# Search File Contents **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [June 8, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/search-file-contents/139873 "2008-06-08T16:07:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dbest)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/search-file-contents/139873/1 "2008-06-08T16:07:17Z")
Hi Guys, I have a small code block that is frustrating me for some time now. I want to search for some text in a file. Simple isnt it? def read\_file week\_num week\_num = week\_num.to\_s f = File.open(“fixtures.txt”, “r”) lines = f.readlines #week\_num = ‘1.’ lines.each do|line| if line.chomp.eql? week\_num puts “Found the week number” end end f.close end The above is the method, and I am searching for “1.”. I am passing the variable “week\_num” and i even tried to convert it to string. The search code as it is right now, does not output “Found the week number”, even though the file contains “1.” If i uncomment the line that assigns week\_num to ‘1.’ directly, then it works. What am i doing wrong? ---
**Author:** ![dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dbest)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/search-file-contents/139873/2 "2008-06-08T16:25:34Z")
On Sunday 08 June 2008, Andy Dbest wrote: > lines.each do|line| > though the file contains “1.” > > If i uncomment the line that assigns week\_num to ‘1.’ directly, then it > works. What am i doing wrong? If assiging week\_num a value inside the method makes the code work, I’d say the problem is in the argument which is passed to the method. Have you tried to put a puts week\_num at the beginning of the method, to see whether the argument you get is the one you expect? Stefano ---
**Author:** ![dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dbest)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/search-file-contents/139873/3 "2008-06-08T16:29:10Z")
Stefano C. wrote: > On Sunday 08 June 2008, Andy Dbest wrote: > If assiging week\_num a value inside the method makes the code work, I’d > say > the problem is in the argument which is passed to the method. Have you > tried > to put a > > puts week\_num > > at the beginning of the method, to see whether the argument you get is > the one > you expect? > > Stefano I tried the puts line, just inside the method and it does return ‘1.’ for me. It kind of annoying… ---
**Author:** ![dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dbest)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/search-file-contents/139873/4 "2008-06-08T17:02:31Z")
Stefano C. wrote: > On Sunday 08 June 2008, Andy Dbest wrote: > > > > at the beginning of the method, to see whether the argument you get is > > > the one > > > you expect? > > > > > > Stefano > > > > I tried the puts line, just inside the method and it does return ‘1.’ > > for me. It kind of annoying… > > Can you post a sample of the file you’re searching in? This way, I can > try > your code myself and see what’s going on. > > Stefano sure… here is an extract of the file 1. aaa.txt - bbb.txt aac.txt - bbc.tct 1. aac.txt - bbb.txt aaa.txt - bbc.txt ---
**Author:** ![dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dbest)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/search-file-contents/139873/5 "2008-06-08T17:12:46Z")
On Sunday 08 June 2008, Andy Dbest wrote: > > > > 1. > > aaa.txt - bbb.txt > aac.txt - bbc.tct > > 1. > > aac.txt - bbb.txt > aaa.txt - bbc.txt I’ve tried it and it works even without the assignment. Are you sure there isn’t any trailing space afer 1. in the method argument? Using puts as I suggested in my first post wouldn’t have shown that. You can try examining the argument with p, instead of puts, which displays the string with special characters escaped and surrounded by quotes. If everything is correct, the line p week\_num should output “1.” If there are trailing spaces, you’ll see something like "1. " Stefano ---
**Author:** ![dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dbest)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/search-file-contents/139873/6 "2008-06-08T17:26:30Z")
Stefano C. wrote: > On Sunday 08 June 2008, Andy Dbest wrote: > I’ve tried it and it works even without the assignment. Are you sure > there > isn’t any trailing space afer 1. in the method argument? Using puts as I > suggested in my first post wouldn’t have shown that. You can try > examining the > argument with p, instead of puts, which displays the string with special > characters escaped and surrounded by quotes. If everything is correct, > the > line > > p week\_num > > should output > > “1.” > > If there are trailing spaces, you’ll see something like > > "1. " > > Stefano Thanks Stefano, the p week\_num line did the trick, i noticed that there was a leading space. I was taking the input from an FXRuby text control, in which i introduced a space. Have fixed it now. Cheers and thanks. Andy ---
**Author:** ![dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@dbest](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dbest)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/search-file-contents/139873/7 "2008-06-08T16:50:20Z")
On Sunday 08 June 2008, Andy Dbest wrote: > > at the beginning of the method, to see whether the argument you get is > > the one > > you expect? > > > > Stefano > > I tried the puts line, just inside the method and it does return ‘1.’ > for me. It kind of annoying… Can you post a sample of the file you’re searching in? This way, I can try your code myself and see what’s going on. Stefano