What collection method should I use? - vb.net

I have a text file and it looks like this
defabot:3215
defatank:2985
ludditus:29
compensate:355
moobot:805
maxi292003:63
doctorbarzhal:19
plaanz:4
manguuu:51
atntpc:19
immortalsofthemist:18
I'm loading this list when my application opens, splitting the name from number and populating a listview control with it. I want to maintain the list in memory for my entire project to use and manipulate.
I need the numbers associated with the name so when I search for the name I know how many points they have. What is the most efficient/easiest way to accomplish this?
Thank you.

Use Dictionary(Of String, Integer). Here is an example:
Dim dict As New Dictionary(Of String, Integer)
For Each s As String In IO.File.ReadAllLines("filename")
Dim a() As String = s.Split(":"c)
Dim userName As String = a(0)
Dim userPoints As Integer = Convert.ToInt32(a(1))
dict.Add(userName, userPoints)
Next

The most efficient way is to use a Dictionary(Of String, Int32):
Dim dict As Dictionary(Of String, Int32) = IO.File.ReadLines(path).
Select(Function(line) line.Split(":"c)).
ToDictionary(Function(split) split(0), Function(split) Int32.Parse(split(1)))
You get the value by it's key:
Dim ludditus As Int32 = dict("ludditus")

Related

how to check that a list contains another list item in VB.Net

I have two lists like this.
Dim List1 As IList(Of String) = New List(Of String)
Dim ListMatch As IList(Of String) = New List(Of String)
I need to figure out if List1 contains all items of ListMatch. How can i do this is VB.Net?
You can use Not SmallCollection.Except(LargeCollection).Any:
Dim containsAll = Not ListMatch.Except(List1).Any()
Documentation of Enumerable.Except:
This method returns those elements in first that do not appear in
second. It does not also return those elements in second that do not
appear in first.
Since Except is a set method, it doesn't take duplicates into account. So if you also want to know if List1 contains the same count of items of ListMatch you could use(less efficient):
Dim list1Lookup = List1.ToLookup(Function(str) str)
Dim listMatchLookup = ListMatch.ToLookup(Function(str) str)
Dim containsSameCount = listMatchLookup.
All(Function(x) list1Lookup(x.Key).Count() = x.Count())

vb.net - How to concatenate a variable(trimmed) to another variable to complete its variable name

Needed code is something like this:
Dim myArray(0) As String
Dim ay As String = "ay"
myArr & ay(0) = "asd"
I've tried but did not worked
Dim classlist1(0) As String
Dim classlist2(0) As String
Dim classlist3(0) As String
Dim classlist4(0) As String
Dim count As Integer = 0
For _year As Integer = 1 To 4
("classlist" & _year)(count) = "hi"
count += 1
Next
Any time you see something like this:
Dim classlist1(0) As String
Dim classlist2(0) As String
Dim classlist3(0) As String
' etc.
It's an indication that you're using the wrong data structure. Instead of trying to dynamically build variable names (which isn't really possible in a static language, at least not without some really ugly reflection code with a high potential for runtime errors), just use a collection.
For example, if you want a collection of strings:
Dim classList As New List(Of String)()
And if you want a collection of collections of strings:
Dim classLists As New List(Of List(Of String))()
Then you can reference the nested lists within the parent list. So to add your first "year" of classes:
classLists.Add(new List(Of String))
And add a class to that year:
classLists(0).Add("some value")
As you can see, it starts to get a little difficult to keep track of the data structures. This is where creating custom types and structures becomes very useful. For example, rather than representing a "year" as a list of strings, create an actual Year class. That class can internally hold a list of strings, and other logic/data.
Try Dictionary<TKey, TValue> Class From MSDN.
Dim classLists As New Dictionary(Of String, String)()
'Add items with keys
For _year As Integer = 1 To 4
classLists.Add(String.Format("classlist{0}",_year), "hi")
Next
And you can get value by key later
Dim key As String = "classlist2"
Dim value As String = classLists(key)

List of Dictionary Arrays

Hit a wall, and can't find much in docs.
I have two dictionaries, and I'd like to put them in a list.
Dim listOfDictionaries As List(Of Dictionary(Of String, String))
is not working.
Am I correct in assuming that once I get this dimmed, I can .add the conventional way?
Details (EDIT)
When trying to listOfDictionaries.Add(dictionaryIWantToAdd), I get "value of type '1-dimensional array system.collection.generic.dictionary(of string, string)' cannot be converted to 'system.collection.generic.dictionary(of string, string)'
Solution
Helps to put the () on the end an array. :P
The conventional way is:
Dim both = New List(Of Dictionary(Of String, String))()
both.Add(Dictionary1)
both.Add(Dictionary2)
The error says it all. You are trying to add an array of dictionaries to the list, but the add method only takes a single dictionary, not an array of them. Either fix it so you are only passing in a single dictionary:
Dim myDictionary As Dictionary(Of String, String)
' ...
listOfDictionaries.Add(myDictionary)
Or use the AddRange method to add all the dictionaries in the array at once:
Dim myArrayOfDictionaries() As Dictionary(Of String, String)
' ...
listOfDictionaries.AddRange(myArrayOfDictionaries)
I tend to favour single-line solutions when it's something straightforward like this, making use of the From keyword.
Dim listOfDictionaries = New List(Of Dictionary(Of String, String)) From { dictionary1, dictionary2 }

Compare two lists 2D and determine differences VB.NET

I declare my 2D lists:
Dim _invoiceitems As New List(Of List(Of String))
Dim _dbitems As New List(Of List(Of String))
Each List is filled like this:
Example Code To fill:
_invoiceitems.Add(New List(Of String))
_invoiceitems(0).Add("Code #")
_invoiceitems(0).Add("Quantity")
Well, now i need a third list called (_changesitems) Note that this result with the differences:
be the result of subtraction of quantities if this is found (dbitems - invoiceitems).
How i can get this result?
The following code will generate the results you are looking for:
Private Function getChangesItems(ByVal invoiceItems As Dictionary(Of String, Integer), ByVal dbItems As Dictionary(Of String, Integer)) As Dictionary(Of String, Integer)
Dim changesItems As Dictionary(Of String, Integer) = New Dictionary(Of String, Integer)()
Dim allCodes As List(Of String) = New List(Of String)()
allCodes.AddRange(invoiceItems.Keys)
allCodes.AddRange(dbItems.Keys)
For Each code As String In allCodes
If Not changesItems.ContainsKey(code) Then
Dim dbQuantity As Integer = 0
Dim invoiceQuantity As Integer = 0
If dbItems.ContainsKey(code) Then
dbQuantity = dbItems(code)
End If
If invoiceItems.ContainsKey(code) Then
invoiceQuantity = invoiceItems(code)
End If
Dim changeQuantity As Integer = dbQuantity - invoiceQuantity
If changeQuantity <> 0 Then
changesItems.Add(code, changeQuantity)
End If
End If
Next
Return changesItems
End Function
I used dictionaries instead of lists as was recommended by others. As long as your data only contains a code and a value, the dictionary is a better fit. If you have more columns, I would suggest creating a class that contains properties for each column and then make a list of that class type, rather than a simple 2D list of strings. Doing so would be more type-safe and easier to read.

Using a Dictionary in a TreeNode Tag - VB.NET

I'm writing a bit of code that I want to populate a TreeView, which it does quite successfully, but I also want to put a Dictionary in the Tag of each Level 1 child node. Once the Tag has been set to the Dictionary, is there any way I can modify the dictionary, without redeclaring the Tag.
For Each verse In Verses
Dim _verse = verse.ToString.Trim
Dim _node As TreeNode = New TreeNode(_verse.Split(vbNewLine).First & "...")
_node.ToolTipText = _verse
_node.Tag = New Dictionary(Of String, Object)
Node.Nodes.Add(_node)
Next
You can later just cast the tag of the not to Dictionary(Of String, Object) and then manipulate the dictionary as usual.
For example, assuming that currentNode is the node of interest, you can have something like the following.
Dim dictionary as Dictionary(Of String, Object) = _
CType(currentNode.Tag, Dictionary(Of String, Object))
dictionary.Add("NewKey", newObject);