Reading text files on the internet

Mavix · 06-19-2007, 06:40 AM

Can anyone tell me how to read a text file or a picture on the internet? For example, I want to compare the data in a string called "data", with a text file, for example, located at http://www.textfiles.com/text.txt. How would I go about downloading the text file into a string? I can do this locally with a file on my computer using:

Code:

string user="C:\stuff\text.txt";
string tmp="";
using (FileStream fs = File.Open(user, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.ReadWrite))
{
     byte[] b = new byte[1024];
     UTF8Encoding temp = new UTF8Encoding(true);

      while (fs.Read(b, 0, b.Length) > 0)
      {
            tmp += (temp.GetString(b));
       }
}

Like I said, this works for local files, so how can I modify this to read the file online instead?
Thanks

Mavix · 06-19-2007, 07:08 AM

I just read on another forum that I would have to download the file first and then access it locally like I do now. Does anyone know how I can download the file?

GanglyLamb · 06-19-2007, 08:06 AM

The power of Google.

First item: http://www.primaryobjects.com/CMS/Article64.aspx

I havent looked at this article in detail but it will definately help you achieve your goal.

Mavix · 06-19-2007, 08:07 AM

Well, I figured out how to do it. I used

Code:

string url="http://www.textfiles.com/text.txt";
WebRequest request = WebRequest.Create(url);
request.Credentials = CredentialCache.DefaultCredentials;
HttpWebResponse response = (HttpWebResponse)request.GetResponse();
Stream dataStream = response.GetResponseStream();
StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(dataStream);
string data = reader.ReadToEnd();
reader.Close();
dataStream.Close();
response.Close();

It works, but is a bit slow. My second question is: How do change the code to write the data to the file instead of reading it?

AtomRiot · 06-19-2007, 08:12 AM

did you try to read it in and store it, then alter it, then use StreamWriter to write it back?

Mavix · 06-19-2007, 08:29 AM

I have now, but I don't know how to do that. Could you perhaps give me an example of how to do it?

AtomRiot · 06-19-2007, 10:19 AM

well chances are you will have to upload it via some http since most web sites do not have direct write access to the files you can view.

AtomRiot · 06-19-2007, 11:03 AM

for going the ftp route

http://www.madskristensen.dk/blog/Si...d+In+C+20.aspx

Mavix · 06-20-2007, 05:38 AM

Thanks for the link! How can I upload using http?

06-19-2007, 06:40 AM	#1
Mavix Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 98	Reading text files on the internet Can anyone tell me how to read a text file or a picture on the internet? For example, I want to compare the data in a string called "data", with a text file, for example, located at http://www.textfiles.com/text.txt. How would I go about downloading the text file into a string? I can do this locally with a file on my computer using: Code: string user="C:\stuff\text.txt"; string tmp=""; using (FileStream fs = File.Open(user, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.ReadWrite)) { byte[] b = new byte[1024]; UTF8Encoding temp = new UTF8Encoding(true); while (fs.Read(b, 0, b.Length) > 0) { tmp += (temp.GetString(b)); } } Like I said, this works for local files, so how can I modify this to read the file online instead? Thanks
Mavix is offline

06-19-2007, 07:08 AM	#2
Mavix Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 98	I just read on another forum that I would have to download the file first and then access it locally like I do now. Does anyone know how I can download the file?
Mavix is offline

06-19-2007, 08:06 AM	#3
GanglyLamb and the Hat of Clumsiness Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,101	The power of Google. First item: http://www.primaryobjects.com/CMS/Article64.aspx I havent looked at this article in detail but it will definately help you achieve your goal.
GanglyLamb is offline

06-19-2007, 08:12 AM	#5
AtomRiot Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 120	did you try to read it in and store it, then alter it, then use StreamWriter to write it back? __________________ All Your Base Are Still Belong to Someone!!! And you Remember that!!!
AtomRiot is offline

06-19-2007, 08:29 AM	#6
Mavix Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 98	I have now, but I don't know how to do that. Could you perhaps give me an example of how to do it?
Mavix is offline

06-19-2007, 10:19 AM	#7
AtomRiot Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 120	well chances are you will have to upload it via some http since most web sites do not have direct write access to the files you can view. __________________ All Your Base Are Still Belong to Someone!!! And you Remember that!!!
AtomRiot is offline

06-19-2007, 11:03 AM	#8
AtomRiot Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 120	for going the ftp route http://www.madskristensen.dk/blog/Si...d+In+C+20.aspx __________________ All Your Base Are Still Belong to Someone!!! And you Remember that!!!
AtomRiot is offline

06-20-2007, 05:38 AM	#9
Mavix Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 98	Thanks for the link! How can I upload using http?
Mavix is offline

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