compare strings to find uniques

full monty · #1 (**permalink**) 01-17-11, 14:54

Hi,
in ASP, is there a smart way to compare strings in this manner?

I have 5 codes. I want to find out how many unique ones there are.

WU7TD
TYBSU
MAWVR
WU7TD
ASKRF

I could use InStr for each combination, but this gets complex only after a few. I could use DISTINCT if were an SQL query, but I need to do it within ASP.

rokslide · #2 (**permalink**) 01-18-11, 18:19

There is nothing built in that would do this for you, you would need to write something up, wouldn't be too hard though...

How are these codes stored in your ASP code? is it a comma delimitered string or something?

full monty · #3 (**permalink**) 01-18-11, 20:13

Hi rokslide,

They are originally in separate fields in the same record in an MSSQL table, but I was trying to handle them solely within the ASP rather than make another call to the database.

r937 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-18-11, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by full monty

... rather than make another call to the database.

so you're already calling the database to get these codes?

please show your query for this, as it is likely that it can be modified, so that you wouldn't have to write any ASP code at all

full monty · #5 (**permalink**) 01-18-11, 21:04

I know it's bad practice, but I'm using SELECT * and getting just one record. (But in my defence, I am using most of the fields to display on my web page.)

r937 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-18-11, 21:52

just one record is producing these codes which might contain duplicates?

i'm getting confuseder as we go...

rokslide · #7 (**permalink**) 01-18-11, 22:34

I suspect the database has something like...

Code:

RowId    Cust1Id    Cust1Code    Cust2Id    Cust2Code    Cust3Id    Cust3Code    Cust4Id    Cust4Code
    1          1        WU7TD          2        TYBSU          3        MAWVR          4        WU7TD

Teddy · #8 (**permalink**) 01-18-11, 23:47

If this is ASP.NET, then you can avail yourself of distinct with LINQ. If this is classic ASP, then you're talking about an algorithm 101 question. Will you always have 5 or so records? If so then the approach doesn't really matter. If not then you need to make some optimization decisions.

If your table structure is as rokslide is suggesting, then you "fix" this issue by using an actual relational model in the database.

rokslide · #9 (**permalink**) 01-19-11, 16:08

Assuming you don't want to or can not fix your database... this script might help you...

Code:

<%
Dim duplicateStrings
duplicateStrings = Array("WU7TD","TYBSU","MAWVR","WU7TD","ASKRF")

Dim distinctStrings()
Redim distinctStrings(0)

for each entry in duplicateStrings
    
    Response.Write(entry & " ")
    matches = UBound(Filter(distinctStrings,entry))

    if(matches<0) then
        distinctStrings(Ubound(distinctStrings)) = entry
        Redim Preserve distinctStrings(UBound(distinctStrings)+1)
    end if

next

Redim Preserve distinctStrings(UBound(distinctStrings)-1)

response.write("<br><br>")

for each dis_entry in distinctStrings
    response.write("- " & dis_entry & "<br>")
next

 %>

Basically it looks though an array of strings, if the string is not in the distinct list (another array) it adds it to the distinct list.

HTH

full monty · #10 (**permalink**) 02-12-11, 03:20

just wanted to say Thank You (belatedly). This solution did indeed work.

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