c# split string with " exception

Question

I want to split a string into parts, to retrieve arguments.

I already made that function:

static private string getparam(string input, int index)
    {
        string[] arrparams = input.Split(' ');

        if (arrparams.Length <= index) return "";

        return arrparams[index];
    }

But when i pass an argument like:

upload C:\Visual Studio

it will see "C:\Visual" as the first argument and "Studio" as the second and split em.

Now i thought about making something like an exception in the Split-Function: When the argument is given between quotes, it should ignore the spaces in it.

Then, when i pass the arg like this: upload "C:\Visual Studio", the first argument should be C:\Visual Studio

So how could i implement this?

Thank you.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/491595/best-way-to-parse-command-line-arguments-in-c — Daniel A. White, Jul 01 '14 at 13:10

score 10 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 01 '14 at 13:10

10

The reason for the current behaviour is because you are splitting on space, so it shouldn't be a shock to find that it splits on space.

But the simpler fix is: don't do this. Let the runtime worry about it:

static void Main(string[] args) { ... }

and job done; all ready-parsed into separate tokens obeying the expected rules.

answered Jul 01 '14 at 13:10

Marc Gravell

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3

Alternatively you can use ``` Environment.GetCommandLineArgs() ``` – Nisd Jul 01 '14 at 13:33
I want to give commands from an online website. And my app is no command line app. – Meldin A. Jul 01 '14 at 14:21

L.B · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-01T14:30:00.780

4

"I want to give commands from an online website. And my app is no command line app"

You can use Regex.

string[] arrparams = Regex.Matches(input, @"\""(?<token>.+?)\""|(?<token>[^\s]+)")
                    .Cast<Match>()
                    .Select(m => m.Groups["token"].Value)
                    .ToArray();

edited Jul 01 '14 at 14:30

answered Jul 01 '14 at 14:23

L.B

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Wow! This one works. Thank you mate! – Meldin A. Jul 01 '14 at 14:53

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 01 '14 at 13:38

You can do this with a regex.split method.

You code should be modified as

using System;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
static private string getparam(string input, int index)
{
   <b>string pattern = @"[^\\s\"']+|\"([^\"]*)\"";
   string[] arrparams = Regex.Split(input,pattern);</b>
   if (arrparams.Length <= index) return "";
   return arrparams[index];
}

This bold code with match and split a space and when it is double quotes it will take as such. Post back if you find any issues.

Thanks Arun

`@"[^\\s\"']+|\"([^\"]*)\"";` is not a compilable string.. if you mean `"[^\\s\"']+|\"([^\"]*)\""` it doesn't do the work... — L.B, Jul 01 '14 at 13:46

c# split string with " exception

3 Answers3