Suppose I had the following code in Python (yes, this question is about c# this is just an example)
string = "{entry1} {entry2} this is a string"
dictionary = {"entry1": "foo", "entry2": "bar"}
print(string.format(**dictionary))
# output is "foo bar this is just a string"
In this string, it would replace the {entry1} and {entry2} from the string to foo and bar using the .format()
Is there anyway I can replicate this EXACT same thing in C# (and also remove the curly braces) like the following code:
string str1 = "{entry1} {entry2} this a string";
Dictionary<string, string> dict1 = new() {
{"entry1", "foo"},
{"entry2", "bar"}
};
// how would I format this string using the given dict and get the same output?
using string interpolation you could do the following
Dictionary<string, string> dict1 = new() {
{"entry1", "foo"},
{"entry2", "bar"}
};
string result = $"{dict1["entry1"]} {dict1["entry2"]} this is a string";
You can replace values within {...} with a help of regular expressions:
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
...
string str1 = "{entry1} {entry2} this a string";
Dictionary<string, string> dict1 = new() {
{ "entry1", "foo" },
{ "entry2", "bar" }
};
string result = Regex.Replace(str1, @"{([^}]+)}",
m => dict1.TryGetValue(m.Groups[1].Value, out var v) ? v : "???");
// Let's have a look:
Console.Write(result);
Outcome:
foo bar this a string
You can write an extension method for a dictionary and in it manipulate your string as per your need Like
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
public static class DictionaryExtensions
{
public static string ReplaceKeyInString(this Dictionary<string, string> dictionary, string inputString)
{
var regex = new Regex("{(.*?)}");
var matches = regex.Matches(inputString);
foreach (Match match in matches)
{
var valueWithoutBrackets = match.Groups[1].Value;
var valueWithBrackets = match.Value;
if(dictionary.ContainsKey(valueWithoutBrackets))
inputString = inputString.Replace(valueWithBrackets, dictionary[valueWithoutBrackets]);
}
return inputString;
}
}
Now use this extension method to convert given string to the expected string,
string input = "{entry1} {entry2} this is a string";
Dictionary<string, string> dictionary = new Dictionary<string, string>
{
{ "entry1", "foo" },
{ "entry2", "bar" }
};
var result = dictionary.ReplaceKeyInString(input);
Console.WriteLine(result);
RegEx logic credit goes to @Fabian Bigler. Here is Fabian's answer:
Get values between curly braces c#
try this
foreach (var d in dict) str1=str1.Replace("{"+d.Key+"}",d.Value);
or if you like the extensions
Console.WriteLine(str1.FormatFromDictionary(dict));
public static string FormatFromDictionary(this string str, Dictionary<string, string> dict)
{
foreach (var d in dict) str = str.Replace("{" + d.Key + "}", d.Value);
return str;
}
You can use a string builder if there are may items to replace in one string
public static string FormatFromDictionary(this string str, Dictionary<string, string> dict)
{
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(str, 100);
foreach (var d in dict) sb.Replace("{" + d.Key + "}", d.Value);
return sb.ToString();
}