Manipulating Arrays of Characters

This would be a lot easier to do if you were not using an array and just using a standard string.
If you would like an example using a string I can.

ooo just re-read your question ... sorry if I gave too much info  :o/

Hi Mikelittlewood, if you could write an algorithm that uses a string that would be great.

Cheers.

usual a string is per definition an array of char which begins with the index 1

but to keep near on your question

function get_formated_name(CharArr : Array of Char) : String;
var
  onFirst, getNext : boolean;
  si,se,i : integer;
begin
  result := '';
  si := low(CharArr);  //usual allways 0
  se := high(CharArr);
  onFirst := True;
  getNext := false;
  i := si;
  while i < se do
  begin
    if (CharArr[i] <> ' ') and (onFirst) then
      result := result + CharArr[i]
    else
      if (CharArr[i] = ' ') and (onFirst) then
      begin
        result := result + ',';
        onFirst := False;
        getNext := True;
      end
      else
        if (CharArr[i] = ' ') and (not onFirst) then
          getNext := True
        else
          if (CharArr[i] <> ' ') and (getNext) then
          begin
             result := result + CharArr[i]+'.';
             getNext := False;
         end;
    inc(i);
  end;
end;

just from head -> means not tested and typos possible

meikl ;-)

for a string:
just replace this first part:

function get_formated_name(CharArr : string) : String;
var
  onFirst, getNext : boolean;
  si,se,i : integer;
begin
  result := '';
  si := 1;
  se := lengthCharArr);
....

but of course using pos and copy is more elegant

just from head -> means not tested and typos possible

meikl ;-)

kretzschmar your result will give Michael,J.J.

Thank you all for your help but I'm trying not to look at delphi code, I want to use an algorithm!!

ok Im not sure what you need from me without me actually writing some code down to do it.
Why do you want to use an algorithm? there are much cleaner quicker methods you can use.

See mine only. It's just an algorithm :-)

ok here is my attempt at an algorithm description I guess.
This is along the lines of the one geobul gave I think, and Im sure he is describing a string checking one.

1) Have a function that passes in a string parameter (sName) and returns a string

2) Create 2 string variables, 1 for the initials (sInitials), 1 for the surname (sSurname)

3) Get the first character of the string and save as the initial variable with a '.' after it.

4) Get the index position of the first space and copy from index+1 to the end of the end of the string to strip off the first word.

5) Check if another space exists in the string. If a space exists then repeat steps 3 and 4 but add the character and '.' onto the previous sInitials variable.  

6) Then all you are left with is the surname.

What I gave is just an algorithm. Do not think for operators as they are in Delphi. There is no difference in the algorithm what datatypes will be used - string or array of char or something else. Actually Delphi string and array of char types are assignment compatible (with explicit typecasting):

StringVar := string(ArrOfCharVar);

And my algorithm will work with more than one middle name ;-)

I can post all the code immediately because I already have it. Or the necessary functions, at least, like 'Getting the last space occurance', 'copying a part of array somewhere else', 'deleting a part of array', etc.

Regards, Geo