[SOLVED] parseing names

[curtm]

I have some emails that I'm parsing into a database.  In those emails, there are names. the names have no controls on the way they are typed in, so I have data like so...

 

fname m lname

fname m. lname

fname m lname suffix

fname mname lname

fname lname

fname lname suffix

 

How can I parse this so I get the right data in the right field?  I have fname m lname for my database fields.

 

thanks!

[wildteen88]

If the names themselves don't have have space within them then you could use explode to split the names into three variables, like so:

 

$name = 'fname m lname';

list($fname, $mname, $lname) = explode(' ', $name);

echo 'Firstname: ' . $fname . '<br />';
echo 'Middlename: ' . $mname . '<br />';
echo 'Surname: ' . $lname;

[curtm]

I'm using the EXPLODE function now, but that doesn't help me get the names in the right fields.

 

If one guy puts fname lname and the next guy puts fname m lname, the explode would have to have conditions for the names to go in the right field.

[wildteen88]

You could check to see how many parts have been returned from explode, if its two then fname lname if three fname m lname.

 

$name = 'fname lname';

$parts = explode(' ', $name);

switch(count($parts))
{
    case 2:
        list($fname, $lname) = explode(' ', $name);
        $mname = 'N/A';
    break;

    case 3:
        list($fname, $mname, $lname) = explode(' ', $name);
    break;
}

echo 'Firstname: ' . $fname . '<br />';
echo 'Middlename: ' . $mname . '<br />';
echo 'Surname: ' . $lname;

 

 

[curtm]

Thanks!