On 31/05/05, W Luke <wtluke@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > On 31/05/05, Murray @ PlanetThoughtful <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > <? > > > > > > function replace($string){ > > > preg_match("/^<\^([a-zA-Z]+?)_([a-zA-Z]+?)>/", $string, $matcharr); > > > $string = str_replace($matcharr[0], $matcharr[1] . " " .$matcharr[2] > > > . ":", $string); > > > return $string; > > > > > > } > > > > > > $string = "<^JIM_JONES> Leicester, 1720. Oxford, 1800 CONFIRMED: meeting > > > at > > > 19.10"; > > > echo replace($string); > > > > > > ?> > > > > > > One of the small benefits of this solution is that Will doesn't need to > > > know > > > what is contained in the target substring beforehand. > > > > I should get into the habit of listing the assumptions my code makes. > > > > In the above example, the following assumptions are present: > > > > - The target substring (in this example, "<^JIM_JONES>") must *always* > > appear at the beginning of the string for the function to perform its task > > > > - The target substring will *always* begin with "<^", will feature a "_" > > between the two name elements, and will conclude with ">" > > > > - There will only be two name elements within the target substring (ie will > > match "<^JIM_JONES>" and "<^MARY_BETH>" but will not match "<^JIM>" or > > "<^MARY_BETH_JONES>") > > > > - The function will only replace the first incidence of the target > > substring. In the eventuality that the target substring value appears > > multiple times in the string being processed, all other instances will be > > left unchanged. > > > > - All other contents of the string being processed can vary without impact > > on the function. > > Thanks Murray, and Brian - both excellent and I'm really grateful for > the help! Clueless when it comes to these types of problems, so > thanks very much, One more question, then I'll leave you alone - promise! How simple would it be to split the two names into 2 vars ($n1 $n2)? -- Will The Corridor of Uncertainty http://www.cricket.mailliw.com/ - Sanity is a madness put to good use - -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php