Question

We recently received a bunch of files with tab-delimiters.

We were having difficulties importing them in sql server database.

The vendor who sent the files also sent the code below for us to use in converting the files from tab to comma delimiters.

How do I use this file in visual studio.

I have used visual studio several times befor but I have not used it with just single file such as this.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.IO;

namespace TabToComma
{
   class Program
   {
      static void Main(string[] args)
      {
         StreamReader sr;
         StreamWriter sw;

         sr = new StreamReader(@"c:\input.txt");
         sw = new StreamWriter(@"c:\output.txt");

         string nextline;
         string replacedline;

         while (sr.Peek() >= 0)
         {
            nextline = sr.ReadLine();
            replacedline = nextline.Replace('\t',','); // replace each tab in line with a comma
            sw.WriteLine(replacedline);
         }
         sr.Close();

         sw.Close();

      }
   }

}

Alternatively, if someone knows how I can accomplish same thing using vbscript please point me in the right direction.

Thanks alot in advance

Answer 1

Also, here’s a replacement for the content of Main() that might make your life easier, as long as the files are of decent size:

foreach(string f in args) {
    System.IO.File.WriteAllText(f, System.IO.File.ReadAllText(f).Replace('\t', ','));
}

Compile and drag and drop all your files onto the resulting executable. They’ll be converted automatically.

You can even grab the compiled executable from here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2463964/TabsToCommas.exe if you’re having trouble compiling it.