CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#
Fezch
Fezch

Reputation: 23

How to identify if a string has more than one character

Bear in mind I am new to C#.

I wish to check if a user's input has more than just one character. Specifically, I wish to ask the user for a Y/N, but if they type "yes" or "no" (or null) to ask them again.

What I have at the moment:

char guess;
Console.WriteLine("Please enter a letter");
guess = Convert.ToChar(Console.ReadLine());

This works well for if the user follows the instructions, but if more than one character is entered, or Enter is pressed, the "Convert.ToChar" fails.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 2972

Answers (3)

orange313
orange313

Reputation: 21

Use a greater then or less then statement on that.

string input = Console.ReadLine();
if(input.Length > 1) { Console.WriteLine("Message"); Console.ReadLine(); } // If its bigger then 1 
else { /* if it is one letter do code here */ }

Upvotes: 0

Victor Zakharov
Victor Zakharov

Reputation: 26454

I'd still prefer ReadLine() over Read(), it's more natural for user to press Enter after they are done typing. With Read() approach you'd have to handle Backspace as well, so it gets more complicated. Suggesting something along these lines:

Console.WriteLine("Please enter a letter");

string input;
while(true)
{
  input = Console.ReadLine();
  if (input.Length == 1) { break; }
  Console.WriteLine("Invalid input");        
}

char guess = input[0];

Notice in the above you can easily add more validation, such as 0-9 not being a letter.

Upvotes: 1

Daniel A. White
Daniel A. White

Reputation: 191058

Why don't you do Console.ReadKey() or Console.Read()?

.Read reads the next char off the buffer.

Upvotes: 8

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