'
' RandStr$(<picture>)
'
' Author: Joe Strazzere
'
' Returns a random string based on the picture supplied.
'
' This can be useful for generating large amounts of psuedo-random data for testing.
'
' <picture> is a string with special characters interpreted as follows:
'
' 9 = generate a random number (0-9) in its place
' A = generate a random alphabetic character (A-Z, a-z) in its place
' U = generate a random uppercase alphabetic character (A-Z) in its place
' L = generate a random lowercase alphabetic character (a-z) in its place
' N = generate a random alphanumeric character (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) in its place
' X = generate any character in its place
' = an escape character. Anything following this character is placed in the result string,
' even if it is a picture character. Two backslashes () cause a single backslash to be
' placed into the result string.
' any other character is simply copied into the result string
'
' RandStr("999-999-9999") might generate 012-303-1212
' RandStr("999 ULLLL Street") might generate 801 Ymksa Street
' RandStr("XXX") might generate *K2
' RandStr("C: empAAA999.fil") might generate C: empkOq474.fil
'
Function RandStr$(test$)
Local i
Local a
Local new$
Local work$
work$=""
i=1
While i<= len(test$)
Select Case Mid$(test$,i,1)
Case ""
i=i+1
new$=Mid$(test$,i,1)
Case "9"
new$=str$(Random(9))
Case "X"
new$=Chr$(Random(93)+33)
Case "U"
new$=Chr$(Random(25)+65)
Case "L"
new$=Chr$(Random(25)+97)
Case "A"
Repeat
a = Random(57)+65
Until a < 91 Or a >96
new$=Chr$(a)
Case "N"
Repeat
a = Random(74)+48
Until a < 58 Or (a >64 And a <91) Or a > 96
new$=Chr$(a)
Case Else
new$=Mid$(test$,i,1)
EndSelect
work$=work$+new$
i=i+1
Wend
RandStr$=work$
EndFunction
'test$=("99999") ' like US zipcodes
'test$=("999-99-9999") ' like US Social Security Numbers
'test$=("(999) 999-9999") ' like US Phone Numbers
'test$=("AAA-999-XXX")
'test$=("UUU-999-XXX")
'test$=("LLL-999-XXX")
'test$=("c:ULLL99999.fil") ' random file name
'test$="9AULNX 999 AAA UUU LLL NNN XXX"
'test$="$19999.99"
Msgbox(test$+" = "+RandStr$(test$)+" "+RandStr$(test$)+" "+RandStr$(test$))
