[Helpwithcode1234]

Hello, I am trying to list the first 20 U.S. Presidents from an external file into an array and into a listbox, and then displays in another list box their first name. I keep getting an error at the "Presidents(i) = reader.ReadLine"

Private Sub btnpush_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnpush.Click
        Dim Presidents(20) As Integer
        Dim reader As IO.StreamReader
        reader = IO.File.OpenText("P:\Presidents.txt")
        For i = 0 To 20
            Presidents(i) = reader.ReadLine
        Next i
        For i = 0 To 20
            lstout.Items.Add(Presidents(i))
        Next
    End Sub

[n8wxs]

I assume you are reading strings from the file. Why are you trying to store them in integer array??

Dim Presidents(20) As Integer

[Helpwithcode1234]

Already answered my own question . It was because they were declared as integers and not as strings! Simple mistake, maybe I should do some more debugging before posting!

[Helpwithcode1234]

Sorry another question, Since I printed out all of the names in one list box. I created a second listbox to display only their first names, but not sure how to print only their first names from the external file?

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub btnpush_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnpush.Click
        Dim Presidents(20) As String
        Dim Fnames(20) As String
        Dim reader As IO.StreamReader
        reader = IO.File.OpenText("P:\Presidents.txt")
        For i = 0 To 20
            Presidents(i) = reader.ReadLine
        Next i
        For i = 0 To 20
            lstout.Items.Add(Presidents(i))
        Next i
        For i = 0 To 20
            lstout2.Items.Add()
        Next

    End Sub
End Class

This post has been edited by Helpwithcode1234: 29 March 2011 - 07:01 PM

[n8wxs]

If you stored the full name in the list box then you can simply iterate through the items collection, copying each item in turn to a string. Then split the string into a string array. the first entry in the string array will be the first name.

[Helpwithcode1234]

I understand what you mean, I am just not sure of what the code would be in order to just return the first name strings into the second list box.

[n8wxs]

The easier way might be to copy the file string to a temporary string as you read each line from the file. Populate the list box with the temporary string. Then split the temporary string into a string array. Populate the second list box withe the first element of the array. See the String class split()

[Helpwithcode1234]

Ok. I did something a little different, I made a second txt file so that it can just read the first names from another file and this is the code:
But an error comes up under the second list box that states "Value cannot be null. Parameter name: item"

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub btnpush_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnpush.Click
        Dim Presidents(20) As String
        Dim Fnames(20) As String
        Dim reader As IO.StreamReader
        reader = IO.File.OpenText("P:\Presidents.txt")
        For i = 0 To 20
            Presidents(i) = reader.ReadLine
        Next i
        For i = 0 To 20
            lstout.Items.Add(Presidents(i))
        Next
        reader = IO.File.OpenText("P:\Fnames.txt")
        For i = 0 To 20
            Fnames(i) = reader.ReadLine
        Next i
        For i = 0 To 20
            lstout2.Items.Add(Fnames(i))
        Next

    End Sub
End Class

[n8wxs]

When you are done reading the files close them.

[Helpwithcode1234]

Would that just be reader.close()?

[n8wxs]

yes

See StreamReader Class

This post has been edited by n8wxs: 29 March 2011 - 08:08 PM