Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!att!linac!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!ucbvax!ucdavis!csusac!utgard!chris
From: chris@utgard.uucp (Chris Anderson)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.perl
Subject: Re: The best way to search an array ?
Keywords: detab
Message-ID: <1990Nov28.160822.21351@utgard.uucp>
Date: 28 Nov 90 16:08:22 GMT
References: <443@stephsf.stephsf.com>
Followup-To: comp.lang.perl
Distribution: na
Organization: QMA, Inc., Rancho Cordova, California
Lines: 40

In article <443@stephsf.stephsf.com> wengland@stephsf.stephsf.com (Bill England) writes:
>  What is the best method for discovering if a string is in
>  a given set of strings?  For example say you want to verify
>  that the string 'WA' is a valid two char state abreviation?
>
>  I can think of at least four methods ...

[methods deleted]

>    2       Build an associative array %state so that you have;
>            $state{'AK'}="Alaska";
>            $state{'AL'}="Alabama";
>            $state{'AR'}="Arkansas";
>            $state{'AZ'}="Arizona";
>            $state{'CA'}="California";
>            ...
>            Then test for the existance of $state{$prove_state}.
>            ( Has disadvantage of extra bagage if you don't need the
>              states full name.   )

Naah.  You don't need the extra baggage:

			foreach $one (@all_the_states)  {
				$states{$one}++;
			}

			or

			undef %states;
			@states{@all_the_states} = ();

Either way, you don't have the baggage and you can find the name
easily and quickly.  Associative arrays are great!

Chris
-- 
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Chris Anderson, QMA, Inc.      utgard!chris@csusac.csus.edu  |
|      My employer doesn't listen to me... why should you?      |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+