How to parse a string when compared to another string?

Question

In Java, I want to extract the differences from one comma-separated string when compared to another.

e.g

The string I want to extract the differences from: 1,hello,fire,dog,green

The string I am comparing with : 1,hello,water,dog,yellow

So the result of the function would give me a arraylist of [3,fire] and[5,green] as those items are different than the items in the second string, which are 'water' and 'yellow'. The numbers are the index positions of each item detected to be a difference. The other items match and are not considered.

What language are you using? – Cyclonecode Oct 07 '14 at 12:04 — Cyclonecode, Oct 07 '14 at 12:04
I am using Java, sorry forgot to mention it. – MisterIbbs Oct 07 '14 at 12:08 — MisterIbbs, Oct 07 '14 at 12:08

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:27

First, you can create your own Pair class (based on Creating a list of pairs in java), doesn't have to be template.

Then Do something like this:

Split the two strings:

List<String> toCompareSplit= Arrays.asList(toCompare.split(","));
List<String> compareWithSplit= Arrays.asList(compareWith.split(","));

Iterate the lists:

List<Pair> diffList= new ArrayList<Pair>(); 
for (int i= 0; i < toCompareSplit.size; i++){
    if (!toCompareSplit.get(i).equals(compareWithSplit.get(i))){
        Pair pair= new Pair(i+1, toCompareSplit.get(i));
        diffList.add(pair);
    }
}

If the lists aren't in the same size you can run to the end of the shortest one etc.

This way also seems to be similar to the marked answer, thanks for the suggestion.:) — MisterIbbs, Oct 07 '14 at 13:11

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 07 '14 at 12:06

0

var left = "1,hello,fire,dog,green";
var right = "1,hello,water,dog,yellow";
var result = left.Split(',').Zip(right.Split(','), Tuple.Create).Where(x => x.Item1 != x.Item2).ToArray();

Using C#, this will return an array of tuples of the different elements. Sorry I don't have a compiler to hand so may be some small syntax errors in there.

answered Oct 07 '14 at 12:06

Jon G

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okay, I see you're using Java - my answer is not going to be of much use! – Jon G Oct 07 '14 at 12:08

Xavier DSouza · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-07T12:59:18.387

0

Why not just loop through by splitting the strings.

public static List<String> compareStrings(String str1, String str2) { String[] arrStr1 = str1.split(","); String[] arrStr2 = str2.split(","); List<String> strList = new ArrayList<String>(); for(int index = 0; index < arrStr1.length; ++index) { if (!arrStr1[index].equals(arrStr2[index])) { strList.add("[" + index + "," + arrStr1[index] + "]"); } } return strList; }

Beaware of index out of bounds exception..!!

edited Oct 07 '14 at 12:59

answered Oct 07 '14 at 12:53

Xavier DSouza

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7
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Wow, that is pretty simple, not sure how i didn't think of it. Thanks for your help. Ill use this approach. – MisterIbbs Oct 07 '14 at 13:09

How to parse a string when compared to another string?

3 Answers3