Get/split text inside brackets/parentheses - regex

Question

Just have a list of words, such as:
gram (g)
kilogram (kg)
pound (lb)
just wondering how I would get the words within the brackets for example get the "g" in "gram (g)" and dim it as a new string.
Possibly using regex?
Thanks.

Answer 1

Use split function ..
strArr = str.Split("(") ' splitting 'gram (g)' returns an array ["gram " , "g)"] index 0 and 1
strArr2 = strArr[1].Split(")") ' splitting 'g)' returns an array ["g " ..]
the string is in
strArr2[0]
Edit
you want getAbbrev and getAbbrev2 to be arrays
try
Dim getAbbrev As String() = Str.Split("(")
Dim getAbbrev2 as String() = getAbbrev[1].Split(")")
To do it without declaring arrays you can do
"gram (g)".Split("(")[1].Split(")")[0]
but that's unreadable
Edit
You have some very trivial errors. I would suggest you strengthen your understanding on objects and declarations first. Then you can look into invoking methods. I rather have you understand it than give it to you. Re-read the book you have or look for a basic tutorial.
Dim unit As String = 'make sure this is the actual string you are getting, not sure where you are supposed to get the string value from => ie grams (g)
Dim getAbbrev As String() = unit.Split("(") 'use unit not Str - Str does not exist
Dim getAbbrev2 As String() = getAbbrev[1].Split(")") 'As no as - case sensitive
for the last line reference getAbbrev2 instead of the unknown abbrev2

Answer 2

Fun with Regular Expressions (I'm really not an expert here, but tested and works)
Imports System.Text.RegularExpressions
.....
Dim charsToTrim() As Char = { "("c, ")"c }
Dim test as String = "gram (g)" + Environment.NewLine +
"kilogram (kg)" + Environment.NewLine +
"pound (lb)"
Dim pattern as String = "\([a-zA-Z0-9]*\)"
Dim r As Regex = new Regex(pattern, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)
Dim m As Match = r.Match(test)
While(m.Success)
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("Match" + "=" + m.Value.ToString())
Dim tempText as String = m.Value.ToString().Trim(charsToTrim)
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("String Trimmed" + "=" + tempText)
m = m.NextMatch()
End While

Answer 3

You can split at the space and remove the parens from the second token (by replacing them with an empty string).
A regex is also an option, and is very simple, its pattern is
\w+\s+\((\w+)\)
Which means, a word, then at least one space, then opening parens, then in real regex parens you search for a word, and, eventually a closing paren. The inner parentheses are capturing parentheses, which make it possible to refer to the unit g, kg, lb.