Compress spaces demo

[lemming]

This short script demonstates how to remove extra spaces from data, for example:

 

Before:
14770512        7       0       9       1  
this   is   too  gappy?
testing    testing   1       0       5       0

After:
14770512 7 0 9 1 
this is too gappy?
testing testing 1 0 5 0

 

The script makes use of the "Set Variable to Position of Text" command, which is essentially a search command. The script repeatedly searches for 2 consecutive spaces and replaces them with 1 space.

Compress spaces demo.mex

[paul]

An alternative (better?) method might be:

set string t10 to your gappy string
repeat until n1 <> n1 -- endless loop
 set integer n1 to the length of variable t10
 variable modify string: replace "  " in t10 with " " --replace all instances
 set integer n2 to the length of variable t10
 if n2 = n1 repeat exit --because nothing changed, we're done
end repeat

[lemming]

Hi Paul, that's an interesting use for "set to the length of variable". I'll have to remember that one.

 

It's good to have alternative approaches to the problem!

 

An alternative (better?) method might be:

set string t10 to your gappy string
repeat until n1 <> n1 -- endless loop
 set integer n1 to the length of variable t10
 variable modify string: replace "  " in t10 with " " --replace all instances
 set integer n2 to the length of variable t10
 if n2 = n1 repeat exit --because nothing changed, we're done
end repeat