Reading selective column data from a text file into a list in Java

Question

Can someone help me to read a selective column of data in a text file into a list..

e.g.: if the text file data is as follows

-------------
id name a         


        

Answer 1

java.util.Scanner could be used to read the file, discarding the unwanted columns. Either print the wanted column values as the file is processed or add() them to a java.util.ArrayList and print them once processing is complete.

A small example with limited error checking:

Scanner s = new Scanner(new File("input.txt"));
List names = new ArrayList();

// Skip column headings.

// Read each line, ensuring correct format.
while (s.hasNext())
{
    s.nextInt();         // read and skip 'id'
    names.add(s.next()); // read and store 'name'
    s.nextInt();         // read and skip 'age'
}

for (String name: names)
{
    System.out.println(name);
}