.NET Grabbing strings from a web server and turning it into an array of strings

[.NET] Grabbing strings from a web server and turning it into an array of strings - Printable Version

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Grabbing strings from a web server and turning it into an array of strings - CatSoup - Nov 17, 2014

How would I go about grabbing an array of strings from a text file on a web server?

like:

Code 
{ "testing", "testt", "test" }

Also how would the text file on the web server need to be formatted? JSON?

Is this even possible? I really would like to learn how. I just started learning VB in august.

Thank you.

* - He B TeMy - Nov 17, 2014

You can use webrequests to read a file, and split it using "," cchar as your example above, i don't know any other way without using a split character.

Step at a Step, use this to read:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2471209/how-to-read-a-file-from-internet

It's c#, follow the 2nd upvoted answer. you can use http://converter.telerik.com/ to convert to vb if you need.

Then use http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.string.split%28v=vs.110%29.aspx to split.

* - Eternal Darkness - Nov 17, 2014

(Nov 17, 2014 03:42 PM)CatSoup Wrote: like:

Code
{"testing", "testt", "test"}

Code 
Private WebClient As Net.WebClient

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

      WebClient = New Net.WebClient

      Dim Source As String = WebClient.DownloadString("url here")

      'For Testing: 'Dim Source As String = "{" & """" & "testing" & """" & ", " & """" & "testt" & """" & ", " & """" & "test" & """" & "}"

      Source = Source.Substring(Source.IndexOf(""""))

      Dim Array As String() = Source.Split("""" & ", " & """")

      For i As Int16 = 1 To Array.Length Step 2

      Console.WriteLine(Array(i))

      Next

    End Sub

+1 for liking Blue Exorcist (not adding to your rep, just stating the fact). :)

* - Odus - Nov 17, 2014

(Nov 17, 2014 04:25 PM)Eternal Darkness Wrote: -snip

That was an example of an array, not the actual format of the page. Even at that, weird way to do it I think!

(Nov 17, 2014 03:42 PM)CatSoup Wrote: How would I go about grabbing an array of strings from a text file on a web server?

Easy way is to download page as a string.

(Nov 17, 2014 03:42 PM)CatSoup Wrote: Could the text file on the web server need to be formatted? JSON?

It can be any format you like or it can be plain text, you'll create the array through splitting with whatever you put as your delimiter.

* - Eternal Darkness - Nov 17, 2014

(Nov 17, 2014 04:29 PM)Odus Wrote: That was an example of an array, not the actual format of the page.

If the page only contains (such as a random plain text file on your server or w/e):

(Nov 17, 2014 03:42 PM)CatSoup Wrote: like:

Code
{"testing", "testt", "test"}

The code I posted will delimit it properly and load it into an array that you can sort through...

He did not ask how to create a list for his web server, but how to retrieve a list in said format from his web server... If I am understanding correctly that is...

(Nov 17, 2014 04:29 PM)Odus Wrote: Even at that, weird way to do it I think!

Well, it works...
I just threw it together a second ago...
Personally I would probably use SubStrings in a loop, gives me a bit more control and will possibly end up being a millionth of a second faster... You mentioned spiting the string with a delimiter, so I thought I would throw it together that way... "The method I suggested is weird"... xD

* - CatSoup - Nov 17, 2014

(Nov 17, 2014 04:32 PM)Eternal Darkness Wrote: If the page only contains (such as a random plain text file on your server or w/e):
The code I posted will delimit it properly and load it into an array that you can sort through...

He did not ask how to create a list for his web server, but how to retrieve a list in said format from his web server... If I am understanding correctly that is...

Well, it works...
I just threw it together a second ago...
Personally I would probably use SubStrings in a loop, gives me a bit more control and will possibly end up being a millionth of a second faster... You mentioned spiting the string with a delimiter, so I thought I would throw it together that way... "The method I suggested is weird"... xD

nono. I need something that will grab strings from a file formatted like this:

Code 
testing

test

testt

and then use it in an array like:

Code 
{ "testing", "test", "testt" }

* - Odus - Nov 17, 2014

(Nov 17, 2014 05:14 PM)CatSoup Wrote: nono. I need something that will grab strings from a file formatted like this:

Code
testing test testt

and then use it in an array like:

Code
{ "testing", "test", "testt" }

TOLD YOU ETERNAL! Forgive my code, I've spent the last 2 weeks in Swift but you should be good with this:

Code 
Using wc As New WebClient()

    Dim s() As String = wc.DownloadString(“url.com/file.txt”).Split(vbCrLf)

End Using

* - CatSoup - Nov 17, 2014

(Nov 17, 2014 05:19 PM)Odus Wrote: TOLD YOU ETERNAL! Forgive my code, I've spent the last 2 weeks in Swift but you should be good with this:

Code
Using wc As New WebClient() Dim s() As String = wc.DownloadString(“url.com/file.txt”).Split(vbCrLf) End Using

So I have this:

Code 
Imports System.Net

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub btnGen_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnGen.Click

      Using wc As New WebClient()

      Dim grabAccounts() As String = wc.DownloadString("codercannon.com/lol.txt").Split(vbCrLf)

      End Using

    End Sub

End Class

How would I grab a random string from that url and display it into a textbox?

* - Odus - Nov 17, 2014

(Nov 17, 2014 05:45 PM)CatSoup Wrote: So I have this:

Code
Imports System.Net Public Class Form1 Private Sub btnGen_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnGen.Click Using wc As New WebClient() Dim grabAccounts() As String = wc.DownloadString("codercannon.com/lol.txt").Split(vbCrLf) End Using End Sub End Class

How would I grab a random string from that url and display it into a textbox?

Again, its been a while but here goes:

Code 
Dim R As System.Random = New System.Random()

TextBox1.Text = S(R.Next(0, S.Length))

* - NETExplorer - Nov 17, 2014

Disregard everyone above me

If you want to do what you are asking correctly, keep on reading

Firstly, you'll make life easier on yourself if you change your json a bit. What I mean is make it an actual array, or at least a JSON array

Code 
["testing","test","tester"]

Now that you have that, the way to parse that information in VB, correctly, is using some sort of JSON deserializer
http://james.newtonking.com/json
That link takes you to the site of an awesome and powerful library that can work with JSON
The thing is, it adds an additional dependency at about 500 kb

An alternative is to use the DataContractJsonSerializer, which is included in the .NET framework since version 4.0

If you decide to use the DataContractJsonSerializer, I've written a very simple helper class to make it a more flawless experience
https://gist.github.com/PatPositron/e6df196d4a76343824ee

Just throw that in your project, and you can continue

Congratulations, that was the hardest step
All you need to do now is get the JSON data from wherever you are supplying it, and pass it to the helper class like so:

Code 
Dim myArrayOfStrings = JsonHelper.Deserialize(Of List(Of String))(myJsonString)

It will populate `myArrayOfStrings` with all the data that was in your JSON

------EDIT------
Annnnndddd I just read your reply farther up the thread:

(Nov 17, 2014 05:14 PM)CatSoup Wrote: nono. I need something that will grab strings from a file formatted like this:

Code
testing test testt

and then use it in an array like:

Code
{ "testing", "test", "testt" }

Imma go ahead and leave now, but if you know something of the language you can do what you are looking for using my helper class above 🤝