Is possible to add a String.contains more than one value?

Question

I want to make a control, when I create a companyId, to not permit to create id with special characters like, (&), (/), (), (ñ), ('):

 If txtIdCompany.Text.Contains("&") Then
   // alert error message
 End If

But I can't do this:

If txtIdCompany.Text.Contains("&", "/", "\") Then
       // alert error message
     End If

How can I check more than one string in the same line?

[`String.IndexOfAny()`](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.string.indexofany(v=vs.110).aspx) — Alex K., Nov 24 '15 at 16:09
Possible duplicate of [VB.NET - Adding more than 1 string to .contains](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2212719/vb-net-adding-more-than-1-string-to-contains) — CodingIntrigue, Nov 24 '15 at 16:09
I put this answer because I don´t find the solution in other pages yet. thanks — Esraa_92, Nov 24 '15 at 16:11
What about other Unicode symbols or foreign characters? You probably want to use a *whitelist* of allowed characters rather than a *blacklist* of disallowed characters. — Michael Liu, Nov 24 '15 at 16:11
I would suggest using a Regular Expression - similar to the one used here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2788727/how-can-i-check-with-a-regex-that-a-string-contains-only-certain-allowed-charact — d-unit, Nov 24 '15 at 16:12
You could also always create your own extension method as well. — John Paul, Nov 24 '15 at 16:41

Tim Schmelter · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-24T16:15:07.230

7

You can use collections like a Char() and Enumerable.Contains. Since String implements IEnumerable(Of Char) even this concise and efficient LINQ query works:

Dim disallowed = "&/\"
If disallowed.Intersect(txtIdCompany.Text).Any() Then
    ' alert error message
End If

here's a similar approach using Enumerable.Contains:

If txtIdCompany.Text.Any(AddressOf disallowed.Contains) Then
    ' alert error message
End If

a third option using String.IndexOfAny:

If txtIdCompany.Text.IndexOfAny(disallowed.ToCharArray()) >= 0 Then
    ' alert error message
End If

edited Nov 24 '15 at 16:15

answered Nov 24 '15 at 16:09

Tim Schmelter

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Thank you very much for your help. :-D – Esraa_92 Nov 24 '15 at 16:22

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 24 '15 at 16:16

0

If txtIdCompany.Text.Contains("&") Or txtIdCompany.Text.Contains("\") Or txtIdCompany.Text.Contains("/") Then

   // alert error message

 End If

edited Nov 24 '15 at 16:16

Ric

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answered Nov 24 '15 at 16:14

Gi0rgi0s

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1

precisely what I wanted was not to have to do that. Because in the example I put a few characters, but I need to put all of this: (&/\ñ´'+*~$áéíóú{}[]()¿?=#@%|<>:;ç), so if I have to put: txtIdCompany.Text.Contains("&") for each one, the code will be too long. But thanks anyway. – Esraa_92 Nov 24 '15 at 16:38

Is possible to add a String.contains more than one value?

2 Answers2