Reading tab delimited data from a text file (JS CS3)

[jmw107]

Hi --I am working on a script to read data from a text file and use within a dialog. But I have hit a wall.

I have used a script from a previous post that sets a variable from the text document when the script user chooses it from a dropdown.

var myDialog = app.dialogs.add({name:"Map",canCancel:true});
with(myDialog){

    with(dialogColumns.add()){
        with(borderPanels.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Choose location:"});
with(dialogColumns.add()){
   
var file = File("~/Desktop/myPlacesfile.txt");

file.open("r");
var str = file.read();
file.close();
var myPlaceList = str.split(/[\r\n]+/);  
var myPlaceMenu = dropdowns.add({stringList:myPlaceList, selectedIndex:0});
}
}}}
var myResult = myDialog.show();
if(myResult == true){
if (myPlaceMenu.selectedIndex == 0){
var myPlace = "- Not Defined -";
}else{
var myPlace = myPlaceList[myPlaceMenu.selectedIndex];
alert(myPlace);
}

myDialog.destroy();
}

This is what I need to do now:

The text file is in this format:

value1 [TAB] value2

value1 [TAB] value2

value1 [TAB] value2

I need to have the dialog pulldown only show value 1, and after the user selects it, the script returns only value 2. (The alert is just there for testing -- I am doing something else with the variable).

Is there a way to display the first part of a tab delimited line in the pulldown and return the second half as a variable?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[Peter Kahrel · Accepted solution]

One of the possibilities is this. Create an array with values left of the tab for the dialog. Then create an object which you use as a look-up table. Roughly as follows:

// same as what you have

file.open("r");
var str = file.read();
file.close();
var array = str.split(/[\r\n]+/);

// "pairs" is the look-up table

var pairs = {};

// as before, "myPlaceList" will be used for the dropdown
var myPlaceList = [];

var v;
for (var i = 0; i < array.length; i++)
  {
  v = array.split ("\t");
  pairs [v[0]] = v[1];
  myPlaceList.push (v[0]);
  }

// add the dropdown as before:

var myPlaceMenu = dropdowns.add({stringList:myPlaceList, selectedIndex:0});

// the look-up table "pairs" is used as follows: pairs ["value1"] returns "value2"

// so in your script that would be:

var myPlace = pairs [myPlaceList[myPlaceMenu.selectedIndex]];

Peter

[Harbs.]

Very nice!

I didn't know you can use a RegExp as an argument for split()!

Very good to know!

Harbs

[jmw107]

Thanks Peter -- that worked great.

Terrific solution.

Jim

[jmw107]

I was hoping I could prevail on you for one more issue:

I am now adapting this script into scriptUI.

Here's a snippet:

//This correctly displays my drop down list.

myDialog.myPlaceMenu = myPanel.add('dropdownlist', [230,58,630,78], myPlaceList);
myDialog.myPlaceMenu.items[0].selected = true;

//This is where I run into a problem. The 'if' seems to be doing what is is supposed to but I cannot figure out the correct wording in the "else" part for the myPlace variable when the user chooses something other than the first item.

if (myDialog.myPlaceMenu.items[0].selected == true){

var myPlace = "- Not Defined -";
}else{
var myPlace = pairs [myPlaceList[myDialog.myPlaceMenu.selected]];
alert (myPlace);
}

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[jmw107]

Hi -- Nevermind -- I figured it out (found an earlier post where you answered the same question).

var myPlace = pairs [myPlaceList[myDialog.myPlaceMenu.selection.index]];

thanks again,

Jim