From: Louis J Scoras <louis.j.scoras@...>
Date: 2006-05-13T00:07:06+09:00
Subject: Re: Is there a method for incrementing string names?!?

> But don't forget:
>
> irb(main):001:0> 'aa9'.succ
> => "ab0"
>
> So it won't do what's needed.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pedro.
>

*agrees*

How about something like this?

    def next_name(s)
      s.reverse =~ /(\d*)(.*)/
      digits_r, word_r = $~[1,2]
      digits = digits_r ? digits_r.reverse.to_i : 0
      digits += 1
      word_r.reverse + digits.to_s
    end

    next_name "var"      # => "var1"
    next_name "var32" # => "var33"
    next_name "var99" # => "var100"

String.succ will blow up for cases 1 and 3.

--
Lou