Remove file directory from string

hey all

i have a string that contains the directory to a file, for example:

Code:

C:\TEST\sample.txt

i was wondering if anyone knew a function that returned the file name only like this:

Code:

sample.txt

ive been looking for awhile now and can't find anything like that.

anyone know what it is?
thanks in advanced.

Use strrchr() to find the last \

Not everything is wrapped in a function. Sometimes you actually have to write it yourself. Look up strrchr and strcpy for a reasonably effective method of splitting the path from the file name.

This simple program was created in TurboC++ explorer and is used to do the job.
But i have a question on my own. Why when i use the delimiter '\' to search for that character it doesn work? It says that the character is not found? I used the value 0x5c too as is in ASCII table and nothing, though it works for every other character, i surely miss something, give me your thoughts on that.

Code:

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <conio.h>

#pragma hdrstop

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
//Function SplitString splits a string according to user input.
char *SplitString(const char *mainString, const char delimiter)
{
	if(mainString == NULL)
	{
		printf("Can not split an empty string.\n");
		return NULL;
	}
	else
	{
		//Index.
		int ptrIndex = 0;
		//Size of the return string.
		int ptrSize = 0;
		//The return string.
		char *ptrString = NULL;
		//Strrchr pointer.
		char *ptrStr = NULL;
		//Find the last occurance of delimiter in main string.
		if((ptrStr = strrchr(mainString, delimiter)) == NULL)
		{
			printf("Error, Can not find the '%c' delimiter in main string.\n", delimiter);
			return NULL;
		}
		else
		{
			ptrIndex = mainString - ptrStr;
			ptrIndex = ptrIndex > 0 ? ptrIndex : -ptrIndex;
			//Go to the next character.
			ptrIndex++;
			//Save size.
			ptrSize = (int)strlen(mainString) - ptrIndex;
			//Get space.
			ptrString = calloc(ptrSize + 1, sizeof(char));
			strcpy(ptrString, &mainString[ptrIndex]);
			//Return the string.
			return ptrString;
		}
	}
}

#pragma argsused
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
	char *mString = "C:\Documents and Settings\myfile.txt";
	char del = 's';
	char *r = SplitString(mString, del);
	printf("Final String: %s\n", r);
	printf("Hit any key to exit........");
	getch();
	return 0;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

> #include <conio.h>
> #pragma hdrstop
Can you keep the non-standard things out of your examples please.

> #pragma argsused
If you've no intention of using argc,argv, just leave them out and go with int main ( )

> Why when i use the delimiter '\' to search for that character it doesn work?
Because you should have written
char *mString = "C:\\Documents and Settings\\myfile.txt";

Originally Posted by Salem

> #include <conio.h>
> #pragma hdrstop
Can you keep the non-standard things out of your examples please.

> #pragma argsused
If you've no intention of using argc,argv, just leave them out and go with int main ( )

> Why when i use the delimiter '\' to search for that character it doesn work?
Because you should have written
char *mString = "C:\\Documents and Settings\\myfile.txt";

I will stop drinking beers and using the computer after....Yes you have right once again...
For #pragma you are right i wanted to use argc initially but later i decided that this would have no use.
Nevertheless thanks Salem....

Also, even though your function is pretty decently coded(Except from the things Salem mentioned), you should refrain from making the function itself print error messages, if you intend on sharing it - rather make it return values depending on the errors.

Yes, I know, you return a pointer to a char, but you could also make it return an int and add an extra argument where the final string is stored(This is microsoft's way of doing it, for example)

Originally Posted by IceDane

Also, even though your function is pretty decently coded(Except from the things Salem mentioned), you should refrain from making the function itself print error messages, if you intend on sharing it - rather make it return values depending on the errors.

Yes, I know, you return a pointer to a char, but you could also make it return an int and add an extra argument where the final string is stored(This is microsoft's way of doing it, for example)

You mean something like this: char *foo(char *s, int *error) and inside the function for example *error = 1 or in onother error case *error = 2.........
Think its the same....

You could use the function signature that you have there but move the error printing to the calling function. But I think that IceDane meant something like this:

Code:

int foo(const char *from, char **to);

On the other hand, why do you need to create a new string anyway? Just strrchr() by itself would work reasonably well . . .

thanks for the replies
i got it working using strrchr()