From: "trans.  (T. Onoma)" <transami@...>
Date: 2004-10-18T01:12:20+09:00
Subject: More better way to split off blank lines

In the following code, write_stack is an array composed of special marker 
objects and strings, and I've extended String with the #blank? method. I want 
to split any space which includes a newline from the front and back of the 
strings and make them their own elements in the array. Note: as the last line 
indicates, I don't necessarily need the new_stack, if it can be done just by 
modifying the write_stack instead.


      # split off blank lines
      new_stack = []
      write_stack.each_index{ |i|
        # if string and not blank
        if write_stack[i].respond_to?(:blank?) && ! write_stack[i].blank?
          md = /^(\s*\n\s*)(\S.*\S)(\s*\n\s*)$/.match(write_stack[i])
          if md
            new_stack << md[1] if md[1].length > 0
            new_stack << md[2]
            new_stack << md[3] if md[3].length > 0
          else
            new_stack << write_stack[i]
          end
        else
          new_stack << write_stack[i]
        end
      }
      write_stack = new_stack


Is there a nicer way to do this? 

Thanks,
T.