I need help with implementing strings???

Hi? I was wandering if any one knows anything about implementing and using strings..
Basically i have a basic understanding of C programming and would like someone to start the problem for me...

Basically i have to implement a function called getString() which extracts a string from standard input; stores it in an array; and returns a pointer to its starting character.

Each call to getString() locates the next string in input and stores it after any previously stored strings.

In storage each string is terminatted by the ASCII null character; the delimmiting quotes are omitted.

some extra notes:

Storage overflow must be prevented; ie if the next string to be deposited in the array would exceed its bound then extra memory must be allocated.

The same string must not be stored more than once, ie, if a string is encountered twice, then getString() is to return a pointer to where it was stored on first encounter.

Then i have to implement a function called dumpString(), ie, each call to dumpString() returns a pointer to the next string in storage (starting with the first); returning a NULL pointer at the end of the list.

Also "a quote character \"inside\" a string must be escaped with the backslash character, as is the backslash character itself."

If anyone can help me with this problem that would be great, otherwise give me some links that i could refer to for this sought of problem..


i have started something, but not sure if is correct...

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#define BUFFER_LEN 256

void main()
{
//declare and initialise variables
char Buffer[BUFFER_LEN];//stores input
char str[40]; //char string

//declare function getString
void getString(char *);

//declare function dumpString
void dumpString(char *);

printf("Input a string please!!");
fgets(str);
//read user input
getString(str); //read input

You ar making something like 'strtok()' i suppose

What happend to your ORIGINAL posting ??

Hi Mike how are ya?what do you mean what happened to my original posting??

would you know how to attempt this sought of problem...
or can you give me some links, where i can get some ideas of how to solve this problem .. please.

i have attempted something could you please check and correct me anywhere.. i need to implement 2 functions getString() and dumpString()

I'm not asking you to write the whole program for me, just help me along the way thanks..

kind regards Atif.

>void main()
void main is wrong and undefined, main returns an int.

>fgets(str);
fgets takes three parameters, the array to assign the string to, the size of the array, and the stream to read from.

>Storage overflow must be prevented; ie if the next string to be
>deposited in the array would exceed its bound then extra memory must be allocated.
Don't use an array if you need to resize it, use a char * and realloc to increase and decrease the size of the buffer as needed.

>Each call to getString() locates the next string in input and
>stores it after any previously stored strings.
This screams linked list to me.

>returning a NULL pointer at the end of the list
This REALLY screams linked list

>give me some links that i could refer to for this sought of problem..
Say please...
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial.html

-Nitpicker v1.0 - 0% useful. 50% annoying. 100% correct.

HEy prelude,
thanks for your reply..so you think the best way to solve this problem is to use linked lists...

could you please... show me how to use linked lists or give me some examples of how i can implement a linked lists with strings..

thanks ...waitin for your reply..

Atif

he did give you an example.
follow the link.
you are looking for : lesson15.html The basics of singly linked lists
good luck

Sorry, but i was asking about Linked Lists in C programming not in C++ . So , is there any links to linked lists in C prog.
specifically to do with strings..

Thanks
Atif

>So , is there any links to linked lists in C prog.
Linked lists in C++ are really the same as in C, just swap out
node->next = new NODE;
with
node->next = malloc ( sizeof *node );

The link I gave you is implemented with C++, but could easily be converted to C with a minimum of effort. Give it a shot and you'll learn more than if we just gave you the code.

-Prelude