_StringBetween Question

[danpaul23]

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions but, I don't know nothing. Simply stated, I'm getting a "0" instead of the string which should be between. Here's my code:

CODE

#include <IE.au3>

#include <String.au3>

$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"

$oIE = _IECreate($sURL)

$oVar1 = _IEBodyReadHTML($oIE)

$oVar2 = String($oVar1)

$oVar3 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:0">')

$oVar4 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">')

$oVar5 = _StringBetween($oVar2, $oVar3, $oVar4)

$oVar6 = String($oVar3)

MsgBox(0,"","" & $oVar6)

[danpaul23]

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions but, I don't know nothing. Simply stated, I'm getting a "0" instead of the string which should be between. Here's my code:

CODE

#include <IE.au3>

#include <String.au3>

$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"

$oIE = _IECreate($sURL)

$oVar1 = _IEBodyReadHTML($oIE)

$oVar2 = String($oVar1)

$oVar3 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:0">')

$oVar4 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">')

$oVar5 = _StringBetween($oVar2, $oVar3, $oVar4)

$oVar6 = String($oVar3)

MsgBox(0,"","" & $oVar6)

I'm dumb, I mixed up a couple of variables but after correcting them, I still get "0" instead of the string. Probably something equally as dumb causing this. Here's the updated but still faulty code:

CODE

#include <IE.au3>

#include <String.au3>

$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"

$oIE = _IECreate($sURL)

$oVar1 = _IEBodyReadHTML($oIE)

$oVar2 = String($oVar1)

$oVar3 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:0">')

$oVar4 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">')

$oVar5 = _StringBetween($oVar2, $oVar3, $oVar4)

$oVar6 = String($oVar5)

MsgBox(0,"","" & $oVar6)

[BrettF]

What are you trying to do???

[SmOke_N]

_StringBetween() Returns an Array.

$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"
$oIE = _IECreate($sURL)


$oVar1 = _IEBodyReadHTML($oIE)
$oVar2 = String($oVar1)
$oVar3 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:0">')
$oVar4 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">')
$oVar5 = _StringBetween($oVar2, $oVar3, $oVar4)

MsgBox(0,"","" & $oVar5[0])

[danpaul23]

What are you trying to do???

Thanks for replying. This is almost driving me to start smoking again. I'm trying to make the html source of the page into a string and then pull a string between the two strings ($Var4 and $Var5). I know that the source string part is working but the _StringBetween function isn't giving me what is actually between ($Var4 and $Var5).

Thanks again.

Dan

[59FIFTY]

I dont know the function _StringBetween and what it does, so I cant help you. As I only can imaging you try to replace data in the html with your data?

[BrettF]

Maybe because _StringBetween, returns an array, use _ArrayDisplay to show them?

[danpaul23]

_StringBetween() Returns an Array.

$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"
$oIE = _IECreate($sURL)
$oVar1 = _IEBodyReadHTML($oIE)
$oVar2 = String($oVar1)
$oVar3 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:0">')
$oVar4 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">')
$oVar5 = _StringBetween($oVar2, $oVar3, $oVar4)

MsgBox(0,"","" & $oVar5[0])

Thanks, again for your help but when I try to run the script, I get the error message about it being a non-array variable (the last line, (MsgBox(0,"","" & $oVar5[0])), if i delet the [0], i get "0" displayed in the msgbox again.

[BrettF]

Havnt tested it but try:

#include <IE.au3>
#include <String.au3>
#include <array.au3>
$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"
$oIE = _IECreate($sURL)
_IELoadWait ($oIE)
$oVar1 = _IEBodyReadHTML($oIE)
MsgBox (0, "Values", "$oVar1 = "& @cr&$oVar1)
$oVar2 = String($oVar1)
$oVar3 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:0">')
$oVar4 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">')
MsgBox (0, "The Strings Shown", "$oVar3 = "&$oVar3 & @cr&"$oVar4 = "&$oVar4)
$oVar5 = _StringBetween($oVar2, $oVar3, $oVar4)
_ArrayDisplay($oVar5, 'The Results:')

I add the _IeLoadWait, because i thought that might be the problem.

[danpaul23]

I dont know the function _StringBetween and what it does, so I cant help you. As I only can imaging you try to replace data in the html with your data?

don't quote me on it but I think (or at least my operating assumption is that) the _stringbetween function should give you the string between two strings. i.e. _StringBetween($oVar1, $oVar2, $oVar3)

my understanding (which could very well be wrong since my code isn't working... is that...

$oVar1 = string to be searched

$oVar2 = start string

$oVar3 = end sting

_StringBetween = the string between the last two variables???

[SmOke_N]

Well, I know a little bit about _StringBetween().

You are probably parsing it incorrectly.

Are you sure you are trying to return all this information. Below is the result between your Start and End search by manually getting it:

CODE

<table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr valign="top">

<td><span class="resultindex">1.</span></td>

<td width="100%">

<table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<tr valign="top"><td>

<table class="n2" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<tr>

<td class="imageColumn" width="88"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<tr><td align="center" width="80"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Mystery-Stories-2006/dp/0618517472/sr=1-1/qid=1168754475/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2722171-9172714?ie=UTF8&s=books"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0618517472.01._AA90_SCTHUMBZZZ_V52729696_.jpg" width="90" alt="The Best American Mystery Stories 2006 (The Best American Series )" height="90" border="0" /></a></td><td width="8"></td></tr></table></td>

<td class="dataColumn"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Mystery-Stories-2006/dp/0618517472/sr=1-1/qid=1168754475/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2722171-9172714?ie=UTF8&s=books"><span class="srTitle">The Best American Mystery Stories 2006 (The Best American Series )</span></a>

by Scott Turow and Otto Penzler

<span class="bindingBlock">(<span class="binding">Paperback</span> - Oct 11, 2006)</span></td></tr>

<tr><td class="priceBlockWithTopPadding"><span class="priceType"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Mystery-Stories-2006/dp/0618517472/sr=1-1/qid=1168754475/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2722171-9172714?ie=UTF8&s=books">Buy new</a>: </span> <span class="listprice">$14.00</span> <span class="saleprice">$11.20</span> <span class="usedAndNewPriceBlock"><span class="priceType">

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0618517472/sr=1-1/qid=1168754475/ref=pd_bbs_sr_olp_1/104-2722171-9172714?ie=UTF8&s=books">Used & new</a>

</span> from <span class="otherprice">$5.50</span></span></td></tr>

<tr><td class="fastTrackGrid"><span class="getItBy"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Mystery-Stories-2006/dp/0618517472/sr=1-1/qid=1168754475/ref=pd_bbs_sr_ft_1/104-2722171-9172714?ie=UTF8&s=books">Get it by <span class="deliveryDate">January 16, 2007</span></a></span>, if you order in the next <span class="timeLeft">39 hours and 28 minutes</span>.</td></tr>

<tr><td><span class="small" style="margin-left: -6px"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0.gif" width="64" align="absbottom" height="12" border="0" /></span></td></tr>

<tr><td class="otherEditions">Other Editions: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Mystery-Stories-2006/dp/0618517464/sr=1-1/qid=1168754475/ref=sr_oe_1_1/104-2722171-9172714?ie=UTF8&s=books">Hardcover</a></td></tr>

</table></td></tr></table>

</td></tr></table></td>

</tr></table></td>

</tr>

<tr>

If you are trying to get all that information, then this will work fine:

#include <array.au3>
#include <inet.au3>
#include <string.au3>
$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"
Dim $sStart = 'id\="Td\:0"\>', $sEnd = '\<td width\="100\%" class\="searchitem" id\="Td\:1"\>'
$aArray = _StringBetween(_INetGetSource($sURL), $sStart, $sEnd, -1, 1)
If IsArray($aArray) Then _ArrayDisplay($aArray, 'Found:')

If you are trying to get something else, then you may need to fix your search pattern.

[59FIFTY]

If you don't know _StringBetween, don't use it

You could use StringRexExp to search for a certain string between stringA and stringB, much easier

[SmOke_N]

If you don't know _StringBetween, don't use it

You could use StringRexExp to search for a certain string between stringA and stringB, much easier

Much easier? What functions do you think I used to write _StringBetween()?

[59FIFTY]

By reading this

Dim $sStart = 'id\="Td\:0"\>', $sEnd = '\<td width\="100\%" class\="searchitem" id\="Td\:1"\>'

regular expresssion, or why else would you escape those characters, but I dont know anything about this _StringBetween function, since I dont have it.

[danpaul23]

Havnt tested it but try:

#include <IE.au3>
#include <String.au3>
#include <array.au3>
$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"
$oIE = _IECreate($sURL)
_IELoadWait ($oIE)
$oVar1 = _IEBodyReadHTML($oIE)
MsgBox (0, "Values", "$oVar1 = "& @cr&$oVar1)
$oVar2 = String($oVar1)
$oVar3 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:0">')
$oVar4 = String('<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">')
MsgBox (0, "The Strings Shown", "$oVar3 = "&$oVar3 & @cr&"$oVar4 = "&$oVar4)
$oVar5 = _StringBetween($oVar2, $oVar3, $oVar4)
_ArrayDisplay($oVar5, 'The Results:')

I add the _IeLoadWait, because i thought that might be the problem.

Thanks again. I try to run it and don't get the display for the _Stringbetween array. I tried to put it into a msgbox and didn't get any output (not even a 0).

[SmOke_N]

By reading this

Dim $sStart = 'id\="Td\:0"\>', $sEnd = '\<td width\="100\%" class\="searchitem" id\="Td\:1"\>'

regular expresssion, or why else would you escape those characters, but I dont know anything about this _StringBetween function, since I dont have it.

It's in the String.au3 file in the 3.2.2.0 release.

It's also in the help file.

[danpaul23]

Well, I know a little bit about _StringBetween().

You are probably parsing it incorrectly.

Are you sure you are trying to return all this information. Below is the result between your Start and End search by manually getting it:

CODE

If you are trying to get all that information, then this will work fine:

#include <array.au3>
#include <inet.au3>
#include <string.au3>
$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"
Dim $sStart = 'id\="Td\:0"\>', $sEnd = '\<td width\="100\%" class\="searchitem" id\="Td\:1"\>'
$aArray = _StringBetween(_INetGetSource($sURL), $sStart, $sEnd, -1, 1)
If IsArray($aArray) Then _ArrayDisplay($aArray, 'Found:')

If you are trying to get something else, then you may need to fix your search pattern.

Thanks for the Code. And yes, that is the information I'm trying to get. I had thought that dealing with the Html directly and just using string functions would be an easy way to tackle it. I'm about 5 days (and about as many nights) into my programing llife so I'm still stumbling around. Your code will be a steping stone for yet another branch of things to look into and try to figure out. Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.

[danpaul23]

If you don't know _StringBetween, don't use it

You could use StringRexExp to search for a certain string between stringA and stringB, much easier

Well I'm learning so I have to try things that I don't yet know and hopefully learn from the experience. My understand is that the _StringRegExp function tells you if a given string is present within a string. How do you get it to isolate a string between two strings?

[SmOke_N]

Well I'm learning so I have to try things that I don't yet know and hopefully learn from the experience. My understand is that the _StringRegExp function tells you if a given string is present within a string. How do you get it to isolate a string between two strings?

Don't fret... you have one of the right functions to achieve your goal (_StringBetween()), I know others have used _IE* functions to do it for links, but it looks like you are wanting to get a multitude of information, so stick with the above.

This worked as well, if you are not familiar with Regular Expressions.

#include <array.au3>
#include <inet.au3>
#include <string.au3>
$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"
Dim $sStart = 'id="Td:0">', $sEnd = '<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">'
$aArray = _StringBetween(_INetGetSource($sURL), $sStart, $sEnd)
If IsArray($aArray) Then _ArrayDisplay($aArray, 'Found:')

Where I didn't escape the characters. I tried to make _StringBetween() as universal as possible. Litteral strings for the newbies, and Regular Expressions for the power users.

If you want a guide I use when I'm stuck on a regular expression (they can be tedious), you might take a look at this:

http://perldoc.perl.org/perlre.html#Regular-Expressions

[59FIFTY]

Regular expressions are one of the mightiest functions to manipulate a string. As I understand your problem your about to read HTML-Code from amazon and parse it to find a certain string in it between two given strings. In RegExp this works as followed

#include <Array.au3>

$string = "I am some string, you're right, just some string"
$aRegExp = StringRegExp($string, "I am some string(.*)just some string", 3)
_ArrayDisplay($aRegExp, "StringRegExp")

should display ", you're right, "

so for your problem this might work

#include <array.au3>
#include <inet.au3>
#include <string.au3>

$sURL = "http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-5993488-0177751?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mystery&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go"
$sHTML = _INetGetSource($sURL)
$aRegExp = StringRegExp($sHTML, 'id="Td:0">(.*)<td width="100%" class="searchitem" id="Td:1">', 3)
ConsoleWrite($aRegExp[0])

if that's the output you need?

@SmOke_N

But why make a wrapper for regexp "functions"? I know there are many newbies out there and regexp isn't quite as easy to use, but if they learn from the beginning to use it, they can achiev alot I think

Edited January 14, 2007 by 59FIFTY