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Wildcard string compare (globbing)

By , 15 Feb 2005
 

Usage:

This is a fast, lightweight, and simple pattern matching function.

if (wildcmp("bl?h.*", "blah.jpg")) {
  //we have a match!
} else {
  //no match =(
}

Function:

int wildcmp(const char *wild, const char *string) {
  // Written by Jack Handy - <A href="mailto:jakkhandy@hotmail.com">jakkhandy@hotmail.com</A>
  const char *cp = NULL, *mp = NULL;

  while ((*string) && (*wild != '*')) {
    if ((*wild != *string) && (*wild != '?')) {
      return 0;
    }
    wild++;
    string++;
  }

  while (*string) {
    if (*wild == '*') {
      if (!*++wild) {
        return 1;
      }
      mp = wild;
      cp = string+1;
    } else if ((*wild == *string) || (*wild == '?')) {
      wild++;
      string++;
    } else {
      wild = mp;
      string = cp++;
    }
  }

  while (*wild == '*') {
    wild++;
  }
  return !*wild;
}

License

This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

A list of licenses authors might use can be found here

About the Author

Jack Handy
Web Developer
United States United States
Member
No Biography provided

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GeneralWildcard string compare in C#memberhaiquang10 Nov '08 - 22:15 
GeneralRe: Wildcard string compare in C#memberhaiquang3 Aug '09 - 22:22 
GeneralC# Direct Portmemberhempels23 Sep '08 - 15:10 
General...and yet another C# port [modified]memberDVF27 Aug '10 - 16:59 
GeneralRe: ...and yet another C# portmemberVUnreal21 Sep '10 - 11:22 
General[Message Removed]memberstonber18 Sep '08 - 14:22 
GeneralUsing in Artistic Stylememberjimp023 Apr '08 - 4:43 
GeneralGeez...memberlarryfr5 Mar '08 - 9:39 
QuestionConvert to a replace?memberwilliaps20 Mar '07 - 8:31 
GeneralC# RexExp versionmemberspinsane4 Nov '06 - 6:30 
GeneralKudosmemberquantumred14 Oct '06 - 4:37 
GeneralRe: Kudosmembermilkplus24 Feb '10 - 11:19 
Generalwildcmp(&quot;*&amp;lt;*&amp;gt;&quot;, &quot;&amp;lt;field1&amp;gt;&amp;lt;field2&amp;gt;&quot;) not working [modified]memberDaniel B.6 Sep '06 - 13:14 
GeneralRe: wildcmp(&quot;*&amp;lt;*&amp;gt;&quot;, &quot;&amp;lt;field1&amp;gt;&amp;lt;field2&amp;gt;&quot;) not workingmemberradboudp16 Feb '07 - 0:35 
Generalreturn value typememberwdx048 Jan '06 - 15:49 
General*? case matchmembertalimu3 Nov '05 - 23:42 
GeneralRe: *? case matchmemberkuhnm15 Sep '06 - 2:18 
GeneralRe: *? case matchmemberkuhnm18 Sep '06 - 4:48 
GeneralGets my 5memberFranc Morales18 Oct '05 - 17:05 
Generalmp and cpmembertwopieman15 Mar '05 - 11:59 
GeneralRe: mp and cpmemberradboudp16 Feb '07 - 1:14 
GeneralOK, but ...memberSam Levy16 Feb '05 - 4:48 
QuestionWhy make 3 loop ?memberDarkYoda Mickael2 Feb '05 - 22:22 
AnswerRe: Why make 3 loop ?memberJack Handy13 Feb '05 - 10:02 
GeneralC# versionmemberSancy26 Oct '04 - 6:23 
GeneralRe: C# versionsussPsyk6621 Dec '04 - 3:39 
GeneralRe: C# versionmemberIonut FIlip22 Feb '05 - 6:15 
GeneralRe: C# versionmemberrobagar3 Apr '06 - 16:58 
GeneralRe: C# versionmemberSancy5 Jun '06 - 16:01 
GeneralConvert to java base on C# version [modified, better look :~ ]memberquangtin321 Mar '08 - 21:13 
GeneralRe: C# version - an error!memberMark T.4 Jul '08 - 14:37 
GeneralRe: C# versionmemberwilliamhix17 Oct '08 - 22:28 
I think this:
 
if ((j++) >= pattern.Length) 
{
  return true;
}
 
Needs to change to this:
 
if (++j >= pattern.Length)
{
 return true;
}
 
Otherwise the early break does not happen and the whole string is searched.
GeneralMany thanks, with 1 small gripe ..memberDavid Patrick29 Sep '04 - 8:41 
GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe ..memberJack Handy6 Oct '04 - 8:13 
GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe ..memberVic Mackey16 Oct '04 - 19:33 
GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe ..memberVoja Intermajstor24 Nov '04 - 23:26 
GeneralNice code...membervoja2125 Aug '04 - 2:30 
GeneralSlight efficiency improvementmemberBill Buklis9 Jul '04 - 6:53 
GeneralRe: Slight efficiency improvementmemberBill Buklis9 Jul '04 - 7:19 
QuestionPathMatchSpec (shlwapi.h)?memberpeterchen28 Jun '04 - 6:56 
AnswerRe: PathMatchSpec (shlwapi.h)?memberJack Handy13 Feb '05 - 9:56 
GeneralDoesnt seem to work well..sussBikram Singh13 May '04 - 1:56 
GeneralRe: Doesnt seem to work well..memberJack Handy21 Jun '04 - 9:13 
GeneralCase Insensitive wildcmpmemberTechiex16 Mar '04 - 9:36 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberNeville Franks16 Mar '04 - 9:52 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberTechiex23 Mar '04 - 9:33 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberDavidCrow23 Feb '05 - 2:24 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberVic Mackey23 Feb '05 - 8:00 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberDavidCrow23 Feb '05 - 8:22 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberf_randy12 Jun '06 - 18:13 

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