Character Counting Snippet

[refiking]

I am trying to insert a snippet of code into my current script.  I need to computer generate a username for the user based on the $name variable.

If the $name variable is 8 characters, then $name = $username.  If the $name variable is more than 8 characters, the first 8 characters of $name = $username.  And if there are less than 8 characters, I'd like to computer generate enough characters to the end of the $name variable and make that $username.  Just looking for some direction guys.  I tried to google this, but came up with nothing (probably because I'm not even sure what this is called).  Thanks in advance!

[Andy17]

Well, just to get you started, you could use strlen() to count the number of characters.

 

<?php

if (strlen($name) == 

{

// $name is 8 characters long

}

elseif (strlen($name) > 

{

// $name is more than 8 characters long

}

else

{

// $name is less than 8 characters long

}

?>

[rhodesa]

$chars = range('a','z');
shuffle($chars);
$username = substr($name.$chars,0,;

[refiking]

$chars = range('a','z');
shuffle($chars);
$username = substr($name.$chars,0,;

 

The $name variable is alphanumeric.  How would I allow numbers as well?

[kenrbnsn]

<?php
$chars = array_merge(range('a','z'),range('0','9'));
shuffle($chars);
$username = substr($name.$chars,0,;
?>

 

Ken

[refiking]

OK.  So, that code will reduce the size of the $name variable and that's great.  I also need to autogenerate the remaining characters if the $name variable was not long enough.  So, here's what I added (if anyone else ever needed something like this)

$a = md5(uniqid(rand(), true));
$newname = $name . $a;
$chars = array_merge(range('a','z'),range('0','9'));
shuffle($chars);
$username = substr($newname.$chars,0,;

 

This way, if it already has 8 or more characters, it doesn't matter.  But if it has less, it automatically adds the other characters on.  Thanks gurus for the help. You guys ROCK!

[rhodesa]

the original script i posted DID do that...