Create random string of characters, with rules - objective-c

I would like to know the best way to create a random string of characters,
but with some simple rules.
for example:
( User defined length, may only contain one E, may only contain 2-4 'S' )
This would part of a Mac OSX app, and the User defined items would be in UI.
User sets parameters and presses "Generate" button.
The output is displayed in a NSTextField.
Of course I think I can handle the UI part, only noted incase someone wants to include sample code.
Thanks.

This works, but be aware that theoretically, it might not terminate. You might want to consider replacing extraneous Es and Ss with other letters to force it to terminate.
It would definitely loop forever if the user inputted length was 2!
BOOL canQuit = NO;
while (!canQuit)
{
NSMutableString *output = [[[NSMutableString alloc] init] autorelease];
while ([output length] < userDefinedLength)
{
//Generates a random character between a and z;
char c = ((arc4random() % (122 - 96)) + 97);
[output appendFormat:#"%c", c];
}
NSLog(#"%#", output);
int numberOfE = [output replaceOccurrencesOfString:#"e" withString:#"e" options:NSCaseInsensitiveSearch range:NSMakeRange(0, output.length)];
int numberOfS = [output replaceOccurrencesOfString:#"s" withString:#"s" options:NSCaseInsensitiveSearch range:NSMakeRange(0, output.length)];
canQuit = (numberOfE <= 1 && numberOfS >= 2 && numberOfS <= 4);
}

Related

Create NSArray of keywords starting/ending with % inside a string

I have a long string that contain keywords that start and end with the percent sign. E.g.:
My name is %user_username% and I live at %location_address%. You can
reach me at %user_phone%.
What method would I use to extract all strings that begin and end with % and put those into an NSArray so that I can replace them with their correct text representations?
Assuming that there are no % signs inside your strings of interest (e.g "a%ab%b%c"), you could use the componentsSeparatedByString: or componentsSeparatedByCharactersInSet: to get an array of strings separated by the % sign. From there, it's pretty easy to figure out which strings in that array are between the percent signs, and which are unnecessary.
I think internally though, those methods are likely implemented as something like a loop looking for %s. Maybe they parallelize the search on big strings, or use special knowledge of the internal structure of the string to make things faster -- those are the only ways I can see to speed up the search, assuming that you're stuck with keeping it all in a % delimited string (if speed is really an issue, then the answer is probably to use an alternative representation).
This is what I came up with that works:
- (NSArray *)replaceKeywords:(NSString *)keywordString {
NSString *start = #"%";
NSString *end = #"%";
NSMutableArray* strings = [NSMutableArray arrayWithCapacity:0];
NSRange startRange = [keywordString rangeOfString:start];
for( ;; ) {
if (startRange.location != NSNotFound) {
NSRange targetRange;
targetRange.location = startRange.location + startRange.length;
targetRange.length = [keywordString length] - targetRange.location;
NSRange endRange = [keywordString rangeOfString:end options:0 range:targetRange];
if (endRange.location != NSNotFound) {
targetRange.length = endRange.location - targetRange.location;
[strings addObject:[keywordString substringWithRange:targetRange]];
NSRange restOfString;
restOfString.location = endRange.location + endRange.length;
restOfString.length = [keywordString length] - restOfString.location;
startRange = [keywordString rangeOfString:start options:0 range:restOfString];
} else {
break;
}
} else {
break;
}
}
return strings;
}
I slightly modified the method from Get String Between Two Other Strings in ObjC

Matching strings, consider some characters are the same

please help me with this problem.
I want to check if the targetString match the keyword or not. Consider some character may different, but should still return true.
Example:
targetString = #"#ß<"
keyword = #"abc", #"∂B(", #"#Aß<"
result: all must return true.
(Matched.targetString and all keyword are the same.)
Consider me have an array, contains list of character set that can be the same:
NSArray *variants = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:#"aA#∂", #"bBß", #"c©C<(", nil]
So that when matching, with this rule, it can match as the example above.
Here is what i've done so far (using recursion):
- (BOOL) test:(NSString*)aString include:(NSString*) keyWord doTrim:(BOOL)doTrim {
// break recursion.
if([aString length] < [keyWord length]) return false;
// First, loop through each keyword's character
for (NSUInteger i = 0; i < [keyWord length]; i++) {
// Get #"aA#∂", #"bBß", #"c©C<(" or only the character itself.
// like, if the keyword's character is A, return the string #"aA#∂".
// If the character is not in the variants set, eg. P, return #"P"
char c = [keyWord characterAtIndex:i];
NSString *rs = [self variantsWithChar:c];
// Check if rs (#"aA#∂" or #"P") contains aString[i] character
if([rs rangeOfString:[NSString stringWithCharacters:[aString characterAtIndex:i] length:1]].location == NSNotFound) {
// If not the same char, remove first char in targetString (aString), recursion to match again.
return [self test:[aString substringFromIndex:1] include:keyWord doTrim:NO];
}
}
// If all match with keyword, return true.
return true;
}
- (NSString *) variantsWithChar:(char) c {
for (NSString *s in self.variants) {
if ([s rangeOfString:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%c",c]].location != NSNotFound) {
return s;
}
}
return [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%c", c];
}
The main problem is, variantsWithChar: doesn't return the correct string. I don't know which datatype and which function should I use here. Please help.
For thou who know ruby, here's the example in ruby. It work super fine!
require 'test/unit/assertions'
include Test::Unit::Assertions
class String
def matching?(keyword)
length >= keyword.length && (keyword.chars.zip(chars).all? { |cs| variants(cs[0]).include?(cs[1]) } || slice(1, length - 1).matching?(keyword))
end
private
VARIANTS = ["aA#∂", "bBß", "c©C<("]
def variants(c)
VARIANTS.find { |cs| cs.include?(c) } || c
end
end
assert "abc".matching?("#ß<")
PS: The fact is, it's containt a japanese character set that sounds the same (like あア, いイ... for thou who know japanese)
PS 2: Please feel free to edit this Question, since my engrish is sooo bad. I may not tell all my thought.
PS 3: And, maybe some may comment about the performance. Like, search about 10,000 target words, with nearly 100 variants, each variant have at most 4 more same characters.
So first off, ignore comments about ASCII and stop using char. NSString and CFString use unichar
If what you really want to do is transpose hiragana and katakana you can do that with CFStringTransform()
It wraps the ICU libraries included in OS X and iOS.
It makes it very simple.
Search for that function and you will find examples of how to use it.
After a while (a day) working on the code above, I finally get it through. But don't know about the performance. Someone comment and help me improve about performance, please. Thanks.
- (BOOL) test:(NSString*)aString include:(NSString*) keyWord doTrim:(BOOL)doTrim {
// break recursion.
if([aString length] < [keyWord length]) return false;
// First, loop through each keyword's character
for (NSUInteger i = 0; i < [keyWord length]; i++) {
// Get #"aA#∂", #"bBß", #"c©C<(" or only the character itself.
// like, if the keyword's character is A, return the string #"aA#∂".
// If the character is not in the variants set, eg. P, return #"P"
NSString* c = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%C", [keyWord characterAtIndex:i]];
NSString *rs = [self variantsWithChar:c];
NSString *theTargetChar = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%C", [aString characterAtIndex:i]];
// Check if rs (#"aA#∂" or #"P") contains aString[i] character
if([rs rangeOfString:theTargetChar].location == NSNotFound) {
// If not the same char, remove first char in targetString (aString), recursion to match again.
return [self test:[aString substringFromIndex:1] include:keyWord doTrim:NO];
}
}
// If all match with keyword, return true.
return true;
}
If you remove all comment, it'll be pretty short...
////////////////////////////////////////
- (NSString *) variantsWithChar:(NSString *) c{
for (NSString *s in self.variants) {
if ([s rangeOfString:c].location != NSNotFound) {
return s;
}
}
return c;
}
You could try comparing ascii values of the japanese characters in the variants's each character's ascii value. These japanese characters aren't treated like usual characters or string. Hence, string functions like rangeOfString won't work on them.
to be more precise: have a look at the following code.
it will search for "∂" in the string "aA#∂"
NSString *string = #"aA#∂";
NSMutableSet *listOfAsciiValuesOfString = [self getListOfAsciiValuesForString:string]; //method definition given below
NSString *charToSearch = #"∂";
NSNumber *ascii = [NSNumber numberWithInt:[charToSearch characterAtIndex:0]];
int countBeforeAdding = [listOfAsciiValuesOfString count],countAfterAdding = 0;
[listOfAsciiValuesOfString addObject:ascii];
countAfterAdding = [listOfAsciiValuesOfString count];
if(countAfterAdding == countBeforeAdding){ //element found
NSLog(#"element exists"); //return string
}else{
NSLog(#"Doesnt exists"); //return char
}
===================================
-(NSMutableSet*)getListOfAsciiValuesForString:(NSString*)string{
NSMutableSet *set = [[NSMutableSet alloc] init];
for(int i=0;i<[string length];i++){
NSNumber *ascii = [NSNumber numberWithInt:[string characterAtIndex:i]];
[set addObject:ascii];
}
return set;
}

Use scanf() for first letter

I have somewhat of a command line where the user types in 1 letter, and when the user types in more than 1 letter, the program takes the first letter typed. How do I go about doing this, as what I'm doing doesn't seem to work out for me:
char ans, *d;
Sequence *seq = [[Sequence alloc] init];
while (k < 10) {
k++;
[seq generate];
printf("%i. %s\n\n>>> ", k, [seq.full cStringUsingEncoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding]);
scanf("%c%s", &ans, &d);
NSString *input = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%c", ans];
if (input == seq.answer) {
correct ++;
}
}
EDIT: I just want to clarify that the 'd' variable is used as a dummy, so that the Enter key doesn't get registered.
Have you looked in < curses.h> to see what the getch() function does?
Please Refer: http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/7908799/xcurses/curses.h.html
Its for Mac...

CS193p-Adding backspace to a calculator

I recently started following the online course on iPhone development from Stanford University on iTunes U.
I'm trying to do the homework assignments now for the first couple of lectures. I followed through the walkthrough where I built a basic calculator, but now I'm trying the first assignment and I can't seem to work it out. It's a follows:
Implement a “backspace” button for the user to press if they hit the wrong digit button. This is not intended to be “undo,” so if they hit
the wrong operation button, they are out of luck! It’s up to you to
decided how to handle the case where they backspace away the entire
number they are in the middle of entering, but having the display go
completely blank is probably not very user-friendly.
I followed this: Creating backspace on iOS calculator
So the code is
-(IBAction)backspacePressed:(UIButton *)sender {
NSMutableString *string = (NSMutableString*)[display text];
int length = [string length];
NSString *temp = [string substringToIndex:length-1];
[display setText:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#",temp]];
}
My question is shouldn't I check whether my last is a digit or operand? If operand, no execution and if digit, remove it...
First of all, there are several unnecessary steps in that code... And to answer your question, yes, you should check for an operand. Here is how I would write that method with a check:
NSString *text = [display text];
int length = [text length];
unichar c = [text characterAtIndex:length];
NSCharacterSet *digits = [NSCharacterSet decimalCharacterSet];
if ([digits characterIsMember:c] || c == '.') {
NSString *temp = [[display text] substringToIndex:length-1];
[display setText:temp];
}
I'm also going through the fall 2011 class on iTunes U.
The walk through gives us an instance variable userIsInTheMiddleOfEnteringANumber so I just checked to see if that is YES.
- (IBAction)backspacePressed {
if (self.userIsInTheMiddleOfEnteringANumber) {
if ([self.display.text length] > 1) {
self.display.text = [self.display.text substringToIndex:[self.display.text length] - 1];
} else {
self.display.text = #"0";
self.userIsInTheMiddleOfEnteringANumber = NO;
}
}
}
I used the approach taken by Joe_Schmoe, which is straightforward. (just remove characters in the dispaly until you reach the end).
If the user continues pressing 'Clear Error', I removed an item from the stack as well.
I have just started on the course myself, this post is quite old now but my solution might help others, food for thought if nothing else:
- (IBAction)deletePressed:(id)sender
{
NSString *displayText = [display text];
int length = [displayText length];
if (length != 1) {
NSString *newDisplayText = [displayText substringToIndex:length-1];
[display setText:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#",newDisplayText]];
} else {
userIsInTheMiddleOfEnteringANumber = NO;
NSString *newDisplayText = #"0";
[display setText:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#",newDisplayText]];
}
}

Weird cocoa bug?

Hey folks, beneath is a piece of code i used for a school assignment.
Whenever I enter a word, with an O in it (which is a capital o), it fails!
Whenever there is one or more capital O's in this program, it returns false and logs : sentence not a palindrome.
A palindrome, for the people that dont know what a palindrome is, is a word that is the same read left from right, and backwards. (e.g. lol, kayak, reviver etc)
I found this bug when trying to check the 'oldest' palindrome ever found: SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS.
When I change all the capital o's to lowercase o's, it works, and returns true.
Let me state clearly, with this piece of code ALL sentences/words with capital O's return false. A single capital o is enough to fail this program.
-(BOOL)testForPalindrome:(NSString *)s position:(NSInteger)pos {
NSString *string = s;
NSInteger position = pos;
NSInteger stringLength = [string length];
NSString *charOne = [string substringFromIndex:position];
charOne = [charOne substringToIndex:1];
NSString *charTwo = [string substringFromIndex:(stringLength - 1 - position)];
charTwo = [charTwo substringToIndex:1];
if(position > (stringLength / 2)) {
NSString *printableString = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"De following word or sentence is a palindrome: \n\n%#", string];
NSLog(#"%# is a palindrome.", string);
[textField setStringValue:printableString];
return YES;
}
if(charOne != charTwo) {
NSLog(#"%#, %#", charOne, charTwo);
NSLog(#"%i", position);
NSLog(#"%# is not a palindrome.", string);
return NO;
}
return [self testForPalindrome:string position:position+1];
}
So, is this some weird bug in Cocoa?
Or am I missing something?
B
This of course is not a bug in Cocoa, as you probably knew deep down inside.
Your compare method is causing this 'bug in Cocoa', you're comparing the addresses of charOne and charTwo. Instead you should compare the contents of the string with the isEqualToString message.
Use:
if(![charOne isEqualToString:charTwo]) {
Instead of:
if(charOne != charTwo) {
Edit: tested it in a test project and can confirm this is the problem.
Don't use charOne != charTwo
Instead use one of the NSString Compare Methods.
if ([charOne caseInsensitiveCompare:charTwo] != NSOrderedSame)
It may also have to do with localization (but I doubt it).