String operations

[Helen79]

Hello

I am trying to perform an operation on a string variable such as John,Leslie,Smith and get J.L.S. i.e. just the initials out.

This is driving me round the bend any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Helen

 

[h011ywood]

@names = (split /\,/, $string);

foreach $name (@names){
$firstInitial = substr($name,0,1);
.
.
.
}

 

[johno77]

Thanks for your reply hollywood. Is there a way of getting just a single string variable out instead of seperate ones?

Helen

 

[h011ywood]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but if you know what you are looking for in the string, completely or partially yes you can pull it out.

 

[johno77]

Thanks for your patience hollywood. Below i have show the value of the variable $forename before being shortened to just initials and the value of the variable $forename after being shortened.


John,Leslie --> J.L.
John --> J.
William,Carter,Smith --> W.C.S.

hope that helps

 

[h011ywood]

This will take the $forename value, and
create the $initials string. In the case, where

@names = (split /\,/, $forename);
$intials = "";
foreach $name (@names){
$initials .= substr($name,0,1) . ".";
}

 

[johno77]

Hi again

I have created a sub with the details you have given me and it works to a certain extent. The only problems is there is always two full stops at the end of the variable returned i.e. J.P.L.. OR J..

Is there anyway to sort this behaviuor out


sub shorten_initial()
{
@names = (split /\,/, $_[0]);
$init = "";
foreach $name (@names){
$init = $init . substr($name,0,1) . ".";}
return $init;
}

 

[PaulTEG]

$init=~s/\.\./\./g;

Sometimes its easier to clean up afterwards ...

--Paul

 

[icrf]

$name = 'William,Carter,Smith';
$initials = join('.', $name =~ /(?:^|(?<=,))(\w)/g) . '.';

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...but I'm just a C man trying to see the light