in reply to Re^2: Find the common beginning substring in an array of strings
in thread Find the common beginning substring in an array of strings

In that case, though I'm certain the masking method others have posted is the best solution, here's a recursive/substr method, just for fun:

#!/usr/bin/env perl use Modern::Perl; sub findstr { if( @_ == 1 ){ return shift; } my $x = shift; my $y = shift; my $l = length $x > length $y ? length $y : length $x; for( my $i=$l; $i>0; $i--){ if( substr($x, 0, $i) eq substr($y, 0, $i)){ return findstr(substr($x,0,$i), @_); } } } my @array_of_test_names = ( 'History - Family History - Suite with Patient - Clinic - Select R +emove(-) Icon of Relative. - Clinic', 'History - Family History - Suite with Patient - Clinic - Save aft +er Entering values in all fields - Clinic', 'History - Family History - Suite with Patient - Clinic - Select A +dd(+) Icon of Relative. - Clinic', 'History - Family History - Suite with Patient - Clinic - Multiple + selection of relatives - Clinic', 'History - Family History - Suite with Patient - Clinic - Interact +ion Checking message not provided if procedure code is selected - Cli +nic', 'History - Family History - Suite with Patient - Clinic - Interact +ion Checking message provided if no procedure code is selected - Clin +ic', ); my $match = findstr(@array_of_test_names); say $match;

Aaron B.
Available for small or large Perl jobs; see my home node.