This is starting to sound like an XY problem.

Can you give a little more context on why you "can not using array as an output or join to put the array in a string"?

We might be able to help you overcome this with this additional information.

Best,

Jim

Hello jimpudar,

Thank you for your time and effort reading my question. I have wrote it on my question:

I could use potentially split the string character by character and store the output in an array. Where from there I would remove the even elements and reform the array into string with join. But in my case this is not possible as the system that I am writing the regex does not support the split function or join it only supports C format commands syntax, so I am using Perl as a test tool before implementation.

The environment that I want to apply the regex is written in C language and only follows C syntax solutions, but since Perl is also written in C language any solution in Perl works also for the system. So I am using Perl as test bed to find a more elegant solution than mine.

I hope now it is more clear. :)

BR / Thanos

Seeking for Perl wisdom...on the process of learning...not there...yet!

char *even_chars(const char *src) {
   char *dst = malloc(strlen(src)/2 + 1);
   char *p = dst;
   while (1) {
      if (!*src) break;
      *(p++) = *(src++);
      if (!*src) break;
      src++;  
   }

   *p = 0;
   return dst;
}
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