.Net method that normalizes &nbsp to space ?

john smith

hi guys,

as Internet Explorer shows &nbsp as space (pay attention!! "&nbsp", not " ")

I'd seen a method in .Net that implements it,
but I don't remember what method (this is not HttpUtility.HtmlDecode())

thanks a lot !

9 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Suthish Nair15y ago
If this query got resolved then please Accept the post that helped you as Answer.

So other members can easily find the answers.

Suthish Nair15y ago

can you post some sample data from file.

or try as below

 String s = "<html><p>john </p><p>smith&nbspc#</p></html>";            
 s = Server.HtmlDecode(Server.HtmlDecode(s));
 s = s.Replace("&nbsp", " ");
 //s = s.Replace("&nbsp", " ");
 s = Server.HtmlDecode(s);
 Response.Write(s);

Sam Hobbs15y ago
It helps to explain the fundamental problem, as you have. You don't need to put a browser into your application; you can however use the HTML parser built into Windows. It is guaranteed to be a part of Windows, because otherwise Microsoft would have to pay other companies such as Netscape many millions of dollars due to Microsoft being sued by them. So what you can do is to just create an InternetExplorer object, put the HTML in it, and get the text back out. It is the easiest and most reliable solution.

Where is the HTML file? Is it on a disk in your local system or is it in a web site?
john smith15y ago
Hi Sam and Sutish,
Firstly, thanks for your replies my friends!
To make my task clearer:

I get an Html source text (".........") and have to show the text in a TextBox.
The special characters (" ", "<") have to be shown in the TextBox like they are shown in the html (space, "<").
(I don't want to put a browser in my application).

Additionaly, I have the expression " " which was " " before.

My boss told me he saw in his eyes, a .Net method that replaces both " " (without the ';') and " " to space.
(Internet Explorer of Microsoft shows " " without ';' as a space.

So, my job is to look for the .Net method that replaces/shows " " as space.

Thanks.
Sam Hobbs15y ago
I really doubt that you will find a function for those specific characters; there are general-purpose functions that can search for text in general and that specific text could be specified.

I think you are trying to solve a problem and you think you have a solution and you are asking for help with the solution. If you were to describe what the fundamenatl problem is that you are trying to solve, you are more likely to get the most useful answer. So what do you need to do when you need to convert that text?
Suthish Nair15y ago
am assuming your using an web application, then you can use Server.HtmlDecode() method.
john smith15y ago
hi, by the way I want to make my question clearer

i want .net method (by Microsoft) that replaces "&nbsp" (without the ; in the end) to space.

thanks.
john smith15y ago
Hi Sutnish,

thanks for help. but I didn't understand all.

could you please show me the full C# code?

and tell me if you used any references.

Thanks in advance

Suthish Nair15y ago

Response.Write(Server.HtmlDecode("s n"));
Response.Write("
");
Response.Write(Server.HtmlDecode("s n"));