Removing duplicate entries from an array in VB

[McKenzie!]

Please help me. I have a record of many entries of string which is stored in an array. My query is that I want to remove all the duplicate entries. I have tried but could not get it. Can any one of you experts help me with the code, so that I can implement it soon in my VB code? All you’re your replies will be appreciated.

[Shreevats]

The below code I have edited for you. I have not personally tested but it should work for you. I tried my best to make the code easier.

dim temparray(-1) as string
dim i as integer = ubound(myarray)
dim j as integer
dim currentstring as string
myarray.sort
for j =0 to i-1
if currentstring <> myarray(j) then
temparray.append myarray(j)
currentstring=myarray(j)

//keep path of the current string to test for duplicates.

end if
next j

[Villiers]

I would like to add more code. The easiest way is to sort the entries and then compare it.
// Now replace your array with the temp that I have built for you.

redim myarray(-1)
i=ubound(temparray)
for j=0 to i-1
myarray.append temparray(j)
next j

[Ronchi]

As far as I am concerned you have to add all the strings of the array in the dictionary. After finishing that, the dictionary will contain only values that are unique and it can be treated like an array.
Code:

dim mydictionary as new dictionary
for x = 0 to ubound(myarray)
   mydictionary.value (myarray(x)) = 1
next

//now all the unique values can be used like using keys() like an array

s  = mydictionary.keys(1)

[Dwarner]

The below code that I have edited for you is a straight forward process. After having a glance over the code you can easily make out what’s going on as it is easy to understand. If any of the code does not work for you than you can use it.

Sub RemoveDuplicates ( MyArray () As String )
  Dim I, UpperBound1 As Integer
  MyArray.Sort
  UpperBound1 = Ubound ( MyArray ) 
  For I = UpperBound1 DownTo 1
    If MyArray ( I ) = MyArray ( I - 1 ) Then
      MyArray.Remove I
    End If 
  Next I
End Sub

[Author]

Another alternative you can try in your actual source code. You have to add two things that I have mentioned below:

Function NonDuplicateArray(List() As String) As String()
  Dim NewList() As String
  Dim Count As Integer = List.Ubound

  For x As Integer = 0 To Count
    If (NewList.IndexOf(List(x)) = -1) Then NewList.Append List(x)
  End For
End Function

The below code will overwrite the array and preserve the original array for you:

Dim NewArray() As String

OriginalArray = NonDuplicateArray(OriginalArray) // Overwrites array
NewArray = NonDuplicateArray(OriginalArray) // Preserves original

[Steyn]

If you ask me the set back with the dictionary method is that they are not case sensitive, also while comparing stings. For example if you have “World” or “world” than they will look the same. For removing the case sensitive’s try the following:

Function RemoveDuplicates(s() as String, isCaseSensitive as Boolean = true) As String()
  dim returnString() as String
  
  //We know we want the first one, so append it to returnString
  returnString.Append s(0)
  
  //Loop through all the values in the input array
  //and compare them to our returnString
  //If it exists, don't append it
  for i as Integer = 1 to s.Ubound
    dim exists as Boolean = false
    
    for j as Integer = 0 to returnString.Ubound
      if isCaseSensitive then
        //If we want the comparison to be case sensitive, use StrComp
        //("Hello"="hello" returns nonzero)
        if StrComp(s(i), returnString(j), 1) = 0 then
          exists = true
          exit for //we don't need to keep looping through returnString, we already found a match
        end if
      else
        //Comparing text with = is not case sensitive (so "Hello"="hello" returns true)
        if s(i) = returnString(j) then
          exists = true
          exit for //we don't need to keep looping through returnString, we already found a match
        end if
      end if
    next
    
    //If we didn't find a match, append the original value to returnString
    if exists = false then
      returnString.Append s(i)
    end if
  next
  
  Return returnString()
  
End Function