From: Thomas Wieczorek <wieczo.yo@...>
Date: 2008-03-13T09:59:55+09:00
Subject: Re: String method to take subsections

On Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 1:18 AM, Glenn <glenn_ritz@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>  So, 'xxxxxa1byyyyya2bzzzzzzz'.method_x('a', 'b') would return ["1", "2"].
>

You could use String#scan and wrap it in a method or extend the String class:

# So, 'xxxxxa1byyyyya2bzzzzzzz'.method_x('a', 'b') would return ["1", "2"].

def method_x(str, first, last)
    pattern = "#{first}(\\d)#{last}"
    regexp = Regexp.new(pattern)
    return str.scan(regexp).flatten
end

p method_x('xxxxxa1byyyyya2bzzzzzzz', 'a', 'b') #=> ["1", "2"].

# you could also extend the String class
class String
    def method_x(first, last)
        pattern = "#{first}(\\d)#{last}"
        regexp = Regexp.new(pattern)
        return self.scan(regexp).flatten
    end
end

p 'xxxxxa1byyyyya2bzzzzzzz'.method_x('a', 'b')