Thread: split string function

  1. #1
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    split string function

    hello. i am trying to make a split function that takes in a string and a delimiter, and returns a array of strings that have been separated by the delimiter.

    here is my code so far:
    Code:
    char  * split(char string[], char * sep){
    	// char str[] = &string;
    	char * pch;
    	char * out[3];
    	int i=0;
    	printf ("h1\n");
    	pch = strtok (string," ,");
    	printf ("h2\n");
    	while (pch != NULL)
    	{
    		printf ("\"%s\"\n",pch);
    		out[i] = pch;
    		i++;
    		if(pch != NULL) pch = strtok (NULL, " ,");
    	}
    	//out[i] = '\0';
    	printf("h3 %s\n",out[0]);
    	return out;
    }
    
    int main(){
    	
    	printf("start\n");
    	char * out = split(str, " ,");
    	printf("end\n");
    	printf ("out 1: %s\n",out[0]); // segmentation fault happens here
    	printf ("out 2: %s\n",out[1]);
    	printf ("out 3: %s\n",out[2]);
    	return 0;
    }
    the input i used is: "this, is, crazy"

    i get a segmentation fault after the printf of "end"

  2. #2
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    listen to your compilers warnings.
    Kurt

  3. #3
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    something to the effect of this:
    Code:
    database.c: In function ‘split’:
    database.c:47: warning: return from incompatible pointer type
    database.c:47: warning: function returns address of local variable
    database.c: In function ‘test’:
    database.c:70: error: incompatible types in assignment
    database.c: In function ‘start_database’:
    database.c:87: warning: excess elements in scalar initializer
    database.c:87: warning: (near initialization for ‘row’)

  4. #4
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    is this file named 'database.c'? if so then post the full code.
    it would be helpful to us if you commented or somehow let us know what lines are #47, 70, and 87.

    edit: it looks like your trying to do something with the variable 'out'. however it isnt initialized.
    Code:
    char * out[3];
    is a pointer to an array of three chars.
    Last edited by nadroj; 04-21-2007 at 11:44 AM.

  5. #5
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    It's not that simple what you are trying to do. Right now I don't have the nerve to try to explain how to do that.
    try this code.
    Code:
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <string.h>
    #include <stdio.h>
    
    char  ** split(char string[], int * num, char * sep) {
    	char * pch;
    	char ** out = 0;
            int i = 0;
    	pch = strtok (string, sep );
           
    	while (pch != 0 ) {
                    out = realloc(out, (  i + 1 ) * sizeof( char * ));
    		out[i] = malloc( strlen(pch ) + 1 );
                    strcpy( out[i], pch );
                    ++i;
    		pch = strtok (NULL, sep);
    	}
            *num = i;
    	return out;
    }
    
    
    int main() {
        char str[255] = "one, two, tree, four,five  six";
        int num = 0;
        int i = 0;
        char ** tokens = split( str, &num, " ,");
        for( i = 0; i < num; ++i )
           printf("&#37;s\n", tokens[i] );
    
        for( i = 0; i < num; ++i )
           free( tokens[i] );
    
        free(tokens); 
    }
    Feel free to ask how it works.
    Kurt

    EDIT: proper error checking needs to be added.
    Last edited by ZuK; 04-21-2007 at 12:48 PM.

  6. #6
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    thank you ZuK this works.
    i love the versitilty of c.. but i have worked with python for so long, i forgot to appreciate c.

    i would like to know how this works..
    like the functions
    realloc and free

  7. #7
    Fear the Reaper...
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    Teacher: "You connect with Internet Explorer, but what is your browser? You know, Yahoo, Webcrawler...?" It's great to see the educational system moving in the right direction

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