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Count Words in a String

The following information applies to:

Delphi (All Versions)

Steps, Assumptions, Procedures:

Uses Windows.pas
Uses System.pas

Code:


1. function WordCount(Sentence: string):integer;
2. var
3.    Words: integer;
4. begin
5.    if Sentence <> '' then
6.    begin
7.      Words:=1;
8.      while Pos(' ',Sentence)<> 0 do
9.      begin
10.        Delete(Sentence,1,Pos(' ',Sentence));
11.        Inc(Words);
12.     end;
13.     WordCount:=Words
14.   end
15.   else
16.    WordCount:=0;
17. end;

Results:

This function will return an integer representing the number of words contained in the passed string.

Explanation:

//Uses Pascal built in functions Length, Pos and Delete.
//Sentence is a Val param because it gets mutated.
//The loop condition consist of checking for a space in the sentence
//0 is reterned from Pos if there is no spaces.
//While there is spaces delete Sentece starting at 1 to the first
//occurence of a space. After every word delete add one to words.

Notes:

This routine could be used to count the characters in any given string.

Submission Information:
Submitted by: Ross Bush

E-Mail: rossbush@mindspring.com