# Parsing text in a rails application **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [June 14, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206 "2009-06-14T00:19:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hypnotizing_C)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206/1 "2009-06-14T00:19:06Z")
I have a piece of text which is in the following format: “1. Question blah blah blah. goes on blah blah blah blah. Answer: Answer blah, blah goes on like this blah blah. 2. One more question. blah blah goes on like this again. Answer: Again and again, over and over.” Now taking a piece of text, I have to break it down to pairs of question and answer sets so that they can be saved in to question model - which has a question and answer attribute. A single piece of text saved in a Post model needs to be parsed into a number of question models. The problem is that the text is very idiosyncratic, with numerous line breaks and carriage returns inside each question and answer but the numbering and the “Answer:” segments are present accurately. From what I read through various sources, this can be accomplished through regular expressions but I am not able to figure out how to go about this. Could someone explain how this can be accomplished for this particular case? ---
**Author:** ![Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hypnotizing_C)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206/2 "2009-06-14T00:20:51Z")
On Jun 13, 9:40 pm, Hypnotizing C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > question and answer sets so that they can be saved in to question > model - which has a question and answer attribute. A single piece of > text saved in a Post model needs to be parsed into a number of > question models. > The problem is that the text is very idiosyncratic, with numerous line > breaks and carriage returns inside each question and answer but the > numbering and the “Answer:” segments are present accurately. From what > I read through various sources, this can be accomplished through > regular expressions but I am not able to figure out how to go about > this. Could someone explain how this can be accomplished for this > particular case? you may find string scanner more appropriate in this case. In a nutshell you tell it to scan until it finds text matching a particular pattern (in your case the beginning of question and beginning of answer markers), and it tells you all the text it consumed in between. Fred ---
**Author:** ![Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hypnotizing_C)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 8:54am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206/3 "2009-06-14T08:54:12Z")
On 14 Jun, 03:20, Frederick C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > 1. One more question. blah blah goes > > numbering and the “Answer:” segments are present accurately. From what > > Fred > > Thanks! String scanner worked like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hypnotizing_C)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206/4 "2009-06-15T11:39:49Z")
Hi, You can use Faster csv plugin for this. On Jun 15, 5:09 am, Anandh K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hypnotizing_C)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206/5 "2009-06-15T11:39:49Z")
Hi, youc an use Faster Csv plugin for this. It’s very easy by this plugin. 2009/6/15 Anandh K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) > ## Thanks in Advance > > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). > > > – Regards, Amit K. Sr. Software Engrr +91 9890654102 +91 9373087399 Blogsite: [http://amitbaraik.blog.co.in/](http://amitbaraik.blog.co.in/) ---
**Author:** ![Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hypnotizing_C)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206/6 "2009-06-15T11:49:15Z")
hi amit Thanks for your reply… can i use string scanner class to accomplish the task… ---
**Author:** ![Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hypnotizing_C)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 11:09am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206/7 "2009-06-15T11:09:00Z")
Hi there ``` I m a starter in both linux and ruby on rails... is there any ruby ``` gems or any other way to parse the text from open office and upload it to the database… Thanks in Advance ---
**Author:** ![Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Hypnotizing\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Hypnotizing_C)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text-in-a-rails-application/170206/8 "2009-06-15T12:36:42Z")
Hi everybody ``` Can i use stringscanner class to parse strings of an openoffice ``` document and upload it to the datbase… If so can anyone there guide me in fixing this task… I want this task to be done in ruby on rails and in linux platform… Thanks in advance