How can I split a C # string when an array member can be multiple words?

Use an overloaded version string.Split()

that limits the number of values ​​returned.

    string makeModel = csvArray[0]; // or whichever column it is in
    string[] makeAndModel = makeModel.Split( new char[] { ' ' } , 2 );
    string make = makeAndModel[0];
    string model = makeAndModel[1];

      

        
        
        
      

    

As I understand it, the problem is:

• The lines in the analyzed file are not CSV, they are separated by spaces.
• The value of the first field of each line (make / model) can contain 0 or more actual spaces.
• Other field values ​​on each line do not contain spaces, so the space separator works fine for them.

Let's say you have four columns and the first column value should be "Nissan Almera 1.4 TDi". Using normal Split () will result in 7 fields, not 4.

(untested code)

First, split it up:

int numFields = 4;
string[] myFields = myLine.Split(' ');

      

        
        
        
      

    

Then fix the array:

int extraSpaces = myFields.length-numFields;
if(extraSpaces>0) {
  // Piece together element 0 in the array by adding the extra elements
  for(int n = 1; n <= extraSpaces; n++) {
    myFields[0] += ' ' + myFields[n];
  }
  // Move the other values back to elements 1, 2, and 3 of the array
  for(int n = 1; n < numFields; n++) {
    myFields[n] = myFields[n + extraSpaces];
    }
  }

      

        
        
        
      

    

Finally, ignore every element of the array outside of the four that you really wanted to parse.

Another approach would be regular expressions. I think something like this will work:

 MatchCollection m = RegEx.Matches(myLine, "^(.*) ([^ ]+) ([^ ]+) ([^ ]+)$");
 string MakeModel = m.Groups[1].Captures[0].ToString();
 string ModelYear = m.Groups[2].Captures[0].ToString();     
 string Price     = m.Groups[3].Captures[0].ToString();     
 string NumWheels = m.Groups[4].Captures[0].ToString();

      

        
        
        
      

    

There are no sections or arrays here, just groups captured by RegEx.

If there was a built-in String.Reverse () method (not there), I might suggest using the VB.NET Replace () function with a Count parameter to replace all spaces after the first three spaces (assuming four fields) into a reverse raw string. then reverse it again and smash it. Something like:

string[] myFields = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Replace(myLine.Reverse(), " ", "_", 0, 3).Reverse().Split(' ');
myFields[0] = myFields[0].Replace("_", " "); //fix the underscores

      

        
        
        
      

    

As someone else pointed out, string.split () takes a parameter, so you can pass a ',' to split based on that. It doesn't matter if you have spaces in the values. Unless you're really sure you won't have values ​​that contain commas, I don't suggest this. Sailing CSV files is a bit more complicated than it might seem at first glance (handling quotes and values ​​containing commas), and I suggest using some of the existing libraries for such as http://www.codeproject.com/KB/database/CsvReader. aspx .