How to Edit ini Section of File in Archive
lazarus / 49-FPSpreadsheet

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flywire · 2015-03-10 11:01

I want to edit the numbered layer lines in the [LAYERS] section of
00map.ini which is one of the files in an archive that I have in a
non-text TfileStream, so I know the start and end of the ini file. The
layer section is in csv space delimited format comprised of 42 columns
(assuming 4 blank columns at the double spaces). It is likely that
editing the section will change the file size so the whole archive
will have to be rewritten.

Sample start to [LAYERS] section:
Code: [Select][LAYERS]
NUMBER=23
0=00_Freeways 00lay0 20 1 0 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5
0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK US_INTERSTATE_HW_LINE
1=00_Highways 00lay1 20 1 0 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5
0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK US_STATE_HW_LINE
2=00_Major_Roads 00lay2 20 1 0 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5 
0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 BLACK US_MAJOR_RD_LINE
Sample ini file:
Code: [Select][GROUPS]
SEARCH_GROUPS=3 0 6 8
NUMBER=8
0=00_Roads 5 0 ( 0 ) 1 ( 78 ) 2 ( 79 ) 3 ( 80 ) 4 ( 81 )
1=00_Railroads 1 5 ( 0 )
2=00_Hydrography 2 6 ( 70 ) 7 ( 83 )
3=00_Parks 1 8 ( 71 )
4=00_MAN 3 9 ( 72 ) 10 ( 84 ) 11 ( 73 )
5=00_NATURE 3 12 ( 85 ) 13 ( 74 ) 14 ( 75 )
6=00_CITIES 4 15 ( 10 ) 16 ( 11 ) 17 ( 12 ) 18 ( 13 )
7=00_Help 4 19 ( 86 ) 20 ( 87 ) 21 ( 14 ) 22 ( 15 )
[COLORS4BITS]
LAY_COLOR=10 4 RED MSOLID_LINE  5 DARK_GRAY US_RAIL_ROAD  6 BLUE
SOLID_FILL  7 BLUE MSOLID_LINE  8 PAIL_GREEN SOLID_FILL  12 BLUE
DASH_LINE  13 BLUE SLANT_PATT  14 YELLOW SOLID_FILL  19 CYAN
DASH_LINE  20 CYAN MSOLID_LINE
MYCOLORS=3 1 0xBDEE71 2 0x02742A 3 0x669966
[MAP_INFO]
VERSION=20
BYTE_ORDER=I
BND_BOX=-64.997276 -64.291092 -32.685204 -32.002411
IS_ADD=0
START_SCALE=4500.00
MAP_NAME=Bermudas
[LIMITRECTANGLE]
BOUNDRECT=-198.158401 198.158401 -99.158401 99.158401
[COPYRIGHT]
1=(c) 2011 Sockeye
2=http://www.maps4me.net
3=Version 26.11.2011
[LAYERS]
NUMBER=23
0=00_Freeways 00lay0 20 1 0 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5
0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK US_INTERSTATE_HW_LINE
1=00_Highways 00lay1 20 1 0 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5
0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK US_STATE_HW_LINE
2=00_Major_Roads 00lay2 20 1 0 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5 
0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 BLACK US_MAJOR_RD_LINE
3=00_Streets 00lay3 20 1 0 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3
0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLACK US_STREET_LINE
4=00_Trails_4WD 00lay4 20 1 0 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0
3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 RED MSOLID_LINE
5=00_Railroads 00lay5 20 1 1 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0
4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 DARK_GRAY US_RAIL_ROAD
6=00_Hydro_Polygons 00lay6 20 1 2 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0
6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLUE SOLID_FILL
7=00_Hydro_Lines 00lay7 20 1 2 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5 
0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 BLUE MSOLID_LINE
8=00_Parks 00lay8 20 1 3 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3 0
3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 PAIL_GREEN SOLID_FILL
9=00_PLAZA 00lay9 20 1 4 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3 0
3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 WHITE SOLID_FILL
10=00_POWER_LINE 00lay10 20 1 4 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4 
0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 LIGHT_GRAY MSOLID_LINE
11=00_URBAN 00lay11 20 1 4 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5
0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 LIGHT_GRAY SOLID_FILL
12=00_STREAM 00lay12 20 1 5 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3
0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLUE DASH_LINE
13=00_SWAMP 00lay13 20 1 5 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3
0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLUE SLANT_PATT
14=00_BEACH 00lay14 20 1 5 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3
0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 YELLOW SOLID_FILL
15=00_METROPOLE 00lay15 20 1 6 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0 6 
0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK MAJOR_CITIES
16=00_CITIES 00lay16 20 1 6 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5
0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK LARGE_CITIES
17=00_TOWN 00lay17 20 1 6 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 BLACK MEDIUM_CITIES
18=00_HAMLET 00lay18 20 1 6 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3
0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLACK SMALL_CITIES
19=00_FERRY 00lay19 20 1 7 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5
0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 CYAN DASH_LINE
20=00_Depthline 00lay20 20 1 7 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5 
0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 CYAN MSOLID_LINE
21=00_SpotSounding 00lay21 20 1 7 0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0
3  0 2 0 2 0 2  0 2 0 2 0 2 BLACK NOTHING_POINT
22=00_GenLabel 00lay22 20 1 7 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0
3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLACK MANNOT_POINT
DB_NAME=db00
ORDERDRAW=11 8 9 6 14 13 12 7 5 4 3 1 2 0 19 20 10 21 22 18 17 16 15
POI_INDEX=8
[TABLES]
ZIP_TABLE=0 0
[POI]
POI_CONFIG=00poi.cfg
 I thought that FPSpreadsheet fpsgrid example would be a good shell to
start with.

How do I load the numbered layer rows into the grid?How do I set the
delimiter character to a space?

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wp · 2015-03-10 15:57

FPSpreadsheet is an overkill for this simple file parsing task. Just
use an ini file, a simple string grid, and parse the lines by means of
the Delimiter property of a stringlist:

Code: [Select]var
  list: TStringList;
  ini: TCustomIniFile;
begin
  list := TStringList.Create;
  list.Delimiter := ' ';
  list.StrictDelimiter := true;
  ini := TMemInifile.Create('sample.ini');
  try
    number := ini.ReadInteger('LAYERS', 'NUMBER', 0);
    StringGrid1.RowCount := number + 1; // +1 for fixed row
    StringGrid1.colCount := 42 + 1;  // you know the 42, +1 for fixed
col
    for i:=1 to number do begin
      line := ini.ReadString('LAYERS', IntToStr(i), '');
      list.DelimitedText := line;
      StringGrid1.Cells[0, i] := IntToStr(i);
      for j:=0 to list.Count-1 do
        StringGrid1.Cells[j+1, i] := list[j];
    end;
    for j := 1 to StringGrid1.ColCount-1 do
      StringGrid1.Cells[j, 0] := IntToStr(j);
  finally
    list.Free;
    ini.Free;
  end;
end;

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flywire · 2015-03-11 01:40

Quote from: wp on March 10, 2015, 04:57:00 pmFPSpreadsheet is an
overkill for this simple file parsing task.
I totally agree if you only mean the csv loader but I wanted to use
FPSpreadsheet as a grid to help the user edit the 42 columns, which
are very confusing and need to be verified, plus add a few more
controls. The main thing is that the digits on the RHS are a matrix of
Detail[5] x Feature[3] x Visibility[2] (base 1). Grouping the Detail
allowing some of them to be hidden,  hiding Features and pehaps
Visibility then doing validation on input will make this a lot more
understandable. Selection boxes to include or delete layers, Drop down
boxes on colours and line types and that would be most of the editing
functionality. Then save and remake the archive. I thought that
FPSpreadsheet would be a better container for this than a grid of
stringlist but any advice appreciated.

I haven't got acccess to the compiler at the moment and I will have to
see why it complained about not being able to find Grids. Top of file
below:
Code: [Select]program IniFileLoad;
uses
  Classes, IniFiles, sysutils, Grids;

var
  list: TStringList;
  ini: TCustomIniFile;
  StringGrid1: TStringGrid;
  i, j, number: integer;
  line: string;
begin ...

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flywire · 2015-03-11 07:59

Quote from: flywire on March 11, 2015, 02:40:24 am ... any advice
appreciated. ...

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wp · 2015-03-11 09:10

Set up a gui program properly and you will have all dependencies of a
TStringGrid included correctly. Your code snippet indicates that you
want a commandline program - TStringGrid requires a gui.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-11 09:28

You're right - I didn't understand that it needs a gui.

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wp · 2015-03-11 09:37

Have you ever written a gui program? If not, look at
http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Form_Tutorial, and there are
certainly a lot more introductory tutorials.

In your case, add a TStringGrid to the form and, maybe, a TButton.
Double-click on the button on the form to open the code editor for the
OnClick event. Paste my code into that procedure skeleton. Compile &
run. After clicking at the button, your program should open your ini
file (called "sample.ini" here - just rename if it does not suit you)
and show the Layers section in the grid.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-11 12:13

Thanks wp, I'm away with gui. Some minor changes for the benefit of
anyone that tries this (Note that the layer number is stripped by the
ini procedure.):

Code: [Select]unit Unit1;
// Create grid and load with ini file layer contents

{$mode objfpc}{$H+}

interface

uses
  Classes, SysUtils, FileUtil, Forms, Controls, Graphics, Dialogs,
Grids,
  StdCtrls, IniFiles;

type

  { TForm1 }

  TForm1 = class(TForm)                                    // Form has
    Button1: TButton;                                      // Button
    StringGrid1: TStringGrid;                              //
StringGrid
    procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
  private
    { private declarations }
  public
    { public declarations }
  end;

var
  Form1: TForm1;

implementation

{$R *.lfm}

{ TForm1 }

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);            // On
button click
                                                           // Load ini
to Grid
var
  list: TStringList;
  ini: TCustomIniFile;                                     //
StringList type
  i, j: integer;                                           // Ini type
  number: longint;                                         // Row col
counters
  line: string;                                            // Ini line
  begin
    list := TStringList.Create;                            // Define
StringList
    list.Delimiter := ' ';                                 // Space
delimited
    list.StrictDelimiter := true;                          // Force
delineation
    ini := TMemInifile.Create('00map.ini');                // Ini
filename
    try
      number := ini.ReadInteger('LAYERS', 'NUMBER', 0);    // Read ini
Layers No
      StringGrid1.RowCount := number + 1;                  // Rows +1
for fixed
      StringGrid1.ColCount := 42 + 1;                      // Known
cols +1
      for i:=0 to number do begin                          // For each
row
        line := ini.ReadString('LAYERS', IntToStr(i), ''); // Read ini
row
        list.DelimitedText := line;                        // Reformat
ini row
        StringGrid1.Cells[0, i] := IntToStr(i);            // Load row
label
        for j:=0 to list.Count-1 do                        // For each
column
          StringGrid1.Cells[j+1, i+1] := list[j];          // Load
cell
      end;
      for j := 1 to StringGrid1.ColCount-1 do              // For each
row
        StringGrid1.Cells[j, 0] := IntToStr(j);            // Load col
label
    finally                                                // Free
memory
      list.Free;                                           // For list
      ini.Free;                                            // For ini
    end;
  end;

end.
Quote from: flywire on March 11, 2015, 02:40:24 am... I wanted to use
FPSpreadsheet as a grid to help the user edit the 42 columns, which
are very confusing and need to be verified, plus add a few more
controls. The main thing is that the digits on the RHS are a matrix of
Detail[5] x Feature[3] x Visibility[2] (base 1). Grouping the Detail
allowing some of them to be hidden,  hiding Features and perhaps
Visibility then doing validation on input will make this a lot more
understandable. Selection boxes to include or delete layers, Drop down
boxes on colours and line types and that would be most of the editing
functionality. Then save and remake the archive. I thought that
FPSpreadsheet would be a better container for this ...
Can I get confirmation if StringGrid or FPSpreadsheet is the way to go
as a container, or are they basically the same thing? I have noted a
few issues with StringGrid and delphi and it would be good if the code
could be compiled with both.

Edit: Inserted code with comments

----------------------------------------------------------------------
wp · 2015-03-11 12:43

QuoteCan I get confirmation if StringGrid or FPSpreadsheet is the way
to go as a container, or are they basically the same thing? I have
noted a few issues with StringGrid and delphi and it would be good if
the code could be compiled with both.FPSpreadsheet does not exist for
Delphi...

StringGrid and FPSpreadsheet are completely different things:
StringGrid is some kind of table control displaying strings.
FPSpreadsheet is a library to read/write spreadsheet files - you
probably mean the TsWorksheetGrid which looks like a StringGrid, but
does not store any data - it gets them from the underlying worksheet
(StringGrid stores the strings in internal structures).

So, if you don't need spreadsheet files, and if you want to use Delphi
go with the StringGrid...

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-14 10:55

Quote from: wp on March 10, 2015, 04:57:00 pm... Just use an ini file,
... and parse the lines by means of the Delimiter property of a
stringlist:
Code: [Select]list.DelimitedText := line;
Well no. These files are more complicated than I imagined and the
example that I provided is not necessarily the best one. (I
incorrectly interpreted the double spaces as an empty field when they
are actually double space field delimiters.) The best that I can
explain is that the fields are delimited by 'white space' which could
be one or a number of spaces, tabs etc. Libre Office Calc allows a
number of Delimiters to be specified and a Merge Delimiters used to
treat them as a single delimiter.

As I see it the basic issue is that TStrings.DelimitedText breaks the
fields on every occurrence of the delimiter and will not allow
multiple delimiter types to be used at the same time. I know the basic
philosophy is if you find that doesn't work you should fix it and make
it available for everyone else. To be honest, I can't even describe
what the code is but I suppose it is a method, so there's little
chance of me changing it to 1..n delimiters rather than one. I'll go
for the hack and dump the white space and insert a nice single
delimiter.

I suppose it is just a procedure to ParseDelimitedText(var
TStrings.DelimitedText as TStringList; const line as TStringList;
const Delimiters as string) and treat them as strings. Read all of the
characters in the line and keep them if not instr of delimiters then
add delimiter between each field.

Running lazarus-1.4RC2-fpc-2.6.4-win32 under win7

----------------------------------------------------------------------
engkin · 2015-03-14 15:08

If you post a better example we might be able to help.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-15 12:37

Quote from: engkin on March 14, 2015, 04:08:26 pmIf you post a better
example ...
Sorry, my post didn't save. I like the IniFiles unit but it does not
parse the file as I require. I would like to parse the data and
continue to use the IniFiles unit for other ini file processes. I have
included sample data below but the detail of mixed tabs and spaces,
sometimes multiple and mixed as a single delimiter, is in the 'white
space'. (Ini file loaded as sample2.txt.)

Code: [Select][LAYERS]
NUMBER=23
0=00_Freeways           00lay0  20 1 0 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0
6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK US_INTERSTATE_HW_LINE
1=00_Highways           00lay1  20 1 0 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0
6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK US_STATE_HW_LINE
2=00_Major_Roads        00lay2  20 1 0 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0
5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 BLACK US_MAJOR_RD_LINE
3=00_Streets            00lay3  20 1 0 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLACK US_STREET_LINE
4=00_Trails_4WD         00lay4  20 1 0 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 RED MSOLID_LINE
5=00_Railroads          00lay5  20 1 1 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0
5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 DARK_GRAY US_RAIL_ROAD
6=00_Hydro_Polygons     00lay6  20 1 2 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0
6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLUE SOLID_FILL
7=00_Hydro_Lines        00lay7  20 1 2 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0
5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 BLUE MSOLID_LINE
8=00_Parks              00lay8  20 1 3 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 PAIL_GREEN SOLID_FILL
9=00_PLAZA              00lay9  20 1 4 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 WHITE SOLID_FILL
10=00_POWER_LINE        00lay10 20 1 4 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 LIGHT_GRAY MSOLID_LINE
11=00_URBAN             00lay11 20 1 4 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0
6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 LIGHT_GRAY SOLID_FILL
12=00_STREAM            00lay12 20 1 5 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLUE DASH_LINE
13=00_SWAMP             00lay13 20 1 5 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLUE SLANT_PATT
14=00_BEACH             00lay14 20 1 5 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 YELLOW SOLID_FILL
15=00_METROPOLE         00lay15 20 1 6 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0
6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK MAJOR_CITIES
16=00_CITIES            00lay16 20 1 6 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0
6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 BLACK LARGE_CITIES
17=00_TOWN              00lay17 20 1 6 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0
5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 BLACK MEDIUM_CITIES
18=00_HAMLET            00lay18 20 1 6 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLACK SMALL_CITIES
19=00_FERRY             00lay19 20 1 7 0 7 0 7 0 7  0 7 0 7 0 7  0 6 0
6 0 6  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5 CYAN DASH_LINE
20=00_Depthline         00lay20 20 1 7 0 6 0 6 0 6  0 6 0 6 0 6  0 5 0
5 0 5  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4 CYAN MSOLID_LINE
21=00_SpotSounding      00lay21 20 1 7 0 4 0 4 0 4  0 4 0 4 0 4  0 3 0
3 0 3  0 2 0 2 0 2  0 2 0 2 0 2 BLACK NOTHING_POINT
22=00_GenLabel          00lay22 20 1 7 0 5 0 5 0 5  0 5 0 5 0 5  0 4 0
4 0 4  0 3 0 3 0 3  0 3 0 3 0 3 BLACK MANNOT_POINT
DB_NAME=db00
ORDERDRAW=11 8 9 6 14 13 12 7 5 4 3 1 2 0 19 20 10 21 22 18 17 16 15
POI_INDEX=8

This is a start to the approach I was working towards but I wont be
back to it for a few days.

Code: [Select]program ParseDelimitedTextDemo;

var
  line: string;

Const
  Delimiter: array[0..1] of char = ' '+ #9;

procedure ParseDelimitedText(var line: string; Delimiter: array of
char);

var
  TmpLine: string;
  i, j: integer;
  bNewFieldFlag: boolean;

  begin
    // Initialise
    i := 1;
    j := 1;
    TmpLine := '';
    try
    for i := 1 to length(line) do begin         // For whole line
      if pos(line[i],Delimiter)=0 then          // If not delimiter
        begin
          TmpLine[j] := line[i];                // Add character to
temp string
          inc(j);
          bNewFieldFlag := true;                // Flag field new
        end;
      else if bNewFieldFlag then
        begin
          TmpLine[j] := Delimiter[0];           // Add 1st delimiter
          inc(j);
          bNewFieldFlag := false;               // Flag field not new
        end;
    end;
  finally
    line := TrimRight(TmpLine);                 // Trim any trailing
delimiter
  end;
end;

begin
  line := 'Demo String     with spaces';
  ParseDelimitedText (line, delimiter);
end.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
engkin · 2015-03-15 14:50

How about this code:
Code: [Select]program ParseDelimitedText_demo;

uses
  classes, sysutils;

procedure PrintFields(const vLine: String);
var
  sl: TStringList;
  s: String;
  aLine: string;
begin
  sl := TStringList.Create;
  try
    aLine := StringReplace(vLine, #9, #32, [rfReplaceAll]);
    sl.Delimiter := #32;
    sl.StrictDelimiter := False;
    sl.DelimitedText := aLine;
    WriteLn('Number of fields is: ',sl.Count);
    for s in sl do
      writeLn(s);
  finally
    sl.Free;
  end;
end;

var
  line: string;

begin
  line := 'Demo String     with spaces';
  PrintFields(line);
  WriteLn('');

  line := 'Demo String'#9#9#9#9'with tabs';
  PrintFields(line);
  WriteLn('');

  line := #9#32'Demo String'#9#9#32#9'with  spaces    and '#9#9#9'
tabs'#9;
  PrintFields(line);
  readln;
end.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-16 02:11

Quote from: engkin on March 15, 2015, 03:50:14 pmHow about this code:
...
Nice. It is simple and it works (although it only allows one
additional delimiter other than the preferred one so if a comma or
semicolon was also used the String Replace line would need to be
duplicated). I sort of wish that I didn't post my ugly approach now. 

What I would like to understand is how to use the IniFiles unit in the
code from http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,27663.ms
g171301.html#msg171301 but overload the procedure so that it runs this
code but everything else in the IniFiles unit still works.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
engkin · 2015-03-16 03:28

I just saw a comment in the source code:
Quote    //Strings must be separated by Delimiter characters or
spaces.
which means that I did not need to use StringReplace, and a
PrintFields is simply:
Code: [Select]procedure PrintFields(const vLine: String);
var
  sl: TStringList;
  s: String;
begin
  sl := TStringList.Create;
  try
    sl.Delimiter := #09;
    sl.StrictDelimiter := False;
    sl.DelimitedText := vLine;
    WriteLn('Number of fields is: ',sl.Count);
    for s in sl do
      writeLn(s);
  finally
    sl.Free;
  end;
end;

I believe you were using the same except you had StrictDelimiter =
true.

Quote from: flywire on March 16, 2015, 03:11:33 am[...] although it
only allows one additional delimiter other than the preferred one so
if a comma or semicolon was also used the String Replace line would
need to be duplicated).

For arbitrary number of delimiters I adjusted your code a bit:
Code: [Select]procedure PrintFields(const vLine: String);
var
  sl: TStringList;
  Delimiters: String;
  vFrom, vTo: Integer;
  s: String;
begin
  Delimiters := ' ,.'#9;
  sl := TStringList.Create;
  try
    vFrom := 1;
    repeat
      { find a field }
      vTo := vFrom;
      while (vTo <= Length(vLine)) and not (Pos(vLine[vTo],
Delimiters) <> 0) do
        inc(vTo);

      if vTo>vFrom then { add field }
        sl.add(Copy(vLine, vFrom, vTo-vFrom));

      { skip delimiters }
      vFrom := vTo+1;
      while (vFrom <= Length(vLine)) and (Pos(vLine[vFrom],
Delimiters) <> 0) do
        inc(vFrom);
    until vFrom>Length(vLine);

    WriteLn('Number of fields is: ',sl.Count);
    for s in sl do
      writeLn(s);
  finally
    sl.Free;
  end;
end;

----------------------------------------------------------------------
engkin · 2015-03-16 04:07

Quote from: flywire on March 16, 2015, 03:11:33 amWhat I would like to
understand is how to use the IniFiles unit in the code from http://for
um.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,27663.msg171301.html#msg1713
01 but overload the procedure so that it runs this code but everything
else in the IniFiles unit still works.

Simply build a new class based on TStringList. I'll call it
TDelimitedList:
Code: [Select]  TDelimitedList = class(TStringList)
  public
    procedure AddFields(vLine: String; vDelimiters: String);
  end;

as you can see, it adds one procedure, AddFields:
Code: [Select]  procedure TDelimitedList.AddFields(vLine: String;
vDelimiters: String);
  var
    sl: TStringList;
    vFrom, vTo: Integer;
  begin
    vFrom := 1;
    repeat
      { find a field }
      vTo := vFrom;
      while (vTo <= Length(vLine)) and not (Pos(vLine[vTo],
vDelimiters) <> 0) do
        inc(vTo);

      if vTo>vFrom then { add field }
        add(Copy(vLine, vFrom, vTo-vFrom));

      { skip delimiters }
      vFrom := vTo+1;
      while (vFrom <= Length(vLine)) and (Pos(vLine[vFrom],
vDelimiters) <> 0) do
        inc(vFrom);
    until vFrom>Length(vLine);
  end;

And make a few adjustments to the code you referred to in a link in
your previous post. Instead of:
Code: [Select]    list := TStringList.Create;
use the new class:
Code: [Select]    list := TDelimitedList.Create;

And instead of:
Code: [Select]        list.DelimitedText := line;
use the new procedure:
Code: [Select]        list.AddFields(line, ' ,.'#9); { add your
delimiters here }
Notice that you can add as much delimiters as you wish.

If it works as you expect then you can get rid of these two lines,
they are not needed anymore:
Code: [Select]    list.Delimiter := ' ';
    list.StrictDelimiter := true;

Edit:
It goes without saying that the type of variable list should be
changed from TStringList to TDelimitedList.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-17 13:14

This class works with program ParseDelimitedText_demo; but it does not
work with the attached program MagellanIniGrid;

Can you explain how the class works in relation to the existing
IniFiles unit? I thought that an overload procedure would have been
used to just replace one of the IniFiles procedures (methods?) and
allow the other procedures to be used (eg to write the ini file after
it is edited).

----------------------------------------------------------------------
engkin · 2015-03-17 13:48

Quote from: flywire on March 17, 2015, 02:14:30 pmThis class works
with program ParseDelimitedText_demo; but it does not work with the
attached program MagellanIniGrid;

The new list retains the previous values, which you don't need in this
case, so just add list.Clear before list.AddFields:
Code: [Select]        list.Clear;
        list.AddFields(line, ' ,.'#9); { add your delimiters here }

Quote from: flywire on March 17, 2015, 02:14:30 pmCan you explain how
the class works in relation to the existing IniFiles unit? I thought
that an overload procedure would have been used to just replace one of
the IniFiles procedures (methods?) and allow the other procedures to
be used (eg to write the ini file after it is edited).

You can't override a method inside IniFiles if it's not virtual
method.

Edit:
You don't need xx columns in the grid anymore.
Just curious, any link to explain these fields?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-17 21:06

Quote from: engkin on March 17, 2015, 02:48:54 pmThe new list retains
the previous values, which you don't need in this case, so just add
list.Clear before list.AddFields:
Yes that worked. (My next task is to study the IniFiles data
structures more thoroughly.)

QuoteYou don't need xx columns in the grid anymore.
Just got to the bottom of your post - already gone. I will have to put
the double spaces back in when I rewrite the ini file.

QuoteJust curious, any link to explain these fields?
No, just bits and pieces from everywhere. Good point - needs a wiki.

Briefly to describe layer columns: layer name, layer extension
aggregation, three fields of no interest, 5 x group of 6 columns, line
type, symbology. Groups of 6 columns are zoom for - detail level:
visible from, visible to; base map: visible from, visible to; labels
visible from, visible to. By default detail zoom level is below 7 and
above that there will be conflicts to resolve, especially with base
map level. Note that there are a number of generations of hardware and
software which do/don't support features to various extents.

Disclaimer. This is unsupported. Always backup your maps before trying
this and realise that it could break your GPS, possibly when you are
lost in a remote area.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-22 13:05

I can't figure out writing the string back to the ini file. I need to
write the space delineated line at line '// Write ini row ***'. The
list is already space delineated but it is type TStringList and I need
type string.

Code: [Select]procedure TForm1.Button2Click(Sender: TObject);
{ Uses number: longint; number of columns
}

var
  list: TStringList;                                       //
StringList type
  ini: TCustomIniFile;                                     // Ini type
  i, j: integer;                                           // Row col
counters
  TargetF: string;

  begin
    TargetF := 'sample3.ini';
    list := TStringList.Create;                            // Define
StringList
    ini := TMemInifile.Create(TargetF);                    // Ini
filename
    try
      ini.WriteInteger ('LAYERS', 'NUMBER', number);       // Write
ini Layers No
      for i:=0 to number-1 do begin                        // For each
row
        for j:=0 to StringGrid1.ColCount-2 do              // For each
column
          list.add(StringGrid1.Cells[j+1, i+1]);           // Get list
from cells
        ini.WriteString ('LAYERS', IntToStr(i), list.text);// Write
ini row ***
      end;

    finally                                                // Free
memory
      list.Free;                                           // For list
      ini.Free;                                            // For ini
//      TargetF.Free;                                        // For
file
    end;

end;

----------------------------------------------------------------------
engkin · 2015-03-22 14:58

list.text uses #13#10 to separate the values, while space (#32) is
needed. So build them one line at a time:
Code: [Select]procedure TForm1.Button2Click(Sender: TObject);
{ Uses number: longint; number of columns
}

var
  list: TStringList;                                       //
StringList type
  ini: TCustomIniFile;                                     // Ini type
  i, j: integer;                                           // Row col
counters
  TargetF: string;
  number: longint;
  aLine: string;

begin
  TargetF := 'sample3.ini';
  list    := TStringList.Create;                            // Define
StringList
  ini     := TMemInifile.Create(TargetF);                    // Ini
filename
  try
    ini.WriteInteger('LAYERS', 'NUMBER', number);       // Write ini
Layers No
    for i := 0 to number - 1 do
    begin                        // For each row
      aLine := '';
      for j := 0 to StringGrid1.ColCount - 2 do              // For
each column
      begin
        if j = 0 then
          aLine := aLine + StringGrid1.Cells[j + 1, i + 1]         
 // Get list from cells
        else
          aLine := aLine + ' ' + StringGrid1.Cells[j + 1, i + 1];
      end;
      ini.WriteString('LAYERS', IntToStr(i), aLine);// Write ini row
***
    end;

  finally                                                // Free
memory
    list.Free;                                           // For list
    ini.Free;                                            // For ini
    //      TargetF.Free;                                        //
For file
  end;
end;

----------------------------------------------------------------------
flywire · 2015-03-23 08:50

I ran this and it only worked on the first line then I realised that
it had not changed the invalid lines from the previous version. I
deleted the ini file and the ini file created was fine.