$pos() - Support negative indexes - mIRC Discussion Forums

Using $pos(text, string, N)

Currently, if N <= 0, $pos returns the number of occurrences of string in text. With other string identifiers such as $left(), $mid(), $right(), $*tok, etc a negetive N causes the identifier to work in reverse.

It would be handy if $pos() would support such reversed behavior aswell

Code

Example:
  $pos(abccba, a, -1) - returns 6

Probably has been suggested many times in the past, still a good idea.

As a solution I created a self-written identifier for you: $posmir (position mirror) ‒ returns the position of found characters in the string in reverse order.

Syntax: $posmir(text,string,N) ‒ If it is convenient for you to specify negative values (N = -1) in your script, then it will work in the same way (analogically) as with numbers greater than zero.

Example1: $posmir(abccba abca cbcba,bc,0) ‒ Returns: 3
Example2: $posmir(abccba abca cbcba,bc,1) ‒ Returns: 14
Example3: $posmir(abccba abca cbcba,bc,3) ‒ Returns: 2
Example4: $posmir(abccba␣abca␣cbcba,$chr(32),0) ‒ Returns: 2
Example5: $posmir(abccba abca␣cbcba,$chr(32),1) ‒ Returns: 12

Code

alias posmir {
  if (($1 != $null) && ($2 != $null) && ($3 != $null)) {
    if ($3 == 0) return $pos($1,$2,$3)
    var %pm1 $1 | var %pm2 $2 | var %pm3 $remove($3,-)
    var %pm_a $pos(%pm1,%pm2,0)
    var %pm_c $calc(%pm_a +1 - %pm3)
    var %pm_p $pos(%pm1,%pm2,%pm_c)
    if (%pm3 <= %pm_a) return %pm_p | else return 0
  }
  echo -sc info * insufficient parameters ‒ $+(correct syntax:,$color(notice).dd) $eval($posmir(text,string,N),0) | halt
}

Testing commands:

Code

//echo -a $posmir(abccba abca cbcba,bc,0)
//echo -a $posmir(abccba abca cbcba,bc,1)
//echo -a $posmir(abccba abca cbcba,bc,3)
//echo -a $posmir(abccba abca cbcba,$chr(32),0)
//echo -a $posmir(abccba abca cbcba,$chr(32),1)

This is probably what you would like to see. Though I also support your idea for realization negative values in built-in identifier "$pos".

Just a minor point. Identifier calls should not return a string containing the error message. It should instead be echoed and the script halted.

return $+(,$color(info).dd,*) insufficient parameters - $+(correct syntax:,$color(notice).dd) $eval($posmir(text,string,N),0)

should become something like:

Code

echo -sc info insufficient parameters - $+(correct syntax:,$color(notice).dd) $eval($posmir(text,string,N),0)
halt

Unfortunately, an error message could only report a script/scriptline for the location of your alias. Without something like the previously requested $calias, it's not possible to report the scriptline/scriptname of the calling alias unless they're passed along as the $4 and $5 parms.

I currently use the following:

Code

alias posx {
  if ($3 >= 0 || $calc($3+1+ $count($1,$2)) > 0) {
    return $pos($1,$2,$v1)
  }
}

Edited: Tinkered with the alias a bit to make it shorter

You're right. The identifier doesn't really need to return an error if multiple parameters are missing on run. It is enough to notify about this in an echo message and halted the script.

Therefore this line should be replaced:

Code

return $+(,$color(info).dd,*) insufficient parameters ‒ $+(correct syntax:,$color(notice).dd) $eval($posmir(text,string,N),0)

Replace with this line:

Code

echo -sc info * insufficient parameters ‒ $+(correct syntax:,$color(notice).dd) $eval($posmir(text,string,N),0) | halt

Thank you for your help with the hint