all I have to do is adapt to the present need
>>
>who knows, maybe I taken on a totally offbeat tract
>>
>"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
>news:%23vnOBJi MHHA.1280@TK2MS FTNGP04.phx.gbl ...

thanks for all pitched in so far.
>
let give it another shot.
>
looks like an easier way out would be
1.copy the date format string regex string holder and then derive the
relevant regex expression to be used for date normalization later in

part

>2:

replace the regex string the yyyy to regex year expression with
year
identifier
look for yy and replace with 20yy and repeat the step above
replace mmm with the month regex expression associated with month
identifier
replace mm with the 2 digit month regex expression associated with

>month

identifier
replace dd with the 2 digit day regix expression assoc. with day
identifier
>
2. use the resulting regex in regex replace to normalize to yyyy--mm-dd
>
>
any problem with the above approach?
>
"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:%23Qj7TbWM HHA.3944@TK2MSF TNGP06.phx.gbl. ..
GS,
>
Maybe can you avoid this in 2007 and all things like that as
DateTime.parseE xact, but have a look to the nicely by Microsoft

inbuild

globalization and than the to that related ToString option.
>
Cor
>
"gs" <gs@dontMail.te lusschreef in bericht
news:OtrnsPTMHH A.4720@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...
let say I have to deal with various date format and I am give
format
string from one of the following
dd/mm/yyyy
mm/dd/yyyy
dd/mmm/yyyy
mmm/dd/yyyy
dd/mm/yy
mm/dd/yy
dd/mmm/yy
mmm/dd/yy
dd/mm
what is the best way to come up a relevant regex for the incoming

>format

string
a) use two array and statically match
b) use regex to find the order

>
>
>
>

>>
>>

>
>

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Re: best design for parse

Stephany,

I am curious, what does this phrase mean, I don't know it.

Now we're cooking with gas.

(Living in Holland which is above one of the former biggest gasbells of
Europe)

Cor

[Stephany Young]

Re: best design for parse

It's a euphemism for:

Efficiently performing a task after a long period
of inefficient performance or possibly failed
attempts at the entire task or certain steps in the process.

Vefore we saw the sample data we were 'shooting in the dark'. As soon as the
sample data was posted it all became clear.


"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:%23H3tLJ7M HHA.1280@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..

Stephany,
>
I am curious, what does this phrase mean, I don't know it.
>

>Now we're cooking with gas.

>
(Living in Holland which is above one of the former biggest gasbells of
Europe)
>
Cor
>

[GS]

Re: best design for parse

I see the code work hard on does work most a lot of cases, but it not better
we get assistance from user who knows what date format being used? That is
the rationale I let user somehow pick the date format mask. Guessing date
format is tough to master for all cases. Not only months, days can be
indeterminate at time; worse when 2 digit year is used. I have seen some
sample data that is way out of ordinary date format commonly seen in US.

relying the first 1 or 2 being numeric would miss out quite a few cases.
Nonetheless. the code can be a default in absence of user spec. . thank you
very much for that

Sorry for misleading you with incomplete data samples.
There are sample data set where the first column is not date. on the other
sometimes first 2 columns can also be dates as well as rarely another column
else where can to date. this sound incredulous but that's what users have
to content with.

"Stephany Young" <noone@localhos twrote in message
news:edlcDJ5MHH A.1252@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

Now we're cooking with gas. I think that regex is overkill for this
'problem'. Sure, you can use it if you wish but I think you will be making

a

rod for your own back.
>
Here is a solution that works for your sample data. Create a Windows Forms
project, plonk a button on the form and paste the following into the form:
>
Private m_source1 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11 Dec A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private m_source2 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11 12 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private m_source3 As String = "Parts Parts ID Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11/12/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private m_source4 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11/dec/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private m_source5 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"12 13 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 15 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 18 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 19 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles Button1.Click
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 1")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource1)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 2")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource2)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 3")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource3)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 4")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource4)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 5")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource5)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
End Sub
>
Private Sub ProcessData(ByV al source As String)
>
' Assumption: Lines of data are seperated by a carriage return/line

feed

pair
Dim _lines As String() = source.Split(Ne w String()
{Environment.Ne wLine}, StringSplitOpti ons.RemoveEmpty Entries)
>
' Determined by eyeballing data: All 'fields' are delimited by a pair

of

spaces
Dim _ss As String() = _lines(0).Split (New String() {" "},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)
>
' Determine which line is the first line of actual data
' If the first line is a heading line then all characters of the first
field will be letters
Dim _lettercount As Integer = 0
For Each _c As Char In _ss(0)
If Char.IsLetter(_ c) Then _lettercount += 1
Next
Dim _firstline As Integer = 0
If _lettercount = _ss(0).Length Then _firstline = 1
>
'Split the first actual line on the field delimiter
_ss = _lines(_firstli ne).Split(New String() {" "},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)
>
' Determined by eyeballing data: The date field is always the first
field in the line
>
' Determine the delimiter to be used for the date format
Dim _delimiter As String = ""
If _ss(0).IndexOf( " ") 0 Then
_delimiter = " "
ElseIf _ss(0).IndexOf( "/") 0 Then
_delimiter = "/"
ElseIf _ss(0).IndexOf( "-") 0 Then
_delimiter = "-"
Else
Console.WriteLi ne("Unable to determine delimiter out of " & _ss(0))
Return
End If
Console.WriteLi ne("Determined delimiter as '" & _delimiter & "'")
>
' Construct the date format to be used
Dim _format As String = String.Empty
' Split the first field on the date format delimiter
Dim _parts As String() = _ss(0).Split(Ne w String() {_delimiter},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)
If _parts.Length = 2 Then
' If there are 2 parts then we only have day and month components
If Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsLetter(_ parts(1).Chars( 0)) Then
' The 1st part starts with a digit and the 2nd part starts with a
letter
' so we can assume that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd part

is

the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & "MMM"
If _parts(1).Lengt h 3 Then _format &= "M"
ElseIf Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsDigit(_p arts(1).Chars(0 )) Then
' Both parts start with a digit
' Start with the assumption that the 1st part is the day and the

2nd

part is the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h))
If Integer.Parse(_ parts(1)) 12 Then
' The 1st part must be the month and the 2nd part must be the

day

_format = New String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
End If
' There is big gotcha here if both parts are < 12 and are

different

' E.G. We don't really if 01 02 (01/02, 01-02, etc.) should be 1
February or January 2
End If
ElseIf _parts.Length = 3 Then
' If there 3 parts then we have day, month and year components
' Assume that the year is always th 3rd part
If Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsLetter(_ parts(1).Chars( 0)) Then
' The 1st part starts with a digit and the 2nd part starts with a
letter
' so we can assume that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd part

is

the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & "MMM"
If _parts(1).Lengt h 3 Then _format &= "M"
_format &= _delimiter & New String("y"c, _parts(2).Lengt h)
ElseIf Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsDigit(_p arts(1).Chars(0 )) Then
' Both parts start with a digit
' Start with the assumption that the 1st part is the day and the

2nd

part is the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
If Integer.Parse(_ parts(1)) 12 Then
' The 1st part must be the month and the 2nd part must be the

day

_format = New String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
End If
' There is big gotcha here if the forst two parts are < 12 and are
different
' E.G. We don't really if 01 02 (01/02, 01-02, etc.) should be 1
February or January 2
End If
End If
If _format.Length = 0 Then
' We were unable to determine the date format from the available
information
Console.WriteLi ne("Unable to determine format from " & _ss(0))
Return
End If
>
' We were able to determine the date format so we can continue and

parse

the dates
Console.WriteLi ne("Determined format as " & _format)
>
' Start from our actual first line of data
For _i As Integer = _firstline To _lines.Length - 1
_ss = _lines(_i).Spli t(New String() {" "}, StringSplitOpti ons.None)
Dim _date As DateTime = DateTime.ParseE xact(_ss(0), _format,

Nothing)

Console.WriteLi ne("Read from input: " & _ss(0) & " - Interpreted

date:

" & _date.ToString( "yyyy-MM-dd"))
Next
>
End Sub
>
Note, from the results, that if there is no year part then
DateTime.ParseE xact will interpret tahe date being in the current year as
determined from the system date at the time the code is executed.
>
>
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:uceG$z0MHH A.4916@TK2MSFTN GP06.phx.gbl...

look like I am not expressing myself clearly. although the application
does
not know which format is used but does know for a given Set which date
format I deals with and can expect the same format for a given Set of
input.
I should not have used the term batch but a set of record. The only
possible variations are some records in certain sets may be split into 2
lines but that is not critical as the conditions can be described before
hand and normalized by the another parse component

sample date

Set1: date format mask is "dd MMM"
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total
Cost
11 Dec A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20


Set 2 date format Mask is "dd MM yy"
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total
Cost
11 12 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20

Set 3 date format mask "dd/MMM/06"
Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost
11/12/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2018/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2019/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2012/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20

Set 4 date format mask ""
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total
Cost
11/dec/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20

how do I deal with format without year, I do have cluse for other parts

of

teh originatin website and optional default set by user

the sample data show variation of date format from set to set but the

date

format that I need to deal within a given set are consistant and user

has

influence to date format mask used.

Like Cor suggestion. don't let user enter the format but let the user

pick

from a list. that will like be case at least n the version 0


"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:eFm$y5rMHH A.4376@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

You are sort of on the same track as mine.
>
>
I must first apologize I did not tell you the complete story.
>
Although the application does not exactly know before hand what format
the
data may come in, however part of the application allow user to define
and
record favourite for a website
- to extract by text or html
- header content and format
- record format and date format ( that is where the date format

mask

come in)
- optionally ordinal number for each column or re-ordering
- trailer content and format
>
For a given batch, at least for the body, date format are uniform
>
furthermore, the need to make the extract process generic and adaptable
to
the front end that takes the user definitions, I believe it would be

easier

to "normalize" date string to "yyyy-mm-dd".
>
Also the end target for of may not necessarily be SQL database but may

be

text, pasted to word report. or excel by user
>
>
Therefore, I can transform the date format mask to regex in the

appropriate

format and identifier I can use regex,replace to normalize the date.

As

a
matter of fact the date separator does not have to / but can be space

as

long as there are identifiable delimiter around the date string.
>
I already have code for dealing with regex for dates from prior

project.

all I have to do is adapt to the present need
>
who knows, maybe I taken on a totally offbeat tract
>
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:%23vnOBJiM HHA.1280@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..
thanks for all pitched in so far.

let give it another shot.

looks like an easier way out would be
1.copy the date format string regex string holder and then derive

the

relevant regex expression to be used for date normalization later in

part

2:
replace the regex string the yyyy to regex year expression with
year
identifier
look for yy and replace with 20yy and repeat the step above
replace mmm with the month regex expression associated with month
identifier
replace mm with the 2 digit month regex expression associated

with

month
identifier
replace dd with the 2 digit day regix expression assoc. with day
identifier

2. use the resulting regex in regex replace to normalize to

yyyy--mm-dd

any problem with the above approach?

"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:%23Qj7TbWM HHA.3944@TK2MSF TNGP06.phx.gbl. ..
GS,
>
Maybe can you avoid this in 2007 and all things like that as
DateTime.parseE xact, but have a look to the nicely by Microsoft

inbuild

globalization and than the to that related ToString option.
>
Cor
>
"gs" <gs@dontMail.te lusschreef in bericht
news:OtrnsPTMHH A.4720@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...
let say I have to deal with various date format and I am give
format
string from one of the following
dd/mm/yyyy
mm/dd/yyyy
dd/mmm/yyyy
mmm/dd/yyyy
dd/mm/yy
mm/dd/yy
dd/mmm/yy
mmm/dd/yy
dd/mm
what is the best way to come up a relevant regex for the incoming
format
string
a) use two array and statically match
b) use regex to find the order

>
>


>
>

>
>

[GS]

Re: best design for parse- resent please ignore prev

oops. Please pardon my bad typo and proof reading
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:OeomX07MHH A.2456@TK2MSFTN GP06.phx.gbl...
I see the code (you put a lot effort in) does work on a lot of cases. much
appreciated.

However would it not be better we get assistance from user who knows what
date format being used?

That is the rationale I let user somehow pick the date format mask.
Guessing date format is tough to master for all cases. Not only months,
days can be
indeterminate at times; worse when 2 digit year is used. I have seen some
sample data that is way out of ordinary date format commonly seen in US.

Relying the first 1 or 2 being numeric would miss out quite a few cases.
Nonetheless. the code can be a default process in absence of user spec. .
thank you
very much for that

Sorry for misleading you with incomplete data samples.
There are sample data set where the first column is not date. on the other
sometimes first 2 columns can also be dates as well as rarely another column
else where can to date. this sound incredulous but that's what users have
to contend with.

"Stephany Young" <noone@localhos twrote in message
news:edlcDJ5MHH A.1252@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

Now we're cooking with gas. I think that regex is overkill for this
'problem'. Sure, you can use it if you wish but I think you will be

making

a

rod for your own back.

Here is a solution that works for your sample data. Create a Windows

Forms

project, plonk a button on the form and paste the following into the

form:

Private m_source1 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description

location

Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11 Dec A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private m_source2 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description

location

Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11 12 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00"

&

Environment.New Line & _
"15 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private m_source3 As String = "Parts Parts ID Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11/12/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00"

&

Environment.New Line & _
"15/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private m_source4 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description

location

Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11/dec/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00"

&

Environment.New Line & _
"15/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private m_source5 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description

location

Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"12 13 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00"

&

Environment.New Line & _
"12 15 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 18 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 19 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"

Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles Button1.Click

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 1")

ProcessData(m_s ource1)

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 2")

ProcessData(m_s ource2)

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 3")

ProcessData(m_s ource3)

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 4")

ProcessData(m_s ource4)

Console.WriteLi ne()

Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 5")

ProcessData(m_s ource5)

Console.WriteLi ne()

End Sub

Private Sub ProcessData(ByV al source As String)

' Assumption: Lines of data are seperated by a carriage return/line

feed

pair
Dim _lines As String() = source.Split(Ne w String()
{Environment.Ne wLine}, StringSplitOpti ons.RemoveEmpty Entries)

' Determined by eyeballing data: All 'fields' are delimited by a

pair

of

spaces
Dim _ss As String() = _lines(0).Split (New String() {" "},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)

' Determine which line is the first line of actual data
' If the first line is a heading line then all characters of the

first

field will be letters
Dim _lettercount As Integer = 0
For Each _c As Char In _ss(0)
If Char.IsLetter(_ c) Then _lettercount += 1
Next
Dim _firstline As Integer = 0
If _lettercount = _ss(0).Length Then _firstline = 1

'Split the first actual line on the field delimiter
_ss = _lines(_firstli ne).Split(New String() {" "},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)

' Determined by eyeballing data: The date field is always the first
field in the line

' Determine the delimiter to be used for the date format
Dim _delimiter As String = ""
If _ss(0).IndexOf( " ") 0 Then
_delimiter = " "
ElseIf _ss(0).IndexOf( "/") 0 Then
_delimiter = "/"
ElseIf _ss(0).IndexOf( "-") 0 Then
_delimiter = "-"
Else
Console.WriteLi ne("Unable to determine delimiter out of " &

_ss(0))

Return
End If
Console.WriteLi ne("Determined delimiter as '" & _delimiter & "'")

' Construct the date format to be used
Dim _format As String = String.Empty
' Split the first field on the date format delimiter
Dim _parts As String() = _ss(0).Split(Ne w String() {_delimiter},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)
If _parts.Length = 2 Then
' If there are 2 parts then we only have day and month components
If Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsLetter(_ parts(1).Chars( 0)) Then
' The 1st part starts with a digit and the 2nd part starts with

a

letter
' so we can assume that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd part

is

the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter &

"MMM"

If _parts(1).Lengt h 3 Then _format &= "M"
ElseIf Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsDigit(_p arts(1).Chars(0 )) Then
' Both parts start with a digit
' Start with the assumption that the 1st part is the day and the

2nd

part is the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h))
If Integer.Parse(_ parts(1)) 12 Then
' The 1st part must be the month and the 2nd part must be the

day

_format = New String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter &

New

String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
End If
' There is big gotcha here if both parts are < 12 and are

different

' E.G. We don't really if 01 02 (01/02, 01-02, etc.) should be 1
February or January 2
End If
ElseIf _parts.Length = 3 Then
' If there 3 parts then we have day, month and year components
' Assume that the year is always th 3rd part
If Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsLetter(_ parts(1).Chars( 0)) Then
' The 1st part starts with a digit and the 2nd part starts with

a

letter
' so we can assume that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd part

is

the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter &

"MMM"

If _parts(1).Lengt h 3 Then _format &= "M"
_format &= _delimiter & New String("y"c, _parts(2).Lengt h)
ElseIf Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsDigit(_p arts(1).Chars(0 )) Then
' Both parts start with a digit
' Start with the assumption that the 1st part is the day and the

2nd

part is the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
If Integer.Parse(_ parts(1)) 12 Then
' The 1st part must be the month and the 2nd part must be the

day

_format = New String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter &

New

String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
End If
' There is big gotcha here if the forst two parts are < 12 and

are

different
' E.G. We don't really if 01 02 (01/02, 01-02, etc.) should be 1
February or January 2
End If
End If
If _format.Length = 0 Then
' We were unable to determine the date format from the available
information
Console.WriteLi ne("Unable to determine format from " & _ss(0))
Return
End If

' We were able to determine the date format so we can continue and

parse

the dates
Console.WriteLi ne("Determined format as " & _format)

' Start from our actual first line of data
For _i As Integer = _firstline To _lines.Length - 1
_ss = _lines(_i).Spli t(New String() {" "},

StringSplitOpti ons.None)

Dim _date As DateTime = DateTime.ParseE xact(_ss(0), _format,

Nothing)

Console.WriteLi ne("Read from input: " & _ss(0) & " - Interpreted

date:

" & _date.ToString( "yyyy-MM-dd"))
Next

End Sub

Note, from the results, that if there is no year part then
DateTime.ParseE xact will interpret tahe date being in the current year

as

determined from the system date at the time the code is executed.


"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:uceG$z0MHH A.4916@TK2MSFTN GP06.phx.gbl...

look like I am not expressing myself clearly. although the

application

does
not know which format is used but does know for a given Set which date
format I deals with and can expect the same format for a given Set of
input.
I should not have used the term batch but a set of record. The only
possible variations are some records in certain sets may be split into

2

lines but that is not critical as the conditions can be described

before

hand and normalized by the another parse component
>
sample date
>
Set1: date format mask is "dd MMM"
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost

Total

Cost
11 Dec A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
>
Set 2 date format Mask is "dd MM yy"
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost

Total

Cost
11 12 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00

20.00

15 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
Set 3 date format mask "dd/MMM/06"
Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost
11/12/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00

20.00

15/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2018/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2019/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2012/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
Set 4 date format mask ""
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost

Total

Cost
11/dec/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00

20.00

15/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
how do I deal with format without year, I do have cluse for other

parts

of

teh originatin website and optional default set by user
>
the sample data show variation of date format from set to set but the

date

format that I need to deal within a given set are consistant and user

has

influence to date format mask used.
>
Like Cor suggestion. don't let user enter the format but let the user

pick

from a list. that will like be case at least n the version 0
>
>
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:eFm$y5rMHH A.4376@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...
>You are sort of on the same track as mine.
>>
>>
>I must first apologize I did not tell you the complete story.
>>
>Although the application does not exactly know before hand what

format

>the
>data may come in, however part of the application allow user to

define

>and
>record favourite for a website
> - to extract by text or html
> - header content and format
> - record format and date format ( that is where the date format

mask

>come in)
> - optionally ordinal number for each column or re-ordering
> - trailer content and format
>>
>For a given batch, at least for the body, date format are uniform
>>
>furthermore, the need to make the extract process generic and

adaptable

>to
>the front end that takes the user definitions, I believe it would be
easier
>to "normalize" date string to "yyyy-mm-dd".
>>
>Also the end target for of may not necessarily be SQL database but

may

be

>text, pasted to word report. or excel by user
>>
>>
>Therefore, I can transform the date format mask to regex in the
appropriate
>format and identifier I can use regex,replace to normalize the date.

As

>a
>matter of fact the date separator does not have to / but can be space

as

>long as there are identifiable delimiter around the date string.
>>
>I already have code for dealing with regex for dates from prior

project.

>all I have to do is adapt to the present need
>>
>who knows, maybe I taken on a totally offbeat tract
>>
>"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
>news:%23vnOBJi MHHA.1280@TK2MS FTNGP04.phx.gbl ...
thanks for all pitched in so far.
>
let give it another shot.
>
looks like an easier way out would be
1.copy the date format string regex string holder and then derive

the

relevant regex expression to be used for date normalization later

in

part
>2:
replace the regex string the yyyy to regex year expression with
year
identifier
look for yy and replace with 20yy and repeat the step above
replace mmm with the month regex expression associated with

month

identifier
replace mm with the 2 digit month regex expression associated

with

>month
identifier
replace dd with the 2 digit day regix expression assoc. with

day

identifier
>
2. use the resulting regex in regex replace to normalize to

yyyy--mm-dd

>
>
any problem with the above approach?
>
"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:%23Qj7TbWM HHA.3944@TK2MSF TNGP06.phx.gbl. ..
GS,
>
Maybe can you avoid this in 2007 and all things like that as
DateTime.parseE xact, but have a look to the nicely by Microsoft
inbuild
globalization and than the to that related ToString option.
>
Cor
>
"gs" <gs@dontMail.te lusschreef in bericht
news:OtrnsPTMHH A.4720@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...
let say I have to deal with various date format and I am give
format
string from one of the following
dd/mm/yyyy
mm/dd/yyyy
dd/mmm/yyyy
mmm/dd/yyyy
dd/mm/yy
mm/dd/yy
dd/mmm/yy
mmm/dd/yy
dd/mm
what is the best way to come up a relevant regex for the

incoming

>format
string
a) use two array and statically match
b) use regex to find the order

>
>
>
>
>>
>>
>
>

>
>

[Stephany Young]

Re: best design for parse- resent please ignore prev

Now I'm confused.

You have being the impression that you don't have any control on how the
data is 'gathered'.

Now you seem to be saying that you do have control.

If that is the case simply validate the data at the time the user inputs it.

If that is not the case then I think it's time you explained the big
picture.


"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:eSykQ87MHH A.3424@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

oops. Please pardon my bad typo and proof reading
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:OeomX07MHH A.2456@TK2MSFTN GP06.phx.gbl...
I see the code (you put a lot effort in) does work on a lot of cases.
much
appreciated.
>
However would it not be better we get assistance from user who knows what
date format being used?
>
That is the rationale I let user somehow pick the date format mask.
Guessing date format is tough to master for all cases. Not only months,
days can be
indeterminate at times; worse when 2 digit year is used. I have seen
some
sample data that is way out of ordinary date format commonly seen in US.
>
Relying the first 1 or 2 being numeric would miss out quite a few cases.
Nonetheless. the code can be a default process in absence of user spec. .
thank you
very much for that
>
Sorry for misleading you with incomplete data samples.
There are sample data set where the first column is not date. on the
other
sometimes first 2 columns can also be dates as well as rarely another
column
else where can to date. this sound incredulous but that's what users have
to contend with.
>

>"Stephany Young" <noone@localhos twrote in message
>news:edlcDJ5MH HA.1252@TK2MSFT NGP02.phx.gbl.. .

Now we're cooking with gas. I think that regex is overkill for this
'problem'. Sure, you can use it if you wish but I think you will be

making

>a

rod for your own back.
>
Here is a solution that works for your sample data. Create a Windows

Forms

project, plonk a button on the form and paste the following into the

form:

>
Private m_source1 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description

location

Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11 Dec A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00" &
Environment.New Line & _
"15 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private m_source2 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description

location

Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11 12 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00"

&

Environment.New Line & _
"15 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private m_source3 As String = "Parts Parts ID Description location
Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11/12/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00"

&

Environment.New Line & _
"15/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private m_source4 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description

location

Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"11/dec/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00
20.00"

&

Environment.New Line & _
"15/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"18/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"19/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private m_source5 As String = "Date Parts ID Parts Description

location

Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost" & Environment.New Line & _
"12 13 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00"

&

Environment.New Line & _
"12 15 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 18 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 19 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20" &
Environment.New Line & _
"12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20"
>
Private Sub Button1_Click(B yVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles Button1.Click
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 1")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource1)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 2")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource2)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 3")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource3)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 4")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource4)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
Console.WriteLi ne("Sample 5")
>
ProcessData(m_s ource5)
>
Console.WriteLi ne()
>
End Sub
>
Private Sub ProcessData(ByV al source As String)
>
' Assumption: Lines of data are seperated by a carriage return/line

>feed

pair
Dim _lines As String() = source.Split(Ne w String()
{Environment.Ne wLine}, StringSplitOpti ons.RemoveEmpty Entries)
>
' Determined by eyeballing data: All 'fields' are delimited by a

pair

>of

spaces
Dim _ss As String() = _lines(0).Split (New String() {" "},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)
>
' Determine which line is the first line of actual data
' If the first line is a heading line then all characters of the

first

field will be letters
Dim _lettercount As Integer = 0
For Each _c As Char In _ss(0)
If Char.IsLetter(_ c) Then _lettercount += 1
Next
Dim _firstline As Integer = 0
If _lettercount = _ss(0).Length Then _firstline = 1
>
'Split the first actual line on the field delimiter
_ss = _lines(_firstli ne).Split(New String() {" "},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)
>
' Determined by eyeballing data: The date field is always the first
field in the line
>
' Determine the delimiter to be used for the date format
Dim _delimiter As String = ""
If _ss(0).IndexOf( " ") 0 Then
_delimiter = " "
ElseIf _ss(0).IndexOf( "/") 0 Then
_delimiter = "/"
ElseIf _ss(0).IndexOf( "-") 0 Then
_delimiter = "-"
Else
Console.WriteLi ne("Unable to determine delimiter out of " &

_ss(0))

Return
End If
Console.WriteLi ne("Determined delimiter as '" & _delimiter & "'")
>
' Construct the date format to be used
Dim _format As String = String.Empty
' Split the first field on the date format delimiter
Dim _parts As String() = _ss(0).Split(Ne w String() {_delimiter},
StringSplitOpti ons.None)
If _parts.Length = 2 Then
' If there are 2 parts then we only have day and month components
If Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsLetter(_ parts(1).Chars( 0)) Then
' The 1st part starts with a digit and the 2nd part starts with

a

letter
' so we can assume that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd
part

>is

the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter &

"MMM"

If _parts(1).Lengt h 3 Then _format &= "M"
ElseIf Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsDigit(_p arts(1).Chars(0 )) Then
' Both parts start with a digit
' Start with the assumption that the 1st part is the day and
the

>2nd

part is the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h))
If Integer.Parse(_ parts(1)) 12 Then
' The 1st part must be the month and the 2nd part must be the

>day

_format = New String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter &

New

String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
End If
' There is big gotcha here if both parts are < 12 and are

>different

' E.G. We don't really if 01 02 (01/02, 01-02, etc.) should be
1
February or January 2
End If
ElseIf _parts.Length = 3 Then
' If there 3 parts then we have day, month and year components
' Assume that the year is always th 3rd part
If Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsLetter(_ parts(1).Chars( 0)) Then
' The 1st part starts with a digit and the 2nd part starts with

a

letter
' so we can assume that the 1st part is the day and the 2nd
part

>is

the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter &

"MMM"

If _parts(1).Lengt h 3 Then _format &= "M"
_format &= _delimiter & New String("y"c, _parts(2).Lengt h)
ElseIf Char.IsDigit(_p arts(0).Chars(0 )) AndAlso
Char.IsDigit(_p arts(1).Chars(0 )) Then
' Both parts start with a digit
' Start with the assumption that the 1st part is the day and
the

>2nd

part is the month
_format = New String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New
String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
If Integer.Parse(_ parts(1)) 12 Then
' The 1st part must be the month and the 2nd part must be the

>day

_format = New String("M"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter &

New

String("d"c, _parts(0).Lengt h) & _delimiter & New String("y"c,
_parts(2).Lengt h)
End If
' There is big gotcha here if the forst two parts are < 12 and

are

different
' E.G. We don't really if 01 02 (01/02, 01-02, etc.) should be
1
February or January 2
End If
End If
If _format.Length = 0 Then
' We were unable to determine the date format from the available
information
Console.WriteLi ne("Unable to determine format from " & _ss(0))
Return
End If
>
' We were able to determine the date format so we can continue and

>parse

the dates
Console.WriteLi ne("Determined format as " & _format)
>
' Start from our actual first line of data
For _i As Integer = _firstline To _lines.Length - 1
_ss = _lines(_i).Spli t(New String() {" "},

StringSplitOpti ons.None)

Dim _date As DateTime = DateTime.ParseE xact(_ss(0), _format,

>Nothing)

Console.WriteLi ne("Read from input: " & _ss(0) & " - Interpreted

>date:

" & _date.ToString( "yyyy-MM-dd"))
Next
>
End Sub
>
Note, from the results, that if there is no year part then
DateTime.ParseE xact will interpret tahe date being in the current year

as

determined from the system date at the time the code is executed.
>
>
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:uceG$z0MHH A.4916@TK2MSFTN GP06.phx.gbl...
look like I am not expressing myself clearly. although the

application

does
not know which format is used but does know for a given Set which
date
format I deals with and can expect the same format for a given Set of
input.
I should not have used the term batch but a set of record. The only
possible variations are some records in certain sets may be split
into

2

lines but that is not critical as the conditions can be described

before

hand and normalized by the another parse component
>
sample date
>
Set1: date format mask is "dd MMM"
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost

Total

Cost
11 Dec A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00 20.00
15 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12 Dec A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
>
Set 2 date format Mask is "dd MM yy"
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost

Total

Cost
11 12 06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00

20.00

15 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12 12 06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
Set 3 date format mask "dd/MMM/06"
Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost Total Cost
11/12/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00

20.00

15/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2018/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2019/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00
2012/12/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
Set 4 date format mask ""
Date Parts ID Parts Description location Quantitiy Unit Cost

Total

Cost
11/dec/06 A1234987 Sample Parts description W1I1R4S1 2 10.00

20.00

15/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
18/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
19/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
12/dec/06 A1234988 Sample Parts description 1 10.00 20
>
how do I deal with format without year, I do have cluse for other

parts

>of

teh originatin website and optional default set by user
>
the sample data show variation of date format from set to set but the

>date

format that I need to deal within a given set are consistant and user

>has

influence to date format mask used.
>
Like Cor suggestion. don't let user enter the format but let the user

>pick

from a list. that will like be case at least n the version 0
>
>
"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
news:eFm$y5rMHH A.4376@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...
>You are sort of on the same track as mine.
>>
>>
>I must first apologize I did not tell you the complete story.
>>
>Although the application does not exactly know before hand what

format

>the
>data may come in, however part of the application allow user to

define

>and
>record favourite for a website
> - to extract by text or html
> - header content and format
> - record format and date format ( that is where the date format

>mask

>come in)
> - optionally ordinal number for each column or re-ordering
> - trailer content and format
>>
>For a given batch, at least for the body, date format are uniform
>>
>furthermore, the need to make the extract process generic and

adaptable

>to
>the front end that takes the user definitions, I believe it would be
easier
>to "normalize" date string to "yyyy-mm-dd".
>>
>Also the end target for of may not necessarily be SQL database but

may

>be

>text, pasted to word report. or excel by user
>>
>>
>Therefore, I can transform the date format mask to regex in the
appropriate
>format and identifier I can use regex,replace to normalize the date.

>As

>a
>matter of fact the date separator does not have to / but can be
>space

>as

>long as there are identifiable delimiter around the date string.
>>
>I already have code for dealing with regex for dates from prior

>project.

>all I have to do is adapt to the present need
>>
>who knows, maybe I taken on a totally offbeat tract
>>
>"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comwr ote in message
>news:%23vnOBJi MHHA.1280@TK2MS FTNGP04.phx.gbl ...
thanks for all pitched in so far.
>
let give it another shot.
>
looks like an easier way out would be
1.copy the date format string regex string holder and then derive

>the

relevant regex expression to be used for date normalization later

in

part
>2:
replace the regex string the yyyy to regex year expression
with
year
identifier
look for yy and replace with 20yy and repeat the step above
replace mmm with the month regex expression associated with

month

identifier
replace mm with the 2 digit month regex expression associated

>with

>month
identifier
replace dd with the 2 digit day regix expression assoc. with

day

identifier
>
2. use the resulting regex in regex replace to normalize to

>yyyy--mm-dd

>
>
any problem with the above approach?
>
"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:%23Qj7TbWM HHA.3944@TK2MSF TNGP06.phx.gbl. ..
GS,
>
Maybe can you avoid this in 2007 and all things like that as
DateTime.parseE xact, but have a look to the nicely by Microsoft
inbuild
globalization and than the to that related ToString option.
>
Cor
>
"gs" <gs@dontMail.te lusschreef in bericht
news:OtrnsPTMHH A.4720@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...
let say I have to deal with various date format and I am give
format
string from one of the following
dd/mm/yyyy
mm/dd/yyyy
dd/mmm/yyyy
mmm/dd/yyyy
dd/mm/yy
mm/dd/yy
dd/mmm/yy
mmm/dd/yy
dd/mm
what is the best way to come up a relevant regex for the

incoming

>format
string
a) use two array and statically match
b) use regex to find the order

>
>
>
>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

>>
>>

>
>

[kgerritsen]

Re: best design for parse


Cor Ligthert [MVP] wrote:

Stephany,
>
I am curious, what does this phrase mean, I don't know it.
>

Now we're cooking with gas.

>
(Living in Holland which is above one of the former biggest gasbells of
Europe)
>
Cor

It's somewhat, in some senses but not perfectly, an opposite of
"gezellig"

:)

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Re: best design for parse- resent please ignore prev

GS,

You are assuming something that is standard. For today I can write in my
country

9-1-07
09-1-07
9-01-7
09-1-2007
9-jan-2007
9-januari-2007
etc. not any law tels me how to do it, it is not seldom done as
2007-01-09 as well in ISO.

And than every culture has its own style.


Cor

[Stephany Young]

Re: best design for parse

If my understanding of the meaning 'gezellig' is correct, then 'cooking with
gas' is nothing like any sort of opposite of 'gezellig'.

My understanding of 'gezellig' is that, although not directly translatable,
means something like 'feeling good amongst family and/or friends' but has
much more subtle meanings than that.

'Cooking with gas' means to be working fast/proceeding rapidly. For example:

After working with thos old hand tools, power tools will
make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.

Metaphorically it is comparing a gas cooker where you get instant heat when
you light it, to other cookers (electric, wood coal, etc) where they take a
while to warm up.


"kgerritsen " <kig25@drexel.e duwrote in message
news:1168354601 .946949.308190@ s34g2000cwa.goo glegroups.com.. .

>
Cor Ligthert [MVP] wrote:

>Stephany,
>>
>I am curious, what does this phrase mean, I don't know it.
>>

Now we're cooking with gas.

>>
>(Living in Holland which is above one of the former biggest gasbells of
>Europe)
>>
>Cor

>
It's somewhat, in some senses but not perfectly, an opposite of
"gezellig"
>
:)
>

[GS]

Re: best design for parse- resent please ignore prev

you're right every culture has it won style.

However the current project charter covers only data from
professional/commercial site with reputation of accuracy of date format
and content
other application that has consistent date format
of course if we can cover other unusual date format variations without
exceeding budget, it will be welcomed but I sure don't want to get involved
until everything is completed for the charter.

the date in the data gathered by user ( they don't key directly, thank
goodness)do fall in 2 digit day and month, standard English 3 letter month
or full months - no spelling errors. The users don't really enter the data.
user controls the site the application to visit. One way or another user
specify a date format mask for the data to be processed

NO the component and application is not expected to handle spelling error
but expected to deal with common date format in US, Canada(English ). There
may be more later on but that is not my worry for this project scope.

thanks to the aborted metrication (and so call freedom of speech) there are
a few more variants of date format from US.


As of yyyy-mm-dd format is a safe common format to use in N. America for
software published by Microsoft. I have yet to seen any Microsoft
application fails to convert the yyyy-mm-dd string to date properly among my
users base unless they arbitrary to set the windows date format to
yyyy-dd-mm

I suppose using yyyy-MMM-dd as the remediate string date will avoid that
issue al together

The real tricky part is to validate the users' date format mask against
actual data found. that is why regex replace was tempting to me


you are right regex replace will still not be able handle all mistakes


"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:u8MdYbBNHH A.4992@TK2MSFTN GP04.phx.gbl...

GS,
>
You are assuming something that is standard. For today I can write in my
country
>
9-1-07
09-1-07
9-01-7
09-1-2007
9-jan-2007
9-januari-2007
etc. not any law tels me how to do it, it is not seldom done as
2007-01-09 as well in ISO.
>
And than every culture has its own style.
>
>
Cor
>
>

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Re: best design for parse- resent please ignore prev

GS,

In my idea dit you not see my first advice just checking agains the DateTime
with TryParse will give you direct the idea if the dateTime can be valid.

Another addition. Canada(English) has AFAIK the same date time patern as all
former and current Gemenebest members in the parts where English is the
spoken languages.

Cor

"GS" <gsmsnews.micro soft.comGS@msne ws.Nomail.comsc hreef in bericht
news:esQ5ZHJNHH A.4720@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

you're right every culture has it won style.
>
However the current project charter covers only data from
professional/commercial site with reputation of accuracy of date format
and content
other application that has consistent date format
of course if we can cover other unusual date format variations without
exceeding budget, it will be welcomed but I sure don't want to get
involved
until everything is completed for the charter.
>
the date in the data gathered by user ( they don't key directly, thank
goodness)do fall in 2 digit day and month, standard English 3 letter
month
or full months - no spelling errors. The users don't really enter the
data.
user controls the site the application to visit. One way or another user
specify a date format mask for the data to be processed
>
NO the component and application is not expected to handle spelling error
but expected to deal with common date format in US, Canada(English ).
There
may be more later on but that is not my worry for this project scope.
>
thanks to the aborted metrication (and so call freedom of speech) there
are
a few more variants of date format from US.
>
>
As of yyyy-mm-dd format is a safe common format to use in N. America for
software published by Microsoft. I have yet to seen any Microsoft
application fails to convert the yyyy-mm-dd string to date properly among
my
users base unless they arbitrary to set the windows date format to
yyyy-dd-mm
>
I suppose using yyyy-MMM-dd as the remediate string date will avoid that
issue al together
>
The real tricky part is to validate the users' date format mask against
actual data found. that is why regex replace was tempting to me
>
>
you are right regex replace will still not be able handle all mistakes
>
>
"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:u8MdYbBNHH A.4992@TK2MSFTN GP04.phx.gbl...

>GS,
>>
>You are assuming something that is standard. For today I can write in my
>country
>>
>9-1-07
>09-1-07
>9-01-7
>09-1-2007
>9-jan-2007
>9-januari-2007
>etc. not any law tels me how to do it, it is not seldom done as
>2007-01-09 as well in ISO.
>>
>And than every culture has its own style.
>>
>>
>Cor
>>
>>

>
>

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Re: best design for parse

Stephany,

Living in a country where Gas is the same as the most ordinair basic stuff,
does your sentence not add anything than not "gezellig".

Sitting at an open fire in a open wood and talk with each other is more
something for us as gezellig, for which we by the way have to go out of our
country if we don't do it illegal or are really rich enough.

If I am well informed, than you are not living in a country with not so much
people on a square kilometre as here, so the idea about that can be
completely opposite.

After working with thos old hand tools, power tools will
make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.

Some people can make a methaphoor to simple task fullfiling drag and drop
tools, I can assure you that I find that far from gezellig.

:-)

Cor
..

"Stephany Young" <noone@localhos tschreef in bericht
news:%23SWxBjEN HHA.4712@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..

If my understanding of the meaning 'gezellig' is correct, then 'cooking
with gas' is nothing like any sort of opposite of 'gezellig'.
>
My understanding of 'gezellig' is that, although not directly
translatable, means something like 'feeling good amongst family and/or
friends' but has much more subtle meanings than that.
>
'Cooking with gas' means to be working fast/proceeding rapidly. For
example:
>
After working with thos old hand tools, power tools will
make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.
>
Metaphorically it is comparing a gas cooker where you get instant heat
when you light it, to other cookers (electric, wood coal, etc) where they
take a while to warm up.
>
>
"kgerritsen " <kig25@drexel.e duwrote in message
news:1168354601 .946949.308190@ s34g2000cwa.goo glegroups.com.. .

>>
>Cor Ligthert [MVP] wrote:

>>Stephany,
>>>
>>I am curious, what does this phrase mean, I don't know it.
>>>
>Now we're cooking with gas.
>>>
>>(Living in Holland which is above one of the former biggest gasbells of
>>Europe)
>>>
>>Cor

>>
>It's somewhat, in some senses but not perfectly, an opposite of
>"gezellig"
>>
>:)
>>

>
>

[Stephany Young]

Re: best design for parse

Let me put it this way:

You are working on a project and you are unable
to make any progress because you are waiting on
some vital information. At this point you are
'bogged down'.

The information that you are waiting on arrives,
and, as a result, you are now able to make rapid
progress toward completion of the project. Now
you are 'cooking with gas'.

'Cooking with gas' is to do with the 'rush' of activity.


"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:%23gcZXNON HHA.4992@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..

Stephany,
>
Living in a country where Gas is the same as the most ordinair basic
stuff, does your sentence not add anything than not "gezellig".
>
Sitting at an open fire in a open wood and talk with each other is more
something for us as gezellig, for which we by the way have to go out of
our country if we don't do it illegal or are really rich enough.
>
If I am well informed, than you are not living in a country with not so
much people on a square kilometre as here, so the idea about that can be
completely opposite.
>

> After working with thos old hand tools, power tools will
> make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.

>
Some people can make a methaphoor to simple task fullfiling drag and drop
tools, I can assure you that I find that far from gezellig.
>
:-)
>
Cor
.
>
"Stephany Young" <noone@localhos tschreef in bericht
news:%23SWxBjEN HHA.4712@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..

>If my understanding of the meaning 'gezellig' is correct, then 'cooking
>with gas' is nothing like any sort of opposite of 'gezellig'.
>>
>My understanding of 'gezellig' is that, although not directly
>translatable , means something like 'feeling good amongst family and/or
>friends' but has much more subtle meanings than that.
>>
>'Cooking with gas' means to be working fast/proceeding rapidly. For
>example:
>>
> After working with thos old hand tools, power tools will
> make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.
>>
>Metaphorical ly it is comparing a gas cooker where you get instant heat
>when you light it, to other cookers (electric, wood coal, etc) where they
>take a while to warm up.
>>
>>
>"kgerritsen " <kig25@drexel.e duwrote in message
>news:116835460 1.946949.308190 @s34g2000cwa.go oglegroups.com. ..

>>>
>>Cor Ligthert [MVP] wrote:
>>>Stephany,
>>>>
>>>I am curious, what does this phrase mean, I don't know it.
>>>>
>>Now we're cooking with gas.
>>>>
>>>(Living in Holland which is above one of the former biggest gasbells of
>>>Europe)
>>>>
>>>Cor
>>>
>>It's somewhat, in some senses but not perfectly, an opposite of
>>"gezellig"
>>>
>>:)
>>>

>>
>>

>
>

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Re: best design for parse

Stephany,

I had understood this sentence already the moment you had placed it.

However this was really a statement I had never seen (it exist before you
start to correct me). I could not resist to write as I did.

Cor

"Stephany Young" <noone@localhos tschreef in bericht
news:O8BI16PNHH A.780@TK2MSFTNG P03.phx.gbl...

Let me put it this way:
>
You are working on a project and you are unable
to make any progress because you are waiting on
some vital information. At this point you are
'bogged down'.
>
The information that you are waiting on arrives,
and, as a result, you are now able to make rapid
progress toward completion of the project. Now
you are 'cooking with gas'.
>
'Cooking with gas' is to do with the 'rush' of activity.
>
>
"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlwrote in message
news:%23gcZXNON HHA.4992@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..

>Stephany,
>>
>Living in a country where Gas is the same as the most ordinair basic
>stuff, does your sentence not add anything than not "gezellig".
>>
>Sitting at an open fire in a open wood and talk with each other is more
>something for us as gezellig, for which we by the way have to go out of
>our country if we don't do it illegal or are really rich enough.
>>
>If I am well informed, than you are not living in a country with not so
>much people on a square kilometre as here, so the idea about that can be
>completely opposite.
>>

>> After working with thos old hand tools, power tools will
>> make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.

>>
>Some people can make a methaphoor to simple task fullfiling drag and drop
>tools, I can assure you that I find that far from gezellig.
>>
>:-)
>>
>Cor
>.
>>
>"Stephany Young" <noone@localhos tschreef in bericht
>news:%23SWxBjE NHHA.4712@TK2MS FTNGP04.phx.gbl ...

>>If my understanding of the meaning 'gezellig' is correct, then 'cooking
>>with gas' is nothing like any sort of opposite of 'gezellig'.
>>>
>>My understanding of 'gezellig' is that, although not directly
>>translatabl e, means something like 'feeling good amongst family and/or
>>friends' but has much more subtle meanings than that.
>>>
>>'Cooking with gas' means to be working fast/proceeding rapidly. For
>>example:
>>>
>> After working with thos old hand tools, power tools will
>> make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.
>>>
>>Metaphoricall y it is comparing a gas cooker where you get instant heat
>>when you light it, to other cookers (electric, wood coal, etc) where
>>they take a while to warm up.
>>>
>>>
>>"kgerritsen " <kig25@drexel.e duwrote in message
>>news:11683546 01.946949.30819 0@s34g2000cwa.g ooglegroups.com ...
>>>>
>>>Cor Ligthert [MVP] wrote:
>>>>Stephany,
>>>>>
>>>>I am curious, what does this phrase mean, I don't know it.
>>>>>
>>>Now we're cooking with gas.
>>>>>
>>>>(Living in Holland which is above one of the former biggest gasbells
>>>>of
>>>>Europe)
>>>>>
>>>>Cor
>>>>
>>>It's somewhat, in some senses but not perfectly, an opposite of
>>>"gezellig"
>>>>
>>>:)
>>>>
>>>
>>>

>>
>>

>
>