Thread: code for swapping name and surname

Originally Posted by quzah

It is harder than it seems like it should be.
Quzah.

I think that depends on where the OP is in the course, don't you think? This can be done in around 25 lines of code or so.

Originally Posted by AndrewHunter

I think that depends on where the OP is in the course, don't you think? This can be done in around 25 lines of code or so.

I hate to admit that I spent far too much time on this. The solution I have now is about ten lines or so. (It's 15 the way I format, but if you didn't put each braces on its own line, it would be less. Actual working lines are around ten.)

It's probably not the optimum efficiency, but it is absolutely the simplest thing I could think of. I was really over complicating this, and that's why I spent so much time. I couldn't wrap my head around a solution - and I didn't want to go read about one and then try to implement that, I wanted to come up with one on my own. I had a few really close solutions, but kept hitting minor snags with them that took far too much mental effort on my part to try to sort out.

I'll post it here in a week or so if I can remember to do so. Before I read their actual homework requirements (who reads that?! It's not my homework!), I had a very simple:

Code:

int sscspswap( char buf[] )
{
    char first[ BUFSIZ ] = {0}, last[ BUFSIZ ] = {0};

    if( sscanf( buf, "%s %s", first, last ) == 2 )
    {
        sprintf( buf, "%s %s", last, first );
        return 0;
    }

    printf( "buf  not formatted correctly.\nYou lose!\n" );
    return -1;
}

Super simple. (Which is why I said reversing the whole array and then reversing each word was way too complicated.)

After I read the requirements, I was also going to cheat the rules (and I may still, just because I like cheating requirements) and use the stack (recursion) to hold my strings while I swap them around. I still might, because technically (and I'm all about cheating technicality in these types of problems) the stack isn't "using another array".


Quzah.

Originally Posted by quzah

I hate to admit that I spent far too much time on this.

That's alright, I'm sure the OP is spending a lot of time on it too.

Originally Posted by quzah

After I read the requirements, I was also going to cheat the rules (and I may still, just because I like cheating requirements) and use the stack (recursion) to hold my strings while I swap them around. I still might, because technically (and I'm all about cheating technicality in these types of problems) the stack isn't "using another array".
Quzah.

I wouldn't think that would be cheating at all. They already took away the standard string library, I wouldn't see why they would take away the stack, however I suppose depending on the OP's country they may pretend the stack doesn't exist.

I came up with a generalized solution to this one, that way whether it was 2 words or max input it would work the same. (Check your PM). I agree with you, we should revisit this one in a week and post actual solutions. Or perhaps we could start a new contest for all the newbs in the contest board with this question and then post all the solutions at the end of the month or something.

Originally Posted by AndrewHunter

That's alright, I'm sure the OP is spending a lot of time on it too.

Well I figured at least one of us should be.


Quzah.

LMAO.....brilliant!

Originally Posted by kermit

I like the cheating idea better. Since the requirements, as far as I can tell, only seems to be interested in the final output, it is simple enough to run through the string, find the space, change that to a null, print what follows it, then print the first part. I would post what I was playing around with, but it is not interesting, and might be tempting for the OP.

I am always one for cheating but I don't think that actually meets the requirements:

Originally Posted by Animesh Gaitond

Write a program to take input from the user in the following format,
FIRSTNAME LASTNAME. Then swap the names such that the last name occurs first and the first name comes later i.e. LASTNAME FIRSTNAME
Note:
Do the same without using any extra array and without changing the default array size. Do not use any in-built functions(string functions).

The example it gives just shows the names being swapped but the way I read the actual requirements it doesn't appear that would work since you couldn't just use a single printf() statement to print the string. Anway, that's the way I read it.

<tease>
The "interesting" part of my "print only" cheat answer is only 3 lines.
</tease>

Haha, you guys made me curious; I think I figured out the 3 line cheater solution too.

Originally Posted by AndrewHunter

Haha, you guys made me curious; I think I figured out the 3 line cheater solution too.

If all we are doing is printing, one line for variables, one for the work, one for the print, if you don't count wrapping it nicely in a function as lines.

edit - more cheating:
1. do the above, except the printing
2. fprintf to a file
3. fscanf to your original buffer


Quzah.