From: Ryan Leavengood <mrcode@...>
Date: 2005-04-17T22:25:40+09:00
Subject: [SOLUTION] Madlibs (#28)

Here is my solution to the current quiz. While implementing this I 
learned more about the power of gsub, which I don't think I've ever used 
so much in one program as small as this one ;)

I output the result in either text or PDF if given the proper 
command-line options. To use the PDF feature you will need to install 
PDF::Writer, available from here: http://rubyforge.org/projects/ruby-pdf/

What a fun quiz this was, especially using the program to create some 
Madlibs. I also decided to create an additional madlib file for 
testing/having fun with. This is below following the code. The source 
for this was 
http://www.geocities.com/pezheadpaul/madlibs/prints/printprojects.htm 
and all credit goes to the author of that site. This is a good test 
because it has multiple paragraphs.

I hereby decree than an additional rule for this quiz would be that 
every solution include a new madlib file :)

Ryan Leavengood


CODE (beware of wrapping):

def do_madlib(madlib_file, output_pdf, underline)
    substitutions = {}
    # Put paragraphs all on one line (there has got to be a better way!)
    madlib = 
IO.readlines(madlib_file).join('').split(/\n\n/).collect{|l|l.gsub(/\n/,' 
')}.join("\n\n")
    madlib_result = madlib.gsub(/\(\([^)]*\)\)/) do |match|
       match.gsub!(/\(|\)/,'') # Bye bye parens
       if substitutions[match]
          substitution = substitutions[match]
       else
          if match =~ /(.*):(.*)/
             key = $1
             match = $2
          end
          print "Please enter #{match}: "
          substitution = $stdin.gets.chomp
          if key
             substitutions[key] = substitution
          end
       end
       if output_pdf and underline
          "<u>#{substitution}</u>"
       else
          substitution
       end
    end
    if output_pdf
       filename = madlib_file+".pdf"
       print "Outputting PDF file #{filename}..."
       require 'pdf/ezwriter'
       pdf = PDF::EZWriter.new
       pdf.select_font("pdf/fonts/Helvetica")
       pdf.ez_text(madlib_result, 14)
       File.open(filename, File::RDWR|File::CREAT|File::TRUNC) do |file|
          file.print(pdf.ez_output)
       end
       puts "done."
    else
       puts "\n                            Your MadLib:\n\n"
       madlib_result.split("\n").each do |paragraph|
          # Lazy man's wrapping
          puts paragraph.gsub(/.{72}[^ ]* /){|l|"#{l}\n"}
       end
    end
end

if $0 == __FILE__
    if ARGV.length < 1
       puts "Usage: #$0 [-pdf] [-u] <madlib file>"
       puts "  -pdf      Output a PDF file."
       puts "  -u        Underline the replaced words in the PDF output 
file."
       exit(1)
    end
    output_pdf = false
    underline = false
    filename = nil
    while ARGV.length > 0
       arg = ARGV.shift
       case arg
          when '-pdf': output_pdf = true
          when '-u': underline = true
          else filename = arg
       end
    end
    if filename
       if test(?e, filename)
          do_madlib(filename, output_pdf, underline)
       else
          puts "Provided madlib file does not exist!"
       end
    else
       puts "No madlib filename provided!"
    end
end


Science_Fair.madlib:

According to ((principal:a school principal's name)), the school science 
fair this year was 'very educational.' At the same time, ((principal)) 
announced plans to quit the school system and become a ((a dangerous 
job)). 'It sounds like a safer job,' the principal said.

Several ((an adjective)) projects were disqualified this year. The 
experiment on 'Animal Magnetism' by ((a girl's name)) was canceled 
before she could plug in her ((an animal)).

The project by ((a male bully's name)) on 'Gravity's Effect on First 
Graders' was canceled when the custodians wouldn't let him borrow a ladder.

And the Nuclear Powered ((a noun)) built by ((name:a proper noun)) was 
taken away by the police, who said ((name)) will be back in school 'any 
day now.'

((your name)) won second prize with an experiment that asked, 'Can 
((animals:a plural animal)) Learn Karate?' The answer was 'yes.' The 
((animals)) tossed ((principal)) over a ((a noun)) and left the science 
fair. Anyone who sees them should call the main office.

((a girl's name)) won first prize with her TNT ((veggies:a plural 
vegetable)).  By planting seeds in gunpowder and watering them with 
nitroglycerin, ((veggies)) grew that explode when you drop them. 'What a 
dynamite idea,' the principal joked ((an adverb)).

So far, nobody has figured out how the prize-winning ((veggies)) got 
into the salad served to ((principal)) at lunchtime. Just to be safe, 
though, the 'Vegetable Surprise' has been taken off tomorrow's lunch menu.