Create strings on the fly using VB.NET - vb.net

Question

I'm trying to create a number of strings based on one long string that i'm passing.
Basically this is an example of my long string
StrMain = AL123456 - PR123456 - RD123456 - LO123456
So in this case I want to create 4 separate strings.
Str1 = AL123456
Str2 = PR123456
Str3 = RD123456
Str4 = LO123456
But there isn't always that many or there may be more so I need to count how many - there are and with that then create the amount strings needed.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Jamie

Answer 1

Let we have:
var input = "AL123456 - PR123456 - RD123456 - LO123456"
then
input.Split('-');
will return
{ "AL123456 ", " PR123456 ", " RD123456 ", " LO123456" }
i.e. with leading and trailing spaces.
So you need trim each:
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
IEnumerable<string> result = input.Split('-').Select(s => s.Trim());
(Select() requires .NET 3.5+)
Or just split by " - ":
var result = input.Split(new string[] { " - " }, StringSplitOptions.None);
or using VB.NET syntax:
Dim result As String() = input.Split({ " - " }, StringSplitOptions.None)
I guess VB.NET has next syntax for for-each:
For Each str As String In result
Response.Write(str) ' or use str in other context '
End For

Answer 2

You could use the Split function:
Dim tokens As String() = "AL123456 - PR123456 - RD123456 - LO123456".Split("-"C)
or if you want to use a string as separator:
Dim tokens As String() = "AL123456 - PR123456 - RD123456 - LO123456".Split({" - "}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)

Answer 3

Use the split function
This is the use i recommend is below, you can adapt it by either:
adding more separators (add strings to the separator array like this: New String() {" - ", " _ "} )
removing empty entries (not necessary, but usually useful)
Dim MyString As String = "value1 - value2 - value3 - - value4"
Dim results As String() = MyString.Split(New String() {" - "}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
' you get an array with 4 entries containing each individual string