How can I search faster for name/value pairs in a Delphi TStringList?

Question

I implemented language translation in an application by putting all strings at runtime in a TStringList with:

procedure PopulateStringList;
begin  
  EnglishStri         


        

Answer 1

I think that you don't use the EnglishStringList(TStringList) correctly. This is a sorted list, you add elements (strings), you sort it, but when you search, you do this by a partial string (only the name, with IndexOfName).

If you use IndexOfName in a sorted list, the TStringList can't use Dicotomic search. It use sequential search.

(this is the implementation of IndexOfName)

  for Result := 0 to GetCount - 1 do
  begin
    S := Get(Result);
    P := AnsiPos('=', S);
    if (P <> 0) and (CompareStrings(Copy(S, 1, P - 1), Name) = 0) then Exit;
  end;

I think that this is the reason of poor performance.
The alternative is use 2 TStringList:
* The first (sorted) only containts the "Name" and a pointer to the second list that contain the value; You can implement this pointer to the second list using the "pointer" of Object property.
* The second (not sorted) list containt the values.

When you search, you do it at first list; In this case you can use the Find method. when you find the name, the pointer (implemented with Object property) give you the position on second list with the value.

In this case, Find method on Sorted List is more efficient that HashList (that must execute a funcion to get the position of a value).

Regards.

Pd:Excuse-me for mistakes with english.