Problem with listing the URLs from html source code

[Aaron128]

Hello, I am trying to list all the URLs from a RichTextBox containing source code from a web page. They need to be stored in an SQL or Access database. I am using Visual Basic.NET and i need some help, please. Thanks :-D

Aaron

[Stephen McGuire]

Easiest way would be to cut/paste them yourself... You want to create a function that strips URL's from web page source code? Are you sure that is legal/ethical? Steve

[Aaron128]

I don't know Steve, but I'm trying to write a search engine and need a program to index hyperlinks into a database, Google did it. I would much appreciate any help though, thanks. :laugh:

Aaron

[Stephen McGuire]

Ok. You may want to have a look at the Split function using 'space' as the delimiter. You could put each word into an Array or ArrayList. Loop the Array/ArrayList and look for words beginning 'http' or containing 'www' using the InStr function or something similar. Steve

[Aaron128]

OK, I will give it a go. Thanks;)

Aaron

[Stephen McGuire]

You may want to find the first instance of a URL before assigning anything to your array. Just to keep the array size down. You will probably need to use an ArrayList since it's capacity will increase dynamically and you don't know what the size will be. You should probably strip as much out as you can before populating your ArrayList. Steve

[Aaron128]

Sorry if I'm being a bit annoying but, I was just wondering if it would be easier to use RichTextBox1.DetectURLs, because I have no idea on how to use the ArrayList, I'm not the best at VB.NET in the world:laugh: But I'm trying. Thanks though

Aaron

[Stephen McGuire]

Nice idea but I'm afraid that is a property not a method. Its purpose is to automatically format a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) when it is typed into the control. Steve

[Aaron128]

I think I will try again with your idea, thanks;)

Aaron

[Stephen McGuire]

Look up the Split function in your help file. You will see an example of how to split a string into an Array or ArrayList. Get the data from the textbox into a string (strip out unwanted text at beginning). Then split it into an array. Loop each item in the array to see if it contains 'www', if it does, add it to your DataSet or write it to your database. That would be a start. Then you can play with it to make it more efficient. Steve

[Aaron128]

Thanks, your help is much appreciated, thanks, it looks like you have helped a lot of people to day, Well Done!! Thanks again:-D

Aaron

[Stephen McGuire]

You're welcome!:cool: