Text file processing using C#

Let’s see few examples with StreamWriter class in C# code. As the name suggest it’s use to write something in text file. In below code we are creating object of StreamWriter class by passing two arguments

StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter("D:\\text.txt",true);

First argument is the location of text file. Means where is will create in our secondary device. And send parameter (true) is for append mode, if file already exists. If you want to create new file then make it false.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.IO;
namespace Test1
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter("D:\\text.txt");
            sw.Write("Hello");
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}
 

This code will create one text file in my D drive. And the file will contain “Hello”.

Here we are using Write() function of StreamWriter class to write something on text file. We can use WriteLine(“String is here”) also for same purpose.

Now it’s always recommend to create StreamWriter(StreamReader also) object within using block. Like below.

using (StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter("D:\\text.txt"))
            {
                sw.Write("Hello");
            }

To ensure that there will be proper implementation of garbage collection. In next few example will use using block always.  Now if you don’t want to implement using block then you can call Dispose method to release all resource allocated for StreamWriter class like below

 StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter(@"D:\text.txt")
 Sw.Dispose();

 StreamReader class

 By seeing name we can predict that this class is somehow related with reading data from text file.  Yes , We can use this class for the same. Let’s create object of StreamReader class like below.

StreamReader rd = new StreamReader(@"D:\text.txt")

The argument is nothing but path of text file. Once the object is created ,we can call various function associated with object to read text file. In below I have given few example.

Read() function

If you use Read() function of stream object it will show ASCII value of first character of text file. In below I have given sample code.

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            using (StreamReader rd = new StreamReader(@"D:\text.txt"))
            {
                Console.Write(rd.Read());
             }
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
 

ReadLine() function

This function will show first line of text file .Yes only first line.

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            using (StreamReader rd = new StreamReader(@"D:\text.txt"))
            {
                Console.Write(rd.ReadLine());
            }
            Console.ReadLine();
        }

 ReadToEnd()

By seeing name we can predict that , This function will fetch whole text file value. Below is the sample code to fetch whole value of text file.

static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            using (StreamReader rd = new StreamReader(@"D:\text.txt"))
            {
                Console.Write(rd.ReadToEnd());
            }
            Console.ReadLine();
        }

ReadBlock()

If we don’t want to fetch whole line or file content then we can use this function to read certain block from text file. ReadBlock() function takes three argument

First -> Character array for buffering purpose

Second-> Index from where it will start buffering

Third-> How many character it will take

Implementation of ReadBlock is in below.

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            using (StreamReader rd = new StreamReader(@"D:\text.txt"))
            {
                char [] val= new char[10];
                rd.ReadBlock(val,1,5);
            }
            Console.ReadLine();
        }

 Hope this article would be useful. Do write your comments.