Need help finding the first vowel, and then setting a variable to the remaining characters

You can use strcspn() to find the first vowel (returns the index):
      http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/clibrary/cstring/strcspn/

You can use strpbrk() to find the first vowel (returns a pointer):
     http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/clibrary/cstring/strpbrk/

(See sample code below showing usage of these two functions.)

/* strcspn example */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

int main ()
{
  char str[] = "fcba73";
  char keys[] = "1234567890";
  int i;
  i = strcspn (str,keys);
  printf ("The first number in str is at position %d.\n",i+1);
  return 0;
}

/* strpbrk example */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

int main ()
{
  char str[] = "This is a sample string";
  char key[] = "aeiou";
  char * pch;
  printf ("Vowels in '%s': ",str);
  pch = strpbrk (str, key);
  while (pch != NULL)
  {
    printf ("%c " , *pch);
    pch = strpbrk (pch+1,key);
  }
  printf ("\n");
  return 0;
}

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phoffric,

Can you help apply either of these examples to my example, please?  I have no idea where to begin.

Can you take the code strcspn example and use "Shirley" and return the index i into FirstVowel? Try doing that by morphing the example to suit your purposes. I'll be back in one hour to review what you have posted (inlude the output). If you run into a problem, please ask a specific question along with your post.

Hi,

         

  NameLength = name.length();
                               //We use a loop to find the first vowel
                              for(i = 0; i < NameLength; i++)
                              {
                              indexchar = testName.substr(i,1);
                              if(indexchar == "a" || indexchar == "e" || indexchar == "i"
                               || indexchar == "o" || indexchar == "u")
                                    {
                                          FirstVowel = i;
                                          break;                //"break" exits the loop it is in
                                    }
                              }
                     / /Now that we know where the first vowel is, we can
                    //select the substring that starts there
                    root = testName.substr(FirstVowel, NameLength - FirstVowel);
           
//I am looking for C syntax help specifically!!!

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         1. Here you can use strlen(testStr) instead of getting test.length
             

nameLength = strlen(name);

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         2. Use the code you have posted as is
               

  for(i = 0; i < NameLength; i++)
                              {
                              //indexchar = testName.substr(i,1);
 
                            // Modify the indexChar to point to the current postion,
                               indexChar = TestName[i] // Here the name should be a char * or char array like char name[]
                              if(indexchar == "a" || indexchar == "e" || indexchar == "i"
                               || indexchar == "o" || indexchar == "u")
                                    {
                                          FirstVowel = i;
                                          break;                //"break" exits the loop it is in
                                    }
                              }

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         3.  You can use an while loop to copy the string required from to end

              say  you have an declaration like char inString[20]; in main
                 
               

                    for(j = firstvowel; j < = nameLength;j++)
                    {
                             inString[j] = TestName[j];
                    }
                             
                  

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         now your inString[] contains the irley

         after that you can do whatever you want to do...

Okay,

phoffric:  I could try what you are saying, but I still am missing a fundamental piece.  If I plug in "Shirley", yes it would work, but I am trying to set it to the contents of testName, I get an error.

void formatName()
{
            char* inString;
            char testName;
            int i, j;
            int nameLength;
            char name, root, indexchar;
            int FirstVowel;
            char str[];
            char keys[] = "aeiouy";

           testName = convertlower(screenName);
                  str=testName;
                  i = strcspn (str,keys);
                  printf ("The first number in str is at position %d.\n",i+1);

If i do this, it won't compile.  I get the following errors:

Error      1      error C2133: 'str' : unknown size      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      35      project7
Error      2      error C2440: '=' : cannot convert from 'char' to 'char []'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      39      project7
[
masheik:

I tried implementing your suggestion and I get a ton of errors:

Error      1      error C2664: 'strlen' : cannot convert parameter 1 from 'char' to 'const char *'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      38      project7
Error      2      error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      44      project7
Error      3      error C2446: '==' : no conversion from 'const char *' to 'int'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      45      project7
Error      4      error C2040: '==' : 'int' differs in levels of indirection from 'const char [2]'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      45      project7
Error      5      error C2446: '==' : no conversion from 'const char *' to 'int'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      45      project7
Error      6      error C2040: '==' : 'int' differs in levels of indirection from 'const char [2]'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      45      project7
Error      7      error C2446: '==' : no conversion from 'const char *' to 'int'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      46      project7
Error      8      error C2040: '==' : 'int' differs in levels of indirection from 'const char [2]'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      46      project7
Error      9      error C2446: '==' : no conversion from 'const char *' to 'int'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      46      project7
Error      10      error C2040: '==' : 'int' differs in levels of indirection from 'const char [2]'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      46      project7
Error      11      error C2446: '==' : no conversion from 'const char *' to 'int'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      46      project7
Error      12      error C2040: '==' : 'int' differs in levels of indirection from 'const char [2]'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      46      project7
Error      13      error C2059: syntax error : '='      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      54      project7
Error      14      error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before ')'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      54      project7
Error      15      error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before ')'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      54      project7
Error      16      error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '{'      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      55      project7
Error      17      error C2109: subscript requires array or pointer type      c:\documents and settings\owner\my documents\visual studio 2008\projects\project7\project7\project7.cpp      56      project7

void formatName()
{
		char* inString;
		char testName;
		int i, j;
		int nameLength;
		char name, root, indexchar; 
		int FirstVowel;

           testName = convertlower(screenName);

	 				 nameLength = strlen(testName);
 							for(i = 0; i < nameLength; i++)
                              {
                              //indexchar = testName.substr(i,1);
 
                            // Modify the indexChar to point to the current postion,
                               indexchar = testName[i]; // Here the name should be a char * or char array like char name[]
                              if(indexchar == "a" || indexchar == "e" || indexchar == "i"
                               || indexchar == "o" || indexchar == "u")
                                    {
                                          FirstVowel = i;
                                          break;                //"break" exits the loop it is in
                                    }
                              }
 

					for(j = FirstVowel; j < = nameLength;j++)
                    {
                             inString[j] = testName[j];
                    }


      //root = name.substr(FirstVowel, NameLength - FirstVowel);

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First thing
Char Testname should be array  like char testname[20]
and also inString[20]

masheik,

Nope.  Can you please provide more specific syntax examples if possible.  Pretend I am a beginner (I am), and assume I know nothing (I know nothing).

And you are missing missing semicolan at the end some where in between the code

I don't know, it won't compile.  The examples in this thread will NOT compile because there are issues with how my variables are declared.  That is why I included all my code for the program, because I could simply copy and paste the examples given, and they would work, but not in my example.

I am looking for help with my example.  I do not know C well enough at this point to integrate the examples into my routines.  That is why I am here, and I am looking to the experts.  Please help!

Nevermind,

I created this routine and it does what I want:

void lookforFirstVowel()
{
		char testName;
	
		bool exitLoop = false;
		int loopCounter = 0;
         
		strcpy(gameName, screenName); 

		while (exitLoop == false)
		
		{
			loopCounter++;
			testName = convertlower(gameName);
			if (testName == 'a' || testName == 'e' || testName == 'i'|| testName == 'o'|| testName == 'u' )
			{
				//printf("Test1");
				exitLoop = true;
			}
			else
			{
				//printf("Test2");
				strcpy(gameName, screenName+loopCounter); //For Names that don't start with vowels or B, M, or F we trim to the first vowel

			}
		}
}

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Accept following two posts:
http:#34227919 showed code in finding the first vowel using standard c library.
http:#34227952 suggests that the author takes this code and modify it and if having trouble with the library call, then ask for further assistance. Author ignored both suggestions. But they represent a valid way to solve the question without having to write the loop code that the author showed.

The author did show new code that had compiler errors but did not follow the suggestions in previous link.

phoffric,

For 500 points (and after I asked for specific syntax help), I guess I was expecting more than I could get from doing a google search.

I did try your "suggestion", but I couldn't get past the errors, and I couldn't get it integrated with my solution?

How was I ignoring your suggestions?  Your suggestions wouldn't work, and the code I presented compiles and works within my environment?  the errors were probably because I didn't have gameName and screenName declared within the function.  I did have their declaration within the sample code that I presented at the beginning.

Also, I wasn't asking for a new routine.  I wanted syntax help with the logic provided (because it was already within the parameters of my program).  What you were suggesting, wasn't.  Again, for 500 points, I was looking for specific help.

Did you not see that I did in fact try your solution and that it didn't work? see post #34230837

Very commendable that you solved the problem yourself. But you closed the question before I came back to address your problems. The suggestion was to first take the example code that shows how to find the first vowel (and then additional) and adapt it to your needs. From your question you indicate a desire to replace one set of libraries (C++) with another. Your solution ingores the suggested library function. Had you followed up on my suggestion, and got that to work, then we could have expanded it to address your next (non-Shirly) point. Then we could have integrated what you have learned in using the c-library function into your application. Using c-library functions in c code is usually the best way to go unless you are a pure beginner.

In fact, we could continue with this suggested route if you wish. Understand that not all contributors are available on a 24x7 basis.

phoffric,

If you have a suggestion that I could integrate, I'd be more than happy to continue.  I'm always up for learning.  I just stink at connecting things together the first time.  I need a little more leading if you will.

I hate my solution, but it worked with the limited syntax that I do know.

I am/was just on a time crunch.  I realize that you guys aren't available 24/7 and I realize that you do this as a volunteer; however, if you look at my history, I am generous with points if I get direct answers to my questions.

The participants in this particular forum are all about leading the horse to water, but I'm used to the guys over on the VB.net forum (here at EE), and they operate with a more direct approach.

With that said, what do you have or what is the next step?

fyi - The C/C++ zone ZA and mods beam us for providing direct solutions for questions that are academic in nature (includes homework as well as self-learning).

Ok then, let's continue. But due to a possible EE bug (it's being looked at), please post all code in the Code box since I am having difficulties copying your code.

1st step: Without adding any of your application, change the strcspn example to demonstrate "Shirley".
2nd step: Modify code in 1st step to use a char array that holds "Shirley".

Once you understand how to use strcspn , then we adjust your lookforFirstVowel() function to use it.

okay, I tried the example with Shirley, and I understand (mostly) what is going on.  Much shorter method for getting the location of where the first vowel is.

Now, here is how I worked it into my example:

char screenName[100];

void lookforFirstVowel()
{
      char str[] = screenName; //"Shirley";
      char keys[] = "aeiou";
      int i2;
      i2 = strcspn (str,keys);
      strcpy(gameName, screenName+i2); //For Names that don't start with vowels or B, M, or F we trim to the first vowel
      printf ("The remaining root word is %s.\n",gameName);
}

However, when I do so, I get the following error:

Error      1      error C2440: 'initializing' : cannot convert from 'char [100]' to 'char []'

It's almost like I am trying to put a string into an array.

Although you can initialize a char array with a string literal, such as "Shirley", you cannot initialize it with another char array.
One alternative is to not define str at all, and just use screenName in strcspn. Or, you can strncpy() the screenName array after you define the char str[100] array.

If you want to avoid global variables (usually a good idea), you can change the profile of lookforFirstVowel to pass in the string. If useful, you can return an int to indicate the position of the first vowel.

So, it was reduced to:

void lookforFirstVowel()
{
      char keys[] = "aeiou";
      int i2;
      i2 = strcspn (screenName,keys);
      strcpy(gameName, screenName+i2);
}

Now that rocks.

Yeah, I hear what you are saying with respect to globals.  In VB/C# I would use properties.  Does that exist in C?

What action do you want to take if the name has no vowels; for example - "Mr.Crptc"