Reading from a CSV File in VB.Net where commas may exist in the data

Question

I am reading data in from a text file. I know that each piece of data is separated by a comma and it looks like this in the text file:

 "Requisition","Supplies Req GL.pdf","05/28/2014","8,200.00","0510","86107RC"

Here's where I am drawing a blank. The 4th piece of data on the line can contain commas, so when I do a split on the data, it also splits that piece as well.

How can I read this in, separate the data and also keep column 4 in tact.

As an alternative, there is an overload of String.Split which accepts multiple character strings as delimiters (ie: ","). — Justin Ryan
– Justin Ryan, Commented May 28, 2015 at 18:50
Then the way the file was built is flawed. I would have removed the quotes also. — OneFineDay
– OneFineDay, Commented May 28, 2015 at 19:19

johnjps111 · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-28 19:33:36Z

1

If you know it's that field, then just join them together... a little hokey but it works:

    Dim inLine As String()
    Dim columns As New List(Of String)
    Using sr as As New IO.StreamReader(args(0))
        While Not sr.EndOfStream
            inLine = sr.ReadLine.Trim().Split(CChar(","))
            columns.Add(inLine(0))
            columns.Add(inLine(1))
            columns.Add(inLine(2))
            If inLine.Length > 6 Then
                columns.Add(inLine(3) & inLine(4))
                columns.Add(inLine(5))
                columns.Add(inLine(6))
            Else
                columns.Add(inLine(3))
                columns.Add(inLine(4))
                columns.Add(inLine(5))
            End If
        End While
    End Using

edited May 28, 2015 at 19:33

answered May 28, 2015 at 18:40

johnjps111

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1 Comment

OneFineDay Over a year ago

why not use the Using blocks for the StreamReader?

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