Question

I have a set of values based on which i have split the string

string[] seperator = new string[9];
        seperator[0] = "*";  //is the client
        seperator[1] = "/";  //is the name of company
        seperator[2] = "(";     //name of the market    
        seperator[5] = ":";    //ID
        seperator[6] = "?";    //orderType
        seperator[3] = "!@";   //realtive Time
        seperator[4] = "!+";   //
        seperator[7] = "+";    //quantity
        seperator[8] = "@";//price
string[] result = values.Split(seperator, StringSplitOptions.None);

For example: The input string is
*A/AB(M!@12:6?SIMPLE!+5+2

OUTPUT
    [0]: ""
    [1]: "A"
    [2]: "AB"
    [3]: "M"
    [4]: "12"
    [5]: "6"
    [6]: "SIMPLE"
    [7]: "5"
    [8]: "2"

For example: The input string is
*A(M!@12?SIMPLE!+5+2/AB:6

OUTPUT:
    [0]: ""
    [1]: "A"
    [2]: "M"
    [3]: "12"
    [4]: "SIMPLE"
    [5]: "5"
    [6]: "2"
    [7]: "AB"
    [8]: "6"

The problem I am facing is : how can I relate that A is the client, AB is the company..etc etc

as the order in which the user can enter this information RANDOM…
If he doesnot enter any one of these values, it changes the result length ?

Answer 1

Using something like this

SortedList<int, string> list = new SortedList<int, string>();
            string[] seperator = new string[9];
            seperator[0] = "*";  //is the client
            seperator[1] = "/";  //is the name of company
            seperator[2] = "(";     //name of the market    
            seperator[5] = ":";    //ID
            seperator[6] = "?";    //orderType
            seperator[3] = "!@";   //realtive Time
            seperator[4] = "!+";   //
            seperator[7] = "+";    //quantity
            seperator[8] = "@";//price
            string val = "*A/AB(M!@12:6?SIMPLE!+5+2";

            for (int iSep = 0; iSep < seperator.Length; iSep++)
                list.Add(val.IndexOf(seperator[iSep]), val);

will give you a list of positions where the seperators start, in any order the user inputs, and then you can use substring to retrieve the values