Logo Questions Linux Laravel Mysql Ubuntu Git Menu
 

Doing math in vb.net like Eval in javascript

Tags:

vb.net

eval

Is there any way to parse a string in vb.net (like, built in methods), that can do math like Eval can? For example, 3+(7/3.5) as a string would return 2.

I am not asking for you to code this for me, I just want to know if there is a built in way to do this, if there is not I will code it myself.

I can wager that it would not be able to parse stuff like Sin(90) on its own, and I understand that would need to be replaced by Math.Sin(90).

If there is a built in method, how do you use it?

like image 490
Cyclone Avatar asked Sep 20 '09 23:09

Cyclone


2 Answers

There's a shortcut for limited (ie. simple) math expressions by using the DataTable.Compute method. Obviously, this isn't robust (limited functionality) and feels hackish to misuse the DataTable for this purpose, but I figured I would add to the current answers.

Example:

var result = new DataTable().Compute("3+(7/3.5)", null); // 5

"Sin(90)" wouldn't work with this approach. Refer to the DataColumn.Expression Property page for a list of supported functions, specifically under the "Aggregates" section.

Using the System.CodeDom namespace is an option.

Some helpful links:

  • CodeDom Calculator
  • Evaluating mathematical expressions using CodeDom
  • Related SO question: Is there a string math evaluator in .NET?

EDIT: to address your comment, here is an approach to demonstrate replacing trigonometric functions with their equivalent Math class methods.

C#

string expression = "(Sin(0) + Cos(0)+Tan(0)) * 10";
string updatedExpression = Regex.Replace(expression, @"(?<func>Sin|Cos|Tan)\((?<arg>.*?)\)", match =>
            match.Groups["func"].Value == "Sin" ? Math.Sin(Int32.Parse(match.Groups["arg"].Value)).ToString() :
            match.Groups["func"].Value == "Cos" ? Math.Cos(Int32.Parse(match.Groups["arg"].Value)).ToString() :
            Math.Tan(Int32.Parse(match.Groups["arg"].Value)).ToString()
        );
var result = new DataTable().Compute(updatedExpression, null); // 10

VB.NET

Dim expression As String = "(Sin(0) + Cos(0)+Tan(0)) * 10"
Dim updatedExpression As String = Regex.Replace(expression, "(?<func>Sin|Cos|Tan)\((?<arg>.*?)\)", Function(match As Match) _
        If(match.Groups("func").Value = "Sin", Math.Sin(Int32.Parse(match.Groups("arg").Value)).ToString(), _
        If(match.Groups("func").Value = "Cos", Math.Cos(Int32.Parse(match.Groups("arg").Value)).ToString(), _
        Math.Tan(Int32.Parse(match.Groups("arg").Value)).ToString())) _
        )
Dim result = New DataTable().Compute(updatedExpression, Nothing)

Note, however, that you need to know the contents of the "arg" group. I know they are ints, so I used Int32.Parse on them. If they are a combination of items then this simple approach won't work. I suspect you will constantly need to band-aid the solution if it gets too complicated with more unsupported function calls, in which case the CodeDom approach or others may be more suitable.

like image 172
Ahmad Mageed Avatar answered Oct 19 '22 13:10

Ahmad Mageed


Here is a way to evaluate an expression that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else: use a WebBrowser control and JavaScript's eval():

Option Strict On

Imports System.Security.Permissions

<PermissionSet(SecurityAction.Demand, Name:="FullTrust")> _
<System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisibleAttribute(True)>
Public Class Form1
    Dim browser As New WebBrowser

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        browser.ObjectForScripting = Me
        'browser.ScriptErrorsSuppressed = True
        browser.DocumentText = "<script>function evalIt(x) { return eval(x); }</script>"
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

        Dim result = browser.Document.InvokeScript("evalIt", New String() {"3+4*5"})
        If result IsNot Nothing Then
            MessageBox.Show(result.ToString())     '23
        End If
    End Sub
End Class
like image 38
Andy G Avatar answered Oct 19 '22 13:10

Andy G