Parse a string like "1-5,10,21,25-30"

[girldemsuga]

I want to parse a string which like the following :

1-5,10,21,25-30

The end result should be a collection or list like:

1
2
3
4
5
10
21
25
26
27
28
29
30

Consider the string similar to what you would enter in the print dialog.

[ramesh]

You would need to do something like this:

1. Start from beginning of string.
2. Evaluate each character, if not a ",", then add to another string.
3. If it is a ",", then evaluate new string already stored.
4. Search for a "-" INSIDE the string, If none, output number. Goto 7.
5. If exist then number before the "-" will be the start of a loop, after will be the end of the loop.
6. Output numbers.
7. Goto 2

[girldemsuga]

I have a project I am working on which requires me to process strings in that form.
I would love to beleive that I am not only person who has had to do something like this (apart from the people who create the print dialog).

You know the saying, dont re-invent the wheel if it was already created.

[ramesh]

Believe it or not, the problem you have is not something unusual. Take a look at the Print Dialogue box for many MS Office applications. When you specify which pages you wish printed, you (the user) may type in that same exact string.

[girldemsuga]

Well people, not one has posted a solution so I went ahead and created it.
So for those of you who are interested, the function can be found below.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Function used to break a ranged string apart into individual values which are the returned in a collection
    ''' If use this function, please leave this header in :)
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="StringToParse">Ranged String to break apart eg. 1-5,10,21,25-30</param>
    ''' <author>Dredix</author>
    Private Function ParseRangeString(ByVal StringToParse As String) As Collection
        Dim split As String() = StringToParse.Split(",")    'Breaking the string apart by "," into array
        Dim vOutValues As New Collection                    'Declaring a new collection
        Dim vRaneCNT, vColLCNT As Integer                   'Used as counter
        Try     'Incase of error
            For Each s As String In split                   'Looping through array for values and range
                If s.Trim() <> "" Then                      'Ensuring string is not empty
                    If InStr(s, "-") Then                   'Testing if string is a Range
                        For vRaneCNT = CInt(s.Substring(0, InStr(s, "-") - 1)) To CInt(s.Substring(InStr(s, "-")))  'Determine Range to loop
                            For vColLCNT = 1 To vOutValues.Count 'Ensuring the value is not already in the collection
                                If CInt(vOutValues.Item(vColLCNT)) = CInt(vRaneCNT) Then GoTo NextRangeValue 'Jump over adding to collection
                            Next
                            vOutValues.Add(CInt(vRaneCNT))  'Adding value in Range to collection
NextRangeValue:
                        Next
                    Else
                        For vColLCNT = 1 To vOutValues.Count 'Ensuring the value is not already in the collection
                            If CInt(vOutValues.Item(vColLCNT)) = CInt(s) Then GoTo NextValue 'Jump over adding to collection
                        Next
                        vOutValues.Add(CInt(s))             'Adding value to collection
NextValue:
                    End If
                End If
            Next s
            Return vOutValues                               'Returning Collection
        Catch ex As Exception
            Return vOutValues                               'Returning Collection
        End Try
    End Function

[girldemsuga]

Has this code been useful to anyone?

[Skele Drew]

I've put this functionality in a script I made a while back. Something that would download selected episodes of a manga from a certain site. I don't know VB, but my code was much smaller than that was. All you needed to do was:

1. Use the string split function to separate by ',' and put it in an array.
2. Loop through the array (for loop) and write any strings not having a '-' (single number) or...
3. ... Use another for loop to add each number in the string's specified range.

I won't even try reading that segment of code . I hate VB for some unknown reason ...

[girldemsuga]

I run many error checks and ensure the same value is not inserted more than once.
That may account for the larger code.

I am interested in seeing what your version of this looks like.

[icymint3]

... so u made it more complicated that it needs to be... remember is a beginner requesting help

[girldemsuga]

... so u made it more complicated that it needs to be... remember is a beginner requesting help

I asked the question originally and no one posted a solution so I created a solution.
Pardon me if its my style to check for errors. If someone needs a simplified solution, it could be striped down.