How can i write 2D longest character array ?

This array must be between two asterisk signs (*) and the code should give us the longest name in this array

For example: {'878*jhon*23 ; '*jonathan*87' ; '485*will*421'}

output will be as a 'jonathan'

I wrote code like this. but it's not what want.

a = {'23*Ali*36' ; 'Veli*178' ; '99*Zeynep*'} ;
for k=1:length(a)
    val(k)=length(a{k});
    x = findstr(a) , '*' )
end 
out=a(val==max(val)

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

Did you just try a super obvious brute force approach using a for loop:

a = {'23*Ali*36' ; 'Veli*178' ; '99*Zeynep*'} ;
nameLengths = zeros(length(a), 3); % Preallocate.
for k = 1 : length(a)
	thisCellContents = a{k};
	starLocations = find(thisCellContents == '*') % Find indexes of stars.
	% Extract the name
	if length(starLocations) >= 2
                % Extract length between start #1 and star #2.
		nameLengths(k, :) = [starLocations(1), starLocations(2), starLocations(2) - starLocations(1) + 1];
	elseif length(starLocations) >= 1
                % One star.  Start from the beginning.
		nameLengths(k, :) = [1, starLocations(1), starLocations(1)];
	else
		% No stars.
		nameLengths(k, :) = [1, length(thisCellContents), length(thisCellContents)]; % The whole thing.
	end
end 
nameLengths % Report to command window.
[maxLength, row] = max(nameLengths(:,3)) % Find the longest one - biggest separation.
longestRow = a{row} % Get the entire string, including the start.
% Extract the substring.
out = longestRow(starLocations(1) + 1 : starLocations(2) - 1)

I'm sure there are less obvious, but more cryptic methods that are shorter if you want to wait for one from someone else.

[Oblique]

it did work but I am the beginner this code think :) if there is a shortess way i have to wait

but so thanks

[Image Analyst]

Well, you got one. But frankly I think mine is much more intuitive and easy to follow for a beginner like yourself. But maybe you're way more advanced than I thought and

m = regexp(a, '[A-Za-z]*', 'match');
m = [m{:}];
[~, idx] = max(cellfun(@numel, m));

is super simple and intuitive to you - better than a simple for loop.

[Oblique]

actually first code you write more clear than the other.I can understand what you write easily thanks for your help :)

[Image Analyst]

You're welcome. Because comments are SO important, I added a few to make it even easier to follow. I encourage you to use descriptive variable names and lots of comments in your code. If my answer helped you maybe you could click the Vote button. Thanks in advance.

Answer 2

[Ameer Hamza]

Try this

a = {'23*Ali*36' ; 'Veli*178' ; '99*Zeynep*'} ;
 
m = regexp(a, '[A-Za-z]*', 'match');
m = [m{:}];
[~, idx] = max(cellfun(@numel, m));
longest_name = m{idx};

Result

>> longest_name
longest_name =
    'Zeynep'

[Oblique]

did not work

i am writing code in octave btw

[Ameer Hamza]

I am not fimilar with syntax and functions of octave. However, It appears that you have created a variable named 'max' in your workspace. Delete it first and then try this code.

[Oblique]

it didn't work i have to try something else but thank you

[Rik]

I see no reason why this wouldn't work in Octave. I just tested it on 5.1.0 and it worked as expected. What errors are you getting?

[Oblique]

it did not work before but it worked now i dont know why happened like this. Thanks again