Dual purpose "CountString() "

[Randy Walker]

Searched for similar thought but nothing quite like this turned up. We all know CountString() is great for returning occurrences. How useful would it be if it could also be used to return placement,similar to the FindString() function?

PROPOSED SYNTAX WOULD ADD OPTIONAL PARAMETER:
Result = CountString(String$, StringToCount$ [,Occurrence])


EXAMPLE (current design):
s$ = "word1,word2,word3,word4,word5"
Result = CountString(s$, "d")
Debug Result
5

EXAMPLE (new optional parameter):
s$ = "word1,word2,word3,word4,word5"
Result = CountString(s$, "d", 4)
Debug Result
22

GIves us 22 because that is the position of the 4th "d".

[kenmo]

That would be handy, although I think it makes more sense as
a new function (such as FindOccurrence)
or a flag for FindString (since it returns a position)
instead of a flag for CountString (which should return a count, of course).

If anyone wants it, here is one simple implementation:

Code: Select all

Procedure.i FindOccurrence(String.s, StringToFind.s, Occurrence.i = 1, Mode.i = #PB_String_CaseSensitive)
  If (String And StringToFind And Occurrence > 0)
    Protected Start.i = 1
    Protected Found.i = 0
    Protected Pos.i
    While (Found < Occurrence)
      Pos = FindString(String, StringToFind, Start, Mode)
      If (Pos)
        Found + 1
        If (Found = Occurrence)
          ProcedureReturn (Pos)
        Else
          Start = Pos + Len(StringToFind)
        EndIf
      Else
        Break
      EndIf
    Wend
  EndIf
  ProcedureReturn (0)
EndProcedure

Debug Str(CountString("word1,word2,word3,word4,word5", "d")) + " (count)"

Debug FindOccurrence("word1,word2,word3,word4,word5", "d")
Debug FindOccurrence("word1,word2,word3,word4,word5", "d", 4)
Debug FindOccurrence("word1,word2,word3,word4,word5", "z")

Debug FindOccurrence("aaaAAAaaa", "aaa", 2)
Debug FindOccurrence("aaaAAAaaa", "aaa", 2, #PB_String_NoCase)

[Little John]

I think it makes more sense as
a new function (such as FindOccurrence)
or a flag for FindString (since it returns a position)
instead of a flag for CountString (which should return a count, of course).

Yep.

[davido]

@kenmo,
Thank you.
I'll find this useful.