I have a project that requires data from a csv file to be manipulated into a new csv file. While some of the manipulation is simply straight mapping of data from the input csv to the output csv, the more complex part of the project is the dynamic IF statement requirement for some mappings. For this, the project requires some mappings to execute a series of IF..THEN..ELSE statements but the kicker is the user should be in full control of these statements. By full control, I mean each mapping should be visible to the user and he can add, subtract, or modify IF clauses per mapping. Is this possible in .Net and if so, how would I go about doing it? Examples are appreciated.

-Thank you

I have a project that requires data from a csv file to be manipulated into a new csv file. While some of the manipulation is simply straight mapping of data from the input csv to the output csv, the more complex part of the project is the dynamic IF statement requirement for some mappings. For this, the project requires some mappings to execute a series of IF..THEN..ELSE statements but the kicker is the user should be in full control of these statements. By full control, I mean each mapping should be visible to the user and he can add, subtract, or modify IF clauses per mapping. Is this possible in .Net and if so, how would I go about doing it? Examples are appreciated.

-Thank you

Here is one of the initial IFs given to me as an example of what needs to be done during mapping:

If D1 = 10 then
Image = "save-10.tif"
else
If D1 = 20 then
image = "save-10.tif"
else
image = ""
end if
end if


This is a straight forward enough IF to write into the application.The wrinkle thrown into the project is wanting to be able to write future IFs without requiring code changes. The idea is to havesome meansbe programmed toallow the user tomodify IFs at will.For example, the image IF might have a need to be updated with an "IF D1 = 30 Then ..." statement.

In my mind, I am imagining this project having something akin to how Excel lets someone write IF statements tomanipulate data. Excel stores these IFs and everytime the spreadsheet is opened the IF executes. The user can also update the IFs and save so that future viewers of the spreadsheet see the results of the newly modified IFs.Is doing something like that easily accomplished in .Net?

So as in your example above if you stored valid image values in a list you could have a form that had all
values and they could check the ones that were valid tiff values. Then one if statement could check a
dynamically created list of valid image values

I think that was the point Jinzai was trying to make.

kINDa lIKe tHIs:

Public Class Form1
    'Store the Vaild Image vaules for D1
    Private mImageValues As List(Of Integer)
    Public Property ImageValues() As List(Of Integer)
        Get
            If mImageValues Is Nothing Then
                mImageValues = New List(Of Integer)
            End If

            Return mImageValues
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As List(Of Integer))
            mImageValues = CType(value, List(Of Integer))
        End Set
    End Property

    Private Sub StartIfs_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        Dim D1 As Integer
        Dim ImageName As String

        If Integer.TryParse(Me.Controls("txtD1Values").Text, D1) = False Then
            MessageBox.Show("Not an Integer", "Data Error", _
                            MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)

            Exit Sub
        End If

        'does the list contain the value?
        If ImageValues.Contains(D1) Then
            ImageName = String.Format("save-{0}.tif", D1)
        Else
            ImageName = String.Format("Don't Save {0}", D1)
        End If

        Me.Text = ImageName
    End Sub

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal _
                           e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

        LoadControlsAtRunTime()
    End Sub

    'Below code is for loadding controls at runtime so 
    'you don't have to... :-)
    Private Sub LoadControlsAtRunTime()
        Dim newList As New CheckedListBox

        With newList
            .Height = Me.Height * 0.66
            .Dock = DockStyle.Bottom
            .CheckOnClick = True

            'Possible Image Values
            .Items.Add(10)
            .Items.Add(20)
            .Items.Add(30)
            .Items.Add(40)
            .Items.Add(50)
            .Items.Add(60)

        End With

        AddHandler newList.ItemCheck, AddressOf ImageValues_ItemCheck

        Me.Controls.Add(newList)

        Dim newButton As New Button

        With newButton
            .Text = "Start If's"
            .Location = New Point(5, 5)
        End With

        AddHandler newButton.Click, AddressOf StartIfs_Click

        Me.Controls.Add(newButton)

        Dim newText As New TextBox

        With newText
            .Name = "txtD1Values"
            .Text = "10"
            .Location = New Point(newButton.Right + 5, newButton.Top)
        End With

        Me.Controls.Add(newText)
    End Sub

    Private Sub ImageValues_ItemCheck(ByVal sender As Object, _
                                      ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.ItemCheckEventArgs)

        Dim CheckedList As CheckedListBox = CType(sender, CheckedListBox)
        Dim D1 As Integer = CheckedList.Items(e.Index)

        Select Case True
            Case e.NewValue = CheckState.Checked AndAlso ImageValues.Contains(D1) = False
                ImageValues.Add(D1)
            Case e.NewValue = CheckState.Unchecked AndAlso ImageValues.Contains(D1)
                ImageValues.Remove(D1)
        End Select

    End Sub
End Class

Public Interface ICondition
Function TestCondition(ByVal input As String) As Boolean
End Interface

Public Delegate Function Test() As Boolean

Public Interface IPerformAction
Sub PerformAction(ByVal test As Test)
End Interface

Public Interface ITestStrategy : Inherits ICondition, IPerformAction

End Interface

Public MustInherit Class TestConditons : Implements ITestStrategy
Private condition As ICondition
Private test As IPerformAction
Public Sub New(ByVal condition As ICondition, ByVal test As IPerformAction)
Me.condition = condition
Me.test = test
End Sub
Public Function TestCondition(ByVal input As String) As Boolean Implements ICondition.TestCondition
Return condition.TestCondition(input)
End Function

Public Sub PerformTest(ByVal test As Test) Implements IPerformAction.PerformAction
test.Invoke()
End Sub
End Class


Hope this starts a brainstorm.

Rudedog =8^D

Why don't we use text file ?
Low teach method but easy.

_______File.txt__________
10:save-10.tif
20:save-10.tif
30:save-20.tif
______________________

Using File As New StreamReader("File.Txt")
Do Until File.EoF
Dim Line = File.Readline.Split(":")
IfLine.Length> 1AndAlsoD1 = Cint( Line(0) ) Then Image = Line(1) : Exit Do
Loop
End Using

Why don't we use text file ?
Low teach method but easy.

_______File.txt__________
10:save-10.tif
20:save-10.tif
30:save-20.tif
______________________

Using File As New StreamReader("File.Txt")
Do Until File.EoF
Dim Line = File.Readline.Split(":")
IfLine.Length> 1AndAlsoD1 = Cint( Line(0) ) Then Image = Line(1) : Exit Do
Loop
End Using

Basically, the project was outlined to me as needing:

1) Construct a new csv using data from an old csv file

2) Some data would map from the old csv file to the new csv file unaltered but possibly in new location (i.e. field A in old csv file maps to field B in newly created csv file)

3) Some data from the old csv file would map to the new csv but be altered based on conditions. For example, field A in old csv file might have value of "10" and via IF statements, the value mapped to the new csv file would be "someimagenaem.tif".

4) If statements should be viewable and alterable by the user and not require a developer to modify IF statements.

5) Some mappings will require values in the old csv to be concatenated together and become a single value in the new csv.


The sticking point for me is number 4. The best comparable I have to that is what Excel does for IF statements. It allows the user to construct and modifyIFs at will. I was hoping there was a means in.Net to do something similar.

Hopefully this helpsdirect your thoughtsas I am at a loss on how to go about this.

Using a text file or databasewas a thought I had but I cannot figure out how to make it work well for the more ellaborate scenarios of IFs with AND and OR. Basically, theproject is looking to duplicate what Excel can do wherein a user can modify and create IF statements without requiring a developer.

Basically, the project was outlined to me as needing:

1) Construct a new csv using data from an old csv file

2) Some data would map from the old csv file to the new csv file unaltered but possibly in new location (i.e. field A in old csv file maps to field B in newly created csv file)

3) Some data from the old csv file would map to the new csv but be altered based on conditions. For example, field A in old csv file might have value of "10" and via IF statements, the value mapped to the new csv file would be "someimagenaem.tif".

4) If statements should be viewable and alterable by the user and not require a developer to modify IF statements.

5) Some mappings will require values in the old csv to be concatenated together and become a single value in the new csv.


The sticking point for me is number 4. The best comparable I have to that is what Excel does for IF statements. It allows the user to construct and modifyIFs at will. I was hoping there was a means in.Net to do something similar.

Hopefully this helpsdirect your thoughtsas I am at a loss on how to go about this.

Thus, I was hoping someone had done this type of work before but it seems I am somewhat trail blazing here.