Difference between revisions of "TStringList-TStrings Tutorial"

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==TStringList==
 
==TStringList==
  
The [[doc:rtl/classes/tstringlist.html|TStringList]] (or its parent [[doc:rtl/classes/tstrings.html|TStrings]]) is much like a fancy dynamic array or Set of Strings (a set of strings is not possible in FPC). It will come in handy a lot when programming and I'm going to teach you basic TStringList usage!
+
The [[doc:rtl/classes/tstringlist.html|TStringList]] (or its parent [[doc:rtl/classes/tstrings.html|TStrings]]) is much like a fancy [[Dynamic array|dynamic array]] or [[Set]] of Strings (a set of strings is not possible in FPC). It will come in handy a lot when programming and I'm going to teach you basic TStringList usage!
  
 
===Simple example===
 
===Simple example===
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 
program StrList;
 
program StrList;
 
{$mode objfpc}
 
{$mode objfpc}
Line 21: Line 21:
 
</syntaxhighlight>
 
</syntaxhighlight>
  
This is a simple console program that will create and add one string to a stringlist.
+
This is a simple [[Command-line_interface|console program]] that will create and add one string to a stringlist.
 
Now here's some things you should know:
 
Now here's some things you should know:
  
'''Create''' - Will create the string list for modifying. If you use '''Create''', you have to later '''Free''' it and release the memory it takes. If not, you program will not crash, but it will not release all the memory it occupied: a memory leak.
+
'''Create''' - Will create the string list for modifying. If you use [[Constructor|<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal" inline>constructor</syntaxhighlight>]] '''Create''', you have to later '''Free'''.
 +
Calling <syntaxhighlight lang="pascal" inline>free</syntaxhighlight> causes [[Destructor|<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal" inline>destructor</syntaxhighlight>]] a <syntaxhighlight lang="pascal" inline>Destroy</syntaxhighlight> invitation and release the memory it takes. If not, you program will not crash, but it will not release all the memory it occupied: a memory leak.
  
'''Count''' - This property is a counter for the number of strings in the List.
+
'''Count''' - This [[Property|property]] is a counter for the number of strings in the List.
  
'''Add''' - This method allows you to add one string to the stringlist. It is a function that will return the '''Index''' of the String. This is where the counter comes in handy.
+
'''Add''' - This [[Method|method]] allows you to add one string to the stringlist. It is a function that will return the '''Index''' of the String. This is where the counter comes in handy.
  
 
'''Delete''' - Will delete a string from the stringlist. Just know that you do not simply input the string, you have to input the index of the string. Like I said: it's like a fancy Dynamic Array.
 
'''Delete''' - Will delete a string from the stringlist. Just know that you do not simply input the string, you have to input the index of the string. Like I said: it's like a fancy Dynamic Array.
Line 40: Line 41:
 
How about a more juicy example, eh?
 
How about a more juicy example, eh?
  
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 
program StrList2;
 
program StrList2;
 
{$mode ObjFPC}
 
{$mode ObjFPC}
Line 75: Line 76:
 
</syntaxhighlight>
 
</syntaxhighlight>
  
However, to avoid possible memory leaks you should always use a try - finally block where possible for this, so you get something like:
+
However, to avoid possible memory leaks you should always use a [[Try]] - [[Finally]] block where possible for this, so you get something like:
  
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 
var
 
var
 
   slist: TStringList;
 
   slist: TStringList;
Line 95: Line 96:
 
</syntaxhighlight>
 
</syntaxhighlight>
  
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 
// This works perfect, no double creation of stringlist... comments free to send to edgarrod71@gmail.com
 
// This works perfect, no double creation of stringlist... comments free to send to edgarrod71@gmail.com
 
function theStringList: TStringList;
 
function theStringList: TStringList;
Line 116: Line 117:
 
   if assigned(SL) then
 
   if assigned(SL) then
 
     SL.Free;
 
     SL.Free;
 +
end;
 +
</syntaxhighlight>
 +
 +
To iterate through the list it is better to use the '''while-do''' loop instead of the '''for-to''' loop. The reason is that the list can be empty, then the for-to loop does not work correctly.
 +
In this example, SubscriberDel procedure is called for each ID in the List and the list of the IDs is passed to the procedure as a string.
 +
 +
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 +
procedure SubscribersDelete(const Subscriber_ID: string);
 +
var
 +
  List : TStringList;
 +
  i : Integer;
 +
begin
 +
  List := TStringList.Create;
 +
  List.Text := Subscriber_ID;
 +
  i := 0;
 +
  while i < List.Count do
 +
    begin
 +
      SubscriberDel(List.Strings[i]);
 +
      inc(i);
 +
    end;
 +
  List.Free;
 
end;
 
end;
 
</syntaxhighlight>
 
</syntaxhighlight>
Line 122: Line 144:
  
 
Code below will result in a stringlist, containing 4 elements ('1', '2', '3' and '4');
 
Code below will result in a stringlist, containing 4 elements ('1', '2', '3' and '4');
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 
procedure Sample;
 
procedure Sample;
 
var
 
var
Line 135: Line 157:
  
  
Respectively next code will assembe a stringlist into a delimited string ('1;2;3;4'):
+
Respectively next code will assemble a stringlist into a delimited string ('1;2;3;4'):
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
function Sample as string;
+
function Sample2 : string;
 
var
 
var
 
     MyStringList: TStringList=nil;
 
     MyStringList: TStringList=nil;
Line 143: Line 165:
 
     MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
 
     MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
 
     MyStringList.Delimiter := ';';
 
     MyStringList.Delimiter := ';';
    MyStringList.Clear;
 
 
     MyStringList.Add('1');
 
     MyStringList.Add('1');
 
     MyStringList.Add('2');
 
     MyStringList.Add('2');
 
     MyStringList.Add('3');
 
     MyStringList.Add('3');
 
     MyStringList.Add('4');
 
     MyStringList.Add('4');
     Result:= MyStringList.DelimitedText:='1;2;3;4';
+
     Result :=MyStringList.DelimitedText;
 
     MyStringList.free;
 
     MyStringList.free;
end;
+
end;
 
</syntaxhighlight>
 
</syntaxhighlight>
  
  
 
Note that Delimter is a character, '''not''' a string!
 
Note that Delimter is a character, '''not''' a string!
If your separator is a string (for example '\n'), you could use code below, to get a stringlist, containing 4 elements ('1', '2', '3' and '4'):
+
If your separator is a string (for example \n‟), you could use code below, to get a stringlist, containing 4 elements ('1', '2', '3' and '4'):
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 
procedure Sample;
 
procedure Sample;
 
var
 
var
Line 163: Line 184:
 
     MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
 
     MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
 
     MyStringList.text:=StringReplace('1\n2\n3\n4','\n',Lineending,[rfReplaceAll, rfIgnoreCase]);
 
     MyStringList.text:=StringReplace('1\n2\n3\n4','\n',Lineending,[rfReplaceAll, rfIgnoreCase]);
 +
    MyStringList.free;
 +
end;
 +
</syntaxhighlight>
 +
 +
Vice versa, next [[Function|function]] will return „1\n2\n3‟:
 +
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 +
Function Sample : string;
 +
var
 +
    MyStringList: TStringList=nil;
 +
begin
 +
    MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
 +
    MyStringList.SkipLastLineBreak := True;
 +
    MyStringList.add('1');
 +
    MyStringList.add('2');
 +
    MyStringList.add('3');
 +
    result := StringReplace(MyStringList.Text,Lineending,'\n', [rfReplaceAll, rfIgnoreCase]);
 
     MyStringList.free;
 
     MyStringList.free;
 
end;
 
end;
Line 169: Line 206:
 
==File Handling==
 
==File Handling==
  
When using the TStringList you have 2 file handling procedures: '''SaveToFile''' and '''LoadFromFile'''.
+
When using the TStringList you have 2 file handling [[Procedure|procedures]]: '''SaveToFile''' and '''LoadFromFile'''.
 
SavetoFile will save all strings in the list to a file.
 
SavetoFile will save all strings in the list to a file.
 
LoadFromFile will open the file and add the file data to the list string by string.
 
LoadFromFile will open the file and add the file data to the list string by string.
  
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 
program StrListFile;
 
program StrListFile;
 
{$mode objfpc}
 
{$mode objfpc}
Line 194: Line 231:
  
 
You just opened a file, edited it and saved it right back to were it was!
 
You just opened a file, edited it and saved it right back to were it was!
 +
 +
== Sorting ==
 +
 +
The Find procedure requires that the list be sorted.  The easiest approach is to set its Sorted property to True, then new items added to the list will be inserted in the correct position. This has a few extra side effects, firstly, you cannot use the Insert() procedure, use only Add(). Secondly, it sets the Duplicates property, its default setting is "dupIgnore" which means attempts to Add identical entries will be ignored.  However, calls to AddObject() that have an identical string and a new Object, the new Object replaces the existing one.
  
 
==Dynamic string array comparison==
 
==Dynamic string array comparison==
  
TStringList is simply an object-oriented version of a dynamic string array. Some methods have analogs:
+
TStringList is simply an [[object-oriented programming|object-oriented]] version of a dynamic string array. Some methods have analogs:
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 235: Line 276:
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Character and string types]]
 
* [[Character and string types]]
 
[[Category:Tutorials]]
 
[[Category:Containers]]
 

Latest revision as of 14:39, 10 August 2022

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TStringList

The TStringList (or its parent TStrings) is much like a fancy dynamic array or Set of Strings (a set of strings is not possible in FPC). It will come in handy a lot when programming and I'm going to teach you basic TStringList usage!

Simple example

program StrList;
{$mode objfpc}
uses
 Classes, SysUtils;
var
  Str: TStringList;
begin
  Str := TStringList.Create; // This is needed when using this class(or most classes)
  Str.Add('Some String!');
  writeln('The stringlist now has ' + IntToStr(Str.Count) + ' string(s).');
  Readln;
  Str.Free; //Release the memory used by this stringlist instance
end.

This is a simple console program that will create and add one string to a stringlist. Now here's some things you should know:

Create - Will create the string list for modifying. If you use constructor Create, you have to later Free. Calling free causes destructor a Destroy invitation and release the memory it takes. If not, you program will not crash, but it will not release all the memory it occupied: a memory leak.

Count - This property is a counter for the number of strings in the List.

Add - This method allows you to add one string to the stringlist. It is a function that will return the Index of the String. This is where the counter comes in handy.

Delete - Will delete a string from the stringlist. Just know that you do not simply input the string, you have to input the index of the string. Like I said: it's like a fancy Dynamic Array.

IndexOf - Will return the index of the string in the list. If it is not found it returns -1.

Clear - Will clear the list.

Expanded Example

How about a more juicy example, eh?

program StrList2;
{$mode ObjFPC}
uses
Classes, SysUtils;

var
  Str: TStringList;
  S: String;
  Counter: Integer;
begin
  Str := TStringList.Create;
  Writeln('String List Test');
  repeat
    Writeln('Enter a string to add (type EXIT to stop adding strings)');
    Readln(S); 
    if (S = 'EXIT') then 
      Break; // exit the loop
    
    if (S <> '') then
    begin
      Counter := Str.Add(S);
      Writeln('String: ' + S + ' was Added!');
      Writeln('Index is: ' + IntToStr(Counter)); // The counter will always become the index of the last thing added
    end 
    else 
    begin
      Writeln('No data entered...');
    end;
  until (S = 'EXIT');
  writeln('Contents of the TStringList: '+ Str.CommaText);
  Str.Free; //release the memory again
end.

However, to avoid possible memory leaks you should always use a Try - Finally block where possible for this, so you get something like:

var
  slist: TStringList;

...

slist := TStringList.Create;
try
  ...
  // do things with your stringlist  
  ...
finally
  if Assigned(slist) then
    FreeAndNil(slist);
end;
// This works perfect, no double creation of stringlist... comments free to send to edgarrod71@gmail.com
function theStringList: TStringList;
var
 J: integer;
begin
  result := TStringList.Create;
  for J:=0 to 10 do
    result.add(intToStr(J));
end;

procedure Caller;
var
  SL: TStringList;
  K: integer;
begin
  SL := theStringList;
  for K:=0 to pred(SL.Count) do
    writeln(SL[K]);
  if assigned(SL) then
    SL.Free;
end;

To iterate through the list it is better to use the while-do loop instead of the for-to loop. The reason is that the list can be empty, then the for-to loop does not work correctly. In this example, SubscriberDel procedure is called for each ID in the List and the list of the IDs is passed to the procedure as a string.

procedure SubscribersDelete(const Subscriber_ID: string);
var
  List : TStringList; 
  i : Integer;
begin
  List := TStringList.Create;
  List.Text := Subscriber_ID;
  i := 0;
  while i < List.Count do
    begin
      SubscriberDel(List.Strings[i]);
      inc(i);
    end;
  List.Free;
end;

Conversion to and from delimited strings

Code below will result in a stringlist, containing 4 elements ('1', '2', '3' and '4');

procedure Sample;
var
    MyStringList: TStringList=nil;
begin
     MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
     MyStringList.Delimiter := ';';
     MyStringList.DelimitedText:='1;2;3;4';
     MyStringList.free;
end;


Respectively next code will assemble a stringlist into a delimited string ('1;2;3;4'):

function Sample2 : string;
var
    MyStringList: TStringList=nil;
begin
     MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
     MyStringList.Delimiter := ';';
     MyStringList.Add('1');
     MyStringList.Add('2');
     MyStringList.Add('3');
     MyStringList.Add('4');
     Result :=MyStringList.DelimitedText;
     MyStringList.free;
end;


Note that Delimter is a character, not a string! If your separator is a string (for example „\n‟), you could use code below, to get a stringlist, containing 4 elements ('1', '2', '3' and '4'):

procedure Sample;
var
    MyStringList: TStringList=nil;
begin
     MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
     MyStringList.text:=StringReplace('1\n2\n3\n4','\n',Lineending,[rfReplaceAll, rfIgnoreCase]);
     MyStringList.free;
end;

Vice versa, next function will return „1\n2\n3‟:

Function Sample : string;
var
    MyStringList: TStringList=nil;
begin
     MyStringList:= TStringList.create;
     MyStringList.SkipLastLineBreak := True;
     MyStringList.add('1');
     MyStringList.add('2');
     MyStringList.add('3');
     result := StringReplace(MyStringList.Text,Lineending,'\n', [rfReplaceAll, rfIgnoreCase]);
     MyStringList.free;
end;

File Handling

When using the TStringList you have 2 file handling procedures: SaveToFile and LoadFromFile. SavetoFile will save all strings in the list to a file. LoadFromFile will open the file and add the file data to the list string by string.

program StrListFile;
{$mode objfpc}
uses
 Classes, SysUtils;

var
  Str: TStringList;
begin
  Str := TStringList.Create;
  try
    Str.LoadFromFile('SomeFile.txt');
    Str.Add('Hello');
    Str.SaveToFile('SomeFile.txt');
  finally
    Str.Free;
  end;
end.

You just opened a file, edited it and saved it right back to were it was!

Sorting

The Find procedure requires that the list be sorted. The easiest approach is to set its Sorted property to True, then new items added to the list will be inserted in the correct position. This has a few extra side effects, firstly, you cannot use the Insert() procedure, use only Add(). Secondly, it sets the Duplicates property, its default setting is "dupIgnore" which means attempts to Add identical entries will be ignored. However, calls to AddObject() that have an identical string and a new Object, the new Object replaces the existing one.

Dynamic string array comparison

TStringList is simply an object-oriented version of a dynamic string array. Some methods have analogs:

Operation array of string TStringList
Variable declaration StringList: array of string; StringList: TStringList;
Initialization implicit constructor StringList := TStringList.Create
Set size SetLength(StringList, X); StringList.Size := X;
Get size X := Length(StringList); X := StringList.Count;
Add item SetLength(StringList, Length(StringList) + 1); StringList[Length(StringList) - 1] := X; StringList.Add(X);
Delete item for I := Index to Length(StringList) - 2 do StringList[I] := StringList[I + 1]; SetLength(StringList, Length(StringList) - 1); StringList.Delete(Index);
Remove all items SetLength(StringList, 0); StringList.Clear;
Finalization implicit destructor StringList.Free;

However, TStringList offers much more functionality than a basic structure such as a dynamic array.

Keep Learning

TStringList has many other interesting features:

  1. It allows you to sort the strings
  2. It allows you to limit the list to only unique strings
  3. You can get the text of all strings as a single string using the Text property.
  4. You can store an object or other data next to the string

You can learn all the different procedures, functions and properties. See TStringList documentation... or the help in Lazarus.

... and you might like to extend this tutorial if you feel like it.

See also