Classic ASP Discussion - Reading and grabing data from a txt file

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Reading and grabing data from a txt file

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Category: General Discussion
Forum Name: Classic ASP Discussion
Forum Description: Discussion on Active Server Pages (Classic ASP).
URL: https://forums.webwiz.net/forum_posts.asp?TID=10731
Printed Date: 31 March 2026 at 1:36am
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Topic: Reading and grabing data from a txt file

Posted By: zaboss
Subject: Reading and grabing data from a txt file
Date Posted: 04 June 2004 at 10:52am

I need to read and grab some data from a text file, then insert it in db. The text file is structured in 5 sections, and each section must be added in a different table in the db. The text file looks like this:



[section 1]

1st row of data

2nd row

3rd row

etc... (no fixed number).

[end section 1]

[section 2]

1st row of data


2nd row


3rd row


etc... (no fixed number).

[end section 2]

....

the same for all sections

Can somebody point me in a right direction? And also, which is the equivalent of tab key? (the data is tab delimited).

-------------
Cristian Banu
http://www.soft4web.ro - Soft 4 web

Replies:

Posted By: Mart
Date Posted: 04 June 2004 at 11:29am

Point you in the right direction for what? Reading a text file or parsing it?

Also it will probably be 10x easier if you used XML

Posted By: Semikolon
Date Posted: 04 June 2004 at 12:40pm

use FSO, Trim and Mid I think

Posted By: zaboss
Date Posted: 04 June 2004 at 1:00pm

Can zou be more specific, please? On how to read the file, grab the sections put them in an array. Then, I know how to put them in the db using Split(arrayelement, VBtab).
Some sample code would be great.

-------------
Cristian Banu
http://www.soft4web.ro - Soft 4 web

Posted By: Mart
Date Posted: 04 June 2004 at 2:22pm

Here is how to read a file:

<%
Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set wfile = fs.OpenTextFile("c:\Mydir\myfile.txt")
filecontent = wfile.ReadAll

wfile.close
Set wfile=nothing
Set fs=nothing

response.write(filecontent)
%>

Posted By: zaboss
Date Posted: 04 June 2004 at 7:43pm

OK, I have something working here:

<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%>

<!--#include file="connect.asp"-->

<%

Set FSO = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set theTextFile =  FSO.OpenTextFile("E:\webs\ranbaxyromania.ro\wwwroot\files\tb lViziteDoctori1.txt")

theTextLine=theTextFile.ReadLine

theFields=Split(theTextLine, VBTab) 

While Not theTextFile.AtEndOfStream 



mSQL = "INSERT INTO tblViziteDoctori("

    mSQL = mSQL & "strDoctor,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strSpecializare,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strJointWorkWith,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strInput,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strFeedback,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strData,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strOra,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strInput2,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strProdusPrezentat,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strProdusPrezentat2,"

    mSQL = mSQL & "strObservatii)"



    mSQL = mSQL & "Values("

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(8),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(4),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(3),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(1),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(2),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(6),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(9),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(10),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(11),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(12),"'","''") & "', "

    mSQL = mSQL & "'" & Replace(thefields(7),"'","''") & "')"



'It executes the SQL

MyConn.Execute (mSQL)

' Now we loop to the next record and start again until the end of the file.

Wend



' Close up to be tidy



theTextFile.Close

Set theTextFile = Nothing 



MyConn.Close

Set MyConn = Nothing

%>

The BIG problem is that i reads ONLY the first line and insert it in the db until it dies on natural causes (the script time out). That is about 63.000 times :lol: :lol: :lol: What am I doing wrong.

-------------
Cristian Banu
http://www.soft4web.ro - Soft 4 web

Posted By: dpyers
Date Posted: 04 June 2004 at 9:34pm

You never go to the next line... Move

theTextLine=theTextFile.ReadLine
theFields=Split(theTextLine, VBTab)

After

While Not theTextFile.AtEndOfStream

-------------

Lead me not into temptation... I know the short cut, follow me.

Posted By: zaboss
Date Posted: 05 June 2004 at 2:38am

Thanks, that was it! Now, it remains the other part of the task: finding the part between sections and applying the right sql to each one:



[section 1]

........

[/section 1]

[section 2]

....

[/section2]

.....

[section X]

....

[/end section x]

-------------
Cristian Banu
http://www.soft4web.ro - Soft 4 web

Posted By: Mart
Date Posted: 05 June 2004 at 5:02am

Howcome you arn't using XML for this? It will be quite hard to do what you are trying to do and most likely pointless if you could do it with XML

Posted By: zaboss
Date Posted: 05 June 2004 at 12:59pm

I can't use xml. The text file is exported by an Access application, and I have to deal with it. Also, the best way to something is the way you know it. I never use xml, so I never though of it as a possible solution.

-------------
Cristian Banu
http://www.soft4web.ro - Soft 4 web

Posted By: zaboss
Date Posted: 06 June 2004 at 5:00pm

Ok, i have tryed to put the rows in an array, then use the Split(Rowarray(i), "[section]") to get the rows in a section, then put them in an array to get the fields, nut with no luck. Any hints?

-------------
Cristian Banu
http://www.soft4web.ro - Soft 4 web

Posted By: zaboss
Date Posted: 07 June 2004 at 10:03am

Well, it seems there is no need for arrays... I have sorted it partially. I have put there only the response.write to simplify.



<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%>

<!--#include file="connect.asp"-->

<%

Set FSO = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set theTextFile =  FSO.OpenTextFile("E:\webs\ranbaxyromania.ro\wwwroot\files\tb lViziteDoctori1.txt")

While Not theTextFile.AtEndOfStream

theTextLine=theTextFile.ReadLine

If theTextline = "[section 1]" then

do

theTextLine=theTextFile.ReadLine

response.Write theTextLine & "<br>"

loop Until theTextLine = "[section 2]"

End if

If theTextline = "[section 2]" then

do

theTextLine=theTextFile.ReadLine

response.write theTextLine & "<br>"

loop Until theTextLine = "[section 3]"

End if

Wend



' Close up to be tidy



theTextFile.Close

Set theTextFile = Nothing



MyConn.Close

Set MyConn = Nothing

%>

The problem is that it lists also the section delimeter, and this crushes the insert. How can I skip this line?

-------------
Cristian Banu
http://www.soft4web.ro - Soft 4 web

Posted By: dpyers
Date Posted: 07 June 2004 at 1:28pm

If you're referring to the End-Of-Section delimiter, try changing the loop until the end of the section rather than the beginning of the new section - e.g.

Change
Loop Until theTextLine = "[section 2]"
To
Loop Until theTextLine = "[/section 1]"

-------------

Lead me not into temptation... I know the short cut, follow me.

Posted By: zaboss
Date Posted: 07 June 2004 at 1:33pm

Sorted out.



<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%>



<%

Set FSO = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set theTextFile =  FSO.OpenTextFile("E:\webs\ranbaxyromania.ro\wwwroot\files\tb lViziteDoctori1.txt")



While Not theTextFile.AtEndOfStream

theTextLine=theTextFile.ReadLine

If theTextline = "[section 1]" then

    do

        theTextLine=theTextFile.ReadLine

        ' Only Write it out if it isn't a section line

        If theTextLine<>"[section 2]" Then

            response.Write theTextLine & "<br>"

        End If

    loop Until theTextLine = "[section 2]"

End if



If theTextline = "[section 2]" then

    do

        theTextLine=theTextFile.ReadLine

        ' Only Write it out if it isn't a section line

        If theTextLine<>"[section 3]" Then

            response.write theTextLine & "<br>"

        End IF

    loop Until theTextLine = "[section 3]"

End if



Wend



' Close up to be tidy



theTextFile.Close

Set theTextFile = Nothing



%>

The problem was that, instead of If theTextLine<>"[section 2]", i was putting If theTextLine="[section 2]", which, of course, gave me an error...

-------------
Cristian Banu
http://www.soft4web.ro - Soft 4 web

Posted By: snapey
Date Posted: 18 June 2004 at 3:45pm

Mart wrote:

Howcome you arn't using XML for this? It will be quite hard to do what you are trying to do and most likely pointless if you could do it with XML

I want to do similar, but using XML. Can anyone point me in the direction of any examples of reading an XML file into an array or database in classic ASP?