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Find unique strings for a string array

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  • G George_George

    Hello everyone, I have a string array, but may have duplicate strings. Any built-in or smart way to remove the duplicate ones and generate a string array contains only unique ones? For example, the input array is {"abc", "bcd", "abc"}, the unique output array is {"abc", "bcd"}. thanks in advance, George

    G Offline
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    Giorgi Dalakishvili
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

    If I'm not mistaken you can use LINQ to select unique values.

    Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature My Articles Asynchronous Registry Notification Using Strongly-typed WMI Classes in .NET [^] My blog #endregion

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    • G George_George

      Hi Brij, "some generic for that" -- do you have some more words on this? Or some pseudo code? regards, George

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      Igor Velikorossov
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      List<string> newArray = new List<string>();
      foreach (string token in yourArray)
      {
      if (!newArray.Contains(token))
      {
      newArray.Add(token);
      }
      }

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      • G Giorgi Dalakishvili

        If I'm not mistaken you can use LINQ to select unique values.

        Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature My Articles Asynchronous Registry Notification Using Strongly-typed WMI Classes in .NET [^] My blog #endregion

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        Igor Velikorossov
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        ...yes, assuming he's using .net 3+

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        • C Christian Graus

          I dunno why a set class is not included, but it's easy to write one. Just have a list inside, and check if an entry exists before adding it.

          Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

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          George_George
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          Thanks Christian, What do you mean "have a list inside"? I am talking about string array, I am not sure where is the list you are talking about. Show some pseudo code? regards, George

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          • G Giorgi Dalakishvili

            If I'm not mistaken you can use LINQ to select unique values.

            Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature My Articles Asynchronous Registry Notification Using Strongly-typed WMI Classes in .NET [^] My blog #endregion

            G Offline
            G Offline
            George_George
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            LINQ is good, but I have to use .Net 3.0, not .Net 3.5. Any ideas for .Net 3.0 based solution? :-) regards, George

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • G George_George

              Hello everyone, I have a string array, but may have duplicate strings. Any built-in or smart way to remove the duplicate ones and generate a string array contains only unique ones? For example, the input array is {"abc", "bcd", "abc"}, the unique output array is {"abc", "bcd"}. thanks in advance, George

              D Offline
              D Offline
              Dragonfly_Lee
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              You can use the Distinct method(an Extention Method) if you are using C#3.0 and the implementation code is quit simple, such as: string[] strs = new string[] { "abc", "bcd", "abc" }; IEnumerable newStrs = strs.Distinct(); Hope this will help. LuckyBoy

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              • I Igor Velikorossov

                ...yes, assuming he's using .net 3+

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                George_George
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                Yes, I have to use .Net 3.0, not .Net 3.5. Any ideas for .Net 3.0 based solution? I think LINQ belongs to .Net 3.5, not .Net 3.0? regards, George

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • G George_George

                  Hello everyone, I have a string array, but may have duplicate strings. Any built-in or smart way to remove the duplicate ones and generate a string array contains only unique ones? For example, the input array is {"abc", "bcd", "abc"}, the unique output array is {"abc", "bcd"}. thanks in advance, George

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                  M Offline
                  Mark Churchill
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  Not sure why people are saying there isn't a built in set class. Use Hashset< string>. Insertion and checking for existing values is roughly O(n). Has extension methods on it for doing linqy kind of things. Also noticed a lot of people said "use linq!". Linq does not make things run faster - it's not a magic replacement for Array.Find. It just makes your code look pretty, thats all :D

                  Mark Churchill Director, Dunn & Churchill Pty Ltd Free Download: Diamond Binding: The simple, powerful, reliable, and effective data layer toolkit for Visual Studio.
                  Alpha release: Entanglar: Transparant multiplayer framework for .Net games.

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                  • D Dragonfly_Lee

                    You can use the Distinct method(an Extention Method) if you are using C#3.0 and the implementation code is quit simple, such as: string[] strs = new string[] { "abc", "bcd", "abc" }; IEnumerable newStrs = strs.Distinct(); Hope this will help. LuckyBoy

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                    George_George
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    LuckyBoy, Distinct belongs to .Net 3.5, and I have to use .Net 3.0. :-) Any ideas for .Net 3.0? regards, George

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                    • G George_George

                      LuckyBoy, Distinct belongs to .Net 3.5, and I have to use .Net 3.0. :-) Any ideas for .Net 3.0? regards, George

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                      PIEBALDconsult
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      George_George wrote:

                      I have to use .Net 3.0

                      Then I can't suggest HashSet. :( But I can suggest my Set class. :-D

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                      • B Brij

                        You have to iteretae it.You can use some generic for that

                        Cheers!! Brij

                        B Offline
                        B Offline
                        Brij
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        Make a custom function,In which create an a generic as taken below a list. List<string> UnqueList=new List<string>(); for (int i = 0; i < strarr.Length; i++) { if(!UnqueList.Exists(strarr[0])) { UnqueList.Add(strarr[0]); } } Now you'll the list conatining unique elements.You can conert it to array too as UnqueList.ToArray();

                        Cheers!! Brij

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                        • M Mark Churchill

                          Not sure why people are saying there isn't a built in set class. Use Hashset< string>. Insertion and checking for existing values is roughly O(n). Has extension methods on it for doing linqy kind of things. Also noticed a lot of people said "use linq!". Linq does not make things run faster - it's not a magic replacement for Array.Find. It just makes your code look pretty, thats all :D

                          Mark Churchill Director, Dunn & Churchill Pty Ltd Free Download: Diamond Binding: The simple, powerful, reliable, and effective data layer toolkit for Visual Studio.
                          Alpha release: Entanglar: Transparant multiplayer framework for .Net games.

                          G Offline
                          G Offline
                          George_George
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          Thanks Mark, I think people means no built-in single call for find the uniqueness for string. BTW: if LINQ is slow, why people will use LINQ? regards, George

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                          • P PIEBALDconsult

                            George_George wrote:

                            I have to use .Net 3.0

                            Then I can't suggest HashSet. :( But I can suggest my Set class. :-D

                            G Offline
                            G Offline
                            George_George
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            What are the advantages of your Set class over .Net Set class? regards, George

                            P 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • I Igor Velikorossov

                              List<string> newArray = new List<string>();
                              foreach (string token in yourArray)
                              {
                              if (!newArray.Contains(token))
                              {
                              newArray.Add(token);
                              }
                              }

                              G Offline
                              G Offline
                              George_George
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              Thanks Igor, I like your solution! :-) regards, George

                              I 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • G George_George

                                Thanks Mark, I think people means no built-in single call for find the uniqueness for string. BTW: if LINQ is slow, why people will use LINQ? regards, George

                                M Offline
                                M Offline
                                Mark Churchill
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                *shrug* I think Hashset< T>.Add(T item) returning bool if it was unique is close enough. People use LINQ because it makes the code more readable. Generally CPU is cheap and good programmers aren't. Its ok to have a 10% overhead if your code is more reliable and easier to maintain as a result.

                                Mark Churchill Director, Dunn & Churchill Pty Ltd Free Download: Diamond Binding: The simple, powerful, reliable, and effective data layer toolkit for Visual Studio.
                                Alpha release: Entanglar: Transparant multiplayer framework for .Net games.

                                N G 2 Replies Last reply
                                0
                                • B Brij

                                  Make a custom function,In which create an a generic as taken below a list. List<string> UnqueList=new List<string>(); for (int i = 0; i < strarr.Length; i++) { if(!UnqueList.Exists(strarr[0])) { UnqueList.Add(strarr[0]); } } Now you'll the list conatining unique elements.You can conert it to array too as UnqueList.ToArray();

                                  Cheers!! Brij

                                  G Offline
                                  G Offline
                                  George_George
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  Thanks Brij! The "generic" you mean List? regards, George

                                  B 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • G George_George

                                    Thanks Igor, I like your solution! :-) regards, George

                                    I Offline
                                    I Offline
                                    Igor Velikorossov
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    no worries ;)

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • M Mark Churchill

                                      *shrug* I think Hashset< T>.Add(T item) returning bool if it was unique is close enough. People use LINQ because it makes the code more readable. Generally CPU is cheap and good programmers aren't. Its ok to have a 10% overhead if your code is more reliable and easier to maintain as a result.

                                      Mark Churchill Director, Dunn & Churchill Pty Ltd Free Download: Diamond Binding: The simple, powerful, reliable, and effective data layer toolkit for Visual Studio.
                                      Alpha release: Entanglar: Transparant multiplayer framework for .Net games.

                                      N Offline
                                      N Offline
                                      N a v a n e e t h
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      Mark Churchill wrote:

                                      Generally CPU is cheap and good programmers aren't

                                      That's a good one :)

                                      Navaneeth How to use google | Ask smart questions

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • G George_George

                                        Thanks Christian, What do you mean "have a list inside"? I am talking about string array, I am not sure where is the list you are talking about. Show some pseudo code? regards, George

                                        C Offline
                                        C Offline
                                        Christian Graus
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        public class set { private List theList; public bool Add(T item) { if (theList.Contains(item)) return false; theList.Add(item); return true; } } This is the start of a set class, a container that only contains one of any object.

                                        Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

                                        G 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • G George_George

                                          Thanks Brij! The "generic" you mean List? regards, George

                                          B Offline
                                          B Offline
                                          Brij
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          Generic does means only List.We have some more like Dictionary,SortedList,Queue,Stack but list suits your requirement best.

                                          Cheers!! Brij

                                          G 1 Reply Last reply
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