what is the best way to split a string

Question

I have file name which look like

Directory\name-secondName-blabla.txt

If I using string .split my code need to know the separator I am using, But if in some day I will replace the separator my code will break

Is the any build in way to split to get the following result?

Directory
name
secondNmae
blabla
txt

Thanks

Edit My question is more general than just split file name, is splitting string in general

Couldn't you just use a function that calls split and whose one of its arguments is the separator? — Mansuro, Sep 21 '11 at 12:51
Man, try to search a little SO: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2742688/getting-file-name-from-the-string http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1105593/get-file-name-from-uri-string-in-c http://stackoverflow.com/questions/401304/c-how-do-i-extract-each-folder-name-from-a-path http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3736462/c-getting-the-folder-name-from-a-path — Samich, Sep 21 '11 at 12:51
I think everyone seems to have not read this question properly! — Tim B James, Sep 21 '11 at 12:53
"[when] I will replace the separator my code will break" - Yes, it ususally does. You'll have to give a more detailed scenario. — H H, Sep 21 '11 at 13:20

H H · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-21T12:55:02.580

8

The best way to split a filename is to use System.IO.Path

You're not clear about what to do with directory1\directory2\ ,
but in general you should use this static class to find the path, name and suffix parts.

After that you will need String.Split() to handle the - separators, you'll just have to make the separator(s) a config setting.

edited Sep 21 '11 at 12:55

answered Sep 21 '11 at 12:49

H H

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Easy to get the filename, but not what the OP was asking. – Tim B James Sep 21 '11 at 12:54
@Tim B: That is why filename was in italics – H H Sep 21 '11 at 13:17
@Henk Yes I understood, but your answer was pretty basic before you edited it and wasn't really helpful to the question. – Tim B James Sep 21 '11 at 13:24

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 21 '11 at 12:52

2

You can make an array with seperators:

string value = "Directory\name-secondName-blabla.txt";
char[] delimiters = new char[] { '\\', '-', '.' };
string[] parts = value.Split(delimiters, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);

answered Sep 21 '11 at 12:52

Metaller

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 21 '11 at 12:51

0

var filepath = @"Directory\name-secondName-blabla.txt";
var tokens = filepath.Split(new[]{'\\', '-'});

answered Sep 21 '11 at 12:51

fjdumont

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 21 '11 at 12:51

If you're worried about your separator token changing in the future, set it as a constant in a settings file so you only have to change it in one place. Or, if you think it is going to change regularly, put it in a config file so you don't have to release new builds every time.

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 21 '11 at 12:53

0

As Henk suggested above, use System.IO.Path and its static methods like GetFileNameWithoutExtenstion, GetDirectoryName, etc. Have a look at this link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.path.aspx

answered Sep 21 '11 at 12:53

Huske

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what is the best way to split a string

5 Answers5