Convert hexadecimal unicode character into its visual representation

Question

I am trying to make a C# program that translates unicode character from its hexadecimal format to a single character, and I have a problem. This is my code:

This works:

char e = Convert.ToChar("\u0066"); 

However, this doesn't work:

Console.WriteLine("enter unicode format character (for example \\u0066)");
string s = Console.ReadLine();
Console.WriteLine("you entered (for example f)");
char c = Convert.ToChar(s); 

Because (Convert.ToChar("\\u0066")) gives the error:

String must be exactly one character long

Anyone have an idea how to do this?

Answer 1

int.Parse doesn't like the "\u" prefix, but if you validate first to ensure that it's there, you can use

char c = (char)int.Parse(s.Substring(2), NumberStyles.HexNumber);

This strips the first two characters from the input string and parses the remaining text.

In order to ensure that the sequence is a valid one, try this:

Regex reg = new Regex(@"^\\u([0-9A-Fa-f]{4})$");
if( reg.IsMatch(s) )
{
  char c = (char)int.Parse(s.Substring(2), NumberStyles.HexNumber);
}
else
{
  // Error
}