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From: Kilgallen@eisner.decus.org.nospam (Larry Kilgallen)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Subject: Re: Variable length string
Date: 13 Aug 2001 08:05:09 -0500
Organization: LJK Software
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Date: 2001-08-13T08:05:09-05:00
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In article <9l82gv$j83$1@news.mch.sbs.de>, "Shitij" <shitij.sah@sisl.co.in> writes:
> Hi,
> Iam new to ADA.I just wanted to know how do you define a variable length
> string.I have declared a string array of length say a size of 20.But if I
> use get and pass this string as an arguement,then unless and until I fill
> this with exactly 20 characters my program is not working.How to overcome
> this?
> Iam using the below structure
> 
> type list;
>  type pList is access list;
>  type list is
> record
>    data:integer;
>    str:string(1 .. 20);
>    next:pList:=NULL;
>   end record;

My suggestion would be to consider the use of a discriminated record
(that term should be in the index of your textbook).  That way you
can make each string be exactly the right length.  You should have
a separate large string for a buffer to do the initial Get call for
each string.  Once you have received it, you know the proper length.