Add numbers to repeat names in an array

Unity Engine
1

So you know how when you duplicate something in the Hierarchy, the new thing has a number added to the name so you can tell it apart from the original? Basically, I’m trying to do that in my code

What I want to be able to do is go into an array of enemy names, find any duplicates, and add a number to the end of their name, so you can tell each of the duplicates apart.

I’ve tried Googling this, because I figured this is something that would be pretty common, but I can’t seem to find results that are relevant to what I’m trying to do.

Any help would be appreciated as always

2

You could search for: find duplicates in string array. There are many… And then you could use the result and add the numbers you want.

3

For what purpose do you need to add to it? In an array, the index already can be used as a reference to each object. But if they are gameobjects and you just want to add a number to the gameobject name, you will want to keep track of what number you are on, add that number and then increment. Or, you could just add a number to the name when you instantiate it, if that is what you are doing.

4

There’s tons of ways to do this. You could create a dictionary/map and use that to store a key->value pair where the name is the key and the value is the current ‘cnt’ as you loop over the array:

string[] names = *your name list*;

var dict = new Dictionary<string, int>();
int cnt;
for(int i = 0; i < names.Length; i++)
{
    if(dict.TryGetValue(names[i], out cnt)
    {
        cnt++;
        dict[names[i]] = cnt;
        names[i] += " (" + cnt + ")";
    }
    else
    {
        dict[names[i]] = 0;
    }
}

Or you can use some linq to get the distinct names, and then enumerate each of those. It requires more loops, but it is a little more readable.

using System.Linq;
...

string[] names = *your name list*;

foreach(var nm in names.Distinct())
{
    int cnt = 0;
    for(int i = 0; i < names.Length; i++)
    {
        if(names[i] = nm)
        {
            if (cnt > 0) names[i] += " (" + cnt + ")";
            cnt++;
        }
    }
}

Or I could think of other ways.

You basically just need to count over the list keeping track of what objects you’ve counted while doing it.

5

The names are part of a custom data type I made for characters participating in a battle. I am using a bunch of CSV files to load the characters into the battle array, each CSV represents a different character.

I made 3 party members and a single enemy, who I have put into the array 3 times, so that it’s a 3 on 3. But in the dialog texts of my battle system, all 3 of their names are identical, so it could become confusing very quickly which enemy you are attacking/which enemy is attacking you unless I can add numbers to the end of their names

6

So here is what I came up with:

for (int i = 0; i < Participants.Length; i++) {
            if (Participants [i].alignment == Alignment.Enemy) {
                string dupename = Participants [i].name;
                int duplicates = 0;
                for (int j = 0; j < Participants.Length; j++) {
                    if (Participants [j].name == dupename) {
                        if(duplicates == 0){
                            duplicates++;
                        }
                        else if (duplicates == 1) {
                            Participants [i].name = (dupename + " " + duplicates);
                            duplicates++;
                            Participants [j].name = (dupename + " " + duplicates);
                        }
                        else if (duplicates >= 2) {
                            duplicates++;
                            Participants [j].name = (dupename + " " + duplicates);
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }

@lordofduct Your solution with the nested loops got me thinking in the right frame of mind for this, so I have to thank you.

I don’t know if this is the most elegant solution, but as far as I can tell, it works great