for loop for a string variable - vb.net

Question

this is my code -
for i as integer = 0 to rows.count - 1
output &= "Name =" & row(i)("Name")
output &= "lastName =" & row(i)("lastName")
... 50 more fields
next
i need the output to be like this
Applicant1Name = MikeApplicant1lastName = ditkaApplicant2Name = TomApplicant2lastName = Brady ...
how do i do this without putting the following code 50 times -
output &= "Applicant" & i.tostring() + 1 &"Name =" & row(i)("Name")
... and so on.
is there a way to make a for loop and run applicant 1,2,3,4.... in one shot?
thanks

Answer 1

Try:
Dim output as New StringBuilder("")
For i as Integer = 0 To rows.Count - 1
output.append("Applicant" + i.ToString())
Foreach(col as DataColumn in dt.Columns) ' The datatable where your rows are
Dim colName as string = col.ColumnName
output.append(colName & "=" & rows(i)(colName).ToString())
Next
If i < rows.Count - 1 Then output.Append("|")
Next
StringBuilder is faster for string concatenations, and if you keep your rows in a datatable (which I assume is happening because that's how it looks like you're accessing them), then you can just iterate through the columnnames at the top level.

Answer 2

You really cant as you are trying to append 50 different fields.
The only thing you can shorten is the variable name:
Dim strLN as String = row(i)("lastName")
Dim strFirstName as String = row(i)("firstName")
Then you simply put it all together
output &= strLN & strFirstName...etc

Answer 3

looks like you want to create an array of all the fields you have and then include a nested loop.
Dim fields As String() = {"Name", "LastName", "SSN", "Birthdate"}
Dim output As String = ""
For i As Integer = 1 To rows.count
For Each field As String In fields
output = String.Concat(output, "Applicant ", i, field, "=", row(i)(field), " ")
Next
Next