From: Florian Gilcher <flo@...>
Date: 2012-12-24T09:16:23+09:00
Subject: Re: POLS and string-handling


On Dec 24, 2012, at 12:55 AM, Paul Magnussen <lists@ruby-forum.com> wrote:

> Thanks for all the replies.  I notice also that I can force changing of
> the value (as opposed to the reference) by substituting a trivial
> expression for the right-hand side of the assignment, e.g.
> 
> # g) Expression
> 
> myStringA = "Fred Shufflebotham"
> myStringB = myStringA + ""
> myStringB[0,4] = "Bert"
> 
> => myStringA = "Fred Shufflebotham"
> => myStringB = "Bert Shufflebotham"
> 
> But of course it's an utter kludge.  Is there really no more elegant
> way?

Sure, either use a Method that doesn't mutate the string but returns a new one instead, like #sub and #gsub. e.g.:

  myStringA.sub("Fred", "Bert")
  myStringA.sub(/.{4}/, "Bert")

Or properly clone the string before mutating it:

  myStringB = myStringA.clone
  myStringB[0,4] = "Bert"

Regards,
Florian