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Wildcard string compare (globbing)

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4.90/5 (82 votes)
15 Feb 2005 1.1M   96   144
Matches a string against a wildcard string such as "*.*" or "bl?h.*" etc. This is good for file globbing or to match hostmasks.

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

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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralGets my 5 Pin
Franc Morales18-Oct-05 17:05
Franc Morales18-Oct-05 17:05 
Generalmp and cp Pin
Member 102826915-Mar-05 11:59
Member 102826915-Mar-05 11:59 
GeneralRe: mp and cp Pin
radboudp16-Feb-07 1:14
radboudp16-Feb-07 1:14 
GeneralOK, but ... Pin
Sam Levy16-Feb-05 4:48
Sam Levy16-Feb-05 4:48 
QuestionWhy make 3 loop ? Pin
DarkYoda M2-Feb-05 22:22
DarkYoda M2-Feb-05 22:22 
AnswerRe: Why make 3 loop ? Pin
Jack Handy13-Feb-05 10:02
Jack Handy13-Feb-05 10:02 
GeneralC# version Pin
Sancy26-Oct-04 6:23
Sancy26-Oct-04 6:23 
GeneralRe: C# version Pin
Psyk6621-Dec-04 3:39
Psyk6621-Dec-04 3:39 
private bool wildcmp(string wild, string str)
{
    int cp=0, mp=0;

    int i=0;
    int j=0;
    while ((i<str.Length) && (wild[j] != '*'))
    {
        if ((wild[j] != str[i]) && (wild[j] != '?'))
        {
            return false;
        }
        i++;
        j++;
    }

    while (i<str.Length)
    {
        if (j<wild.Length && wild[j] == '*')
        {
            if ((j++)>=wild.Length)
            {
                return true;
            }
            mp = j;
            cp = i+1;
        }
        else if (j<wild.Length && (wild[j] == str[i] || wild[j] == '?'))
        {
            j++;
            i++;
        }
        else
        {
            j = mp;
            i = cp++;
        }
    }

    while (j<wild.Length && wild[j] == '*')
    {
        j++;
    }
    return j>=wild.Length;
}


This C# version works. I'm sure there are loads of improvements to be made though. Don't flame me for such bad code, I only started C# yesterday;)
GeneralRe: C# version Pin
Ionut FIlip22-Feb-05 6:15
Ionut FIlip22-Feb-05 6:15 
GeneralRe: C# version Pin
robagar3-Apr-06 16:58
robagar3-Apr-06 16:58 
GeneralRe: C# version Pin
Sancy5-Jun-06 16:01
Sancy5-Jun-06 16:01 
GeneralConvert to java base on C# version [modified, better look :~ ] Pin
quangtin321-Mar-08 21:13
quangtin321-Mar-08 21:13 
GeneralRe: C# version - an error! Pin
Mark T.4-Jul-08 14:37
Mark T.4-Jul-08 14:37 
GeneralRe: C# version Pin
williamhix17-Oct-08 22:28
williamhix17-Oct-08 22:28 
GeneralMany thanks, with 1 small gripe .. Pin
David Patrick29-Sep-04 8:41
David Patrick29-Sep-04 8:41 
GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe .. Pin
Jack Handy6-Oct-04 8:13
Jack Handy6-Oct-04 8:13 
GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe .. Pin
Vic Mackey16-Oct-04 19:33
Vic Mackey16-Oct-04 19:33 
GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe .. Pin
Voja Intermajstor24-Nov-04 23:26
Voja Intermajstor24-Nov-04 23:26 
GeneralNice code... Pin
Voja Intermajstor25-Aug-04 2:30
Voja Intermajstor25-Aug-04 2:30 
GeneralSlight efficiency improvement Pin
GKarRacer9-Jul-04 6:53
GKarRacer9-Jul-04 6:53 
GeneralRe: Slight efficiency improvement Pin
GKarRacer9-Jul-04 7:19
GKarRacer9-Jul-04 7:19 
QuestionPathMatchSpec (shlwapi.h)? Pin
peterchen28-Jun-04 6:56
peterchen28-Jun-04 6:56 
AnswerRe: PathMatchSpec (shlwapi.h)? Pin
Jack Handy13-Feb-05 9:56
Jack Handy13-Feb-05 9:56 
GeneralDoesnt seem to work well.. Pin
bikram singh13-May-04 1:56
bikram singh13-May-04 1:56 
GeneralRe: Doesnt seem to work well.. Pin
Jack Handy21-Jun-04 9:13
Jack Handy21-Jun-04 9:13 

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