Nerd Warning: POD abuse here :O|

<perlcode>

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;

=SUMMARY

   This code filters special characters out of a string.  NOTE that in this
   code, characters considered to be "normal" are those of the universal
   ISO-8859-1 Latin character set.  This is particulary useful in CGI scripts
   that work with unicode or for those looking for a saftey net when running
   CGI scripts from non-Latin-based locales.

   The code could be further optimized without too much effort, but it's good
   enough for most applications as is and I'm leaving it alone to avoid further
   obfuscation.

=cut

# This next line just lets me move a big example text block to the end of the
# script instead of stuffing it in right here.
use vars qw( $ex );

# The code which filters out non-ASCII characters in a string
my(@asc,@esc) = ((),()); my(@chars) = split(//,${\eval('"'.$ex.'"')});
my($IN) = sub { my($c) = shift; foreach (@_) { return 1 if ($c==$_) } 0 };
my($nOK) = sub { my($c) = shift||''; return(0) unless length($c);$c=ord$c;
($c >255) ? 1 : &$IN($c,(0..9,11,12,14..31,127,129,139..145,157,158,173))};
foreach (@chars) { if (&$nOK($_)) { push(@esc,$_) } else { push(@asc,$_) } }


=AND NOW FOR AN EXAMPLE

   The rest of this code is a quick demo of the filtering code.  The example
   filters out all the non-ASCII characters to display the text of the first
   chapter in the book of Genesis as it appears in the King James version of
   the Old Testament, which is found in the Bible.  In order to show that the
   code really got rid of any junk characters, all of the non-ASCII characters
   that were filtered out will then be dumped in non-escaped form.

=cut

use Text::Wrap; $Text::Wrap::columns = 80;
print(@asc, qq[\012\012FILTERED OUT:\012\012], wrap('','',@esc), qq[\012] x 2);

=NOTE

   Non-ASCII characters in the big chunk of text down there are all escaped to
   octal format so I don't have to put a bunch of unrecognizable characters
   into this file and confuse/crash your system terminal or browser (or
   whatever else you are using to look at this).  This is probably overkill
   for a mailing list post!  Please excuse me, as I'm short on time right now.

=cut

INIT { $ex = <<'__CHR__'; $ex =~ s/\r|\n//g; }
\0121\016\040\040In\040th\010e\040beg\034inn\023ing\021\040Go\034d\040c\022rea\
021ted\034\040th\021e\040\025hea\035ven\023\040and\040th\034e\040e\023art\020h\
056\012\034\0122\040\022\040An\027d\040t\034he\040\026ear\022th\040was\010\040w
ithou\010t\040form\054\040\034and\022\040vo\026id\073\034\040an\022d\040d\027ar
\034kne\021ss\040\022was\034\040up\020on\040\022the\034\040fa\023ce\040\020of\0
12\034\040\040\040the\040\027dee\034p\056\027\040An\020d\040t\034he\040\025Spi\
026rit\034\040of\021\040Go\025d\040m\034ove\021d\040u\023pon\034\040th\023e\025
\040fa\034ce\040\020of\040\025the\034\040wa\022ter\020s\056\012\034\0123\040\02
1\040An\022d\040G\035od\040said\023\054\040\034Let\023\040th\023ere\035\040be\0
27\040li\021ght\035\072\040a\020nd\040\021the\034re\040\025was\020\040li\035g\0
20ht\056\027\012\0124\034\040\040A\021nd\040\022God\034\040sa\027w\040t\023he\0
40\034lig\025ht\054\024\040th\035at\040\023it\023\040wa\034s\040g\023ood\020\07
2\040a\034nd\040\026God\022\040di\035vid\025ed\040\022the\034\040li\027ght\024\
040\035fro\025m\040t\022he\012\034\040\040\040\021dar\022kne\034ss\056\020\012\
0125\022\040\040A\034nd\040\021God\024\040ca\035ll\024ed\040\027the\034\040li\0
21ght\026\040Da\034y\054\040\022and\020\040th\034e\040d\025ark\025nes\034s\040h
\027e\040\021cal\034led\022\040Ni\021ght\034\056\040A\023nd\040\020the\034\012\
040\040\022\040ev\024eni\034ng\040\024and\025\040t\035he\040\020mor\025nin\035g
\040w\022ere\020\040th\035e\040f\027irs\021t\040d\034ay\056\021\012\0126\020\04
0\040A\034n\027d\040G\024od\040said\054\040Let\040there\040be\040a\016\040firma
ment\040\016in\040the\040mid\016st\040of\040the\040waters\054\040and\040let\012
\040\040\040it\040di\016vide\040th\016e\040waters\040from\040the\040wate\016rs\
056\012\0127\040\016\040An\016d\040God\040m\016ade\040the\040firmam\010ent\054\
040and\040di\016vided\040the\040w\016aters\040w\016hich\040were\040under\040the
\016\012\040\040\040fir\016mament\040\016fro\016m\040the\040waters\040which\040
\016were\040ab\016ove\040the\040firmament\072\040and\040i\010t\040was\040so\056
\012\0128\040\040And\040God\040c\016all\016ed\040\016the\016\040firmament\040\0
16Hea\016ven\056\040And\040the\040e\016vening\040and\040\016the\040morning\040w
ere\012\010\040\040\040th\010e\040second\040day\056\012\0129\040\040And\040\016
God\016\040said\054\040Le\016t\040t\016he\040waters\040\016under\040the\040heav
en\040be\016\040ga\016thered\040togethe\016r\040u\016nto\040o\021ne\012\023\040
\040\040\034pla\027ce\054\023\040an\034d\040l\023et\040\025the\034\040dr\021y\0
40l\025and\035\040ap\025pe\027ar\072\034\040an\022d\040i\026t\040w\034as\040\02
3so\056\020\012\0121\035\040A\027nd\040\021God\034\040ca\027lle\024d\034\040th\
021e\040d\026ry\040\034lan\025d\040E\020art\034h\073\040\021and\025\040th\035e\
040g\020ath\025eri\034ng\022\040to\021get\034her\023\040of\023\040th\035e\040w\
023ate\021rs\012\034\040\040\040\020cal\020led\035\040he\020\040S\025eas\035\07
2\040a\022nd\040\020God\034\040sa\020w\040t\020hat\034\040it\021\040wa\022s\040
g\034ood\022\056\012\012\02611\034\040An\020d\040G\021od\040\034sai\027d\054\04
0\020Let\034\040th\024e\040e\025art\035h\040b\027rin\023g\040f\034o\025rth\024\
040gr\034ass\023\054\040t\021he\040\034her\021b\040y\023iel\034din\023g\040s\02
6eed\034\054\040a\023nd\025\012\040\040\034\040th\021e\040f\025rui\034t\040t\02
2ree\026\040yi\034eld\020ing\020\040fr\034uit\023\040af\020t\035er\040\027his\0
21\040ki\034nd\054\027\040wh\023ose\034\040se\026ed\040\026is\040\034in\040\023
its\025elf\035\054\040\025upo\025n\012\040\035\040\040t\027he\040\021ear\034th\
072\021\040an\022d\040i\034t\040w\020as\040\022so\056\034\012\0121\0232\020\040
An\034d\040t\023he\040\021ear\034th\040\021bro\023ugh\034t\040f\021ort\025h\040
g\034ras\026s\054\040\026an\027d\040h\021erb\034\040yi\022eld\026ing\034\040se\
022ed\040\021aft\034er\040\023his\021\040ki\035nd\054\023\012\040\023\040\040a\
034nd\040\021the\022\040tr\035ee\040\021yie\020ldi\034ng\040\023fru\025it\054\0
34\040wh\023ose\023\040s\034eed\021\040wa\022s\040i\034n\040i\023tse\020lf\054\
035\040af\022ter\023\040hi\035s\040k\021ind\026\072\040a\035n\024d\012\040\020\
040\040G\034od\040\026saw\040tha\035t\040i\027t\040w\023as\040\034goo\027d\056\
012\020\01213\034\040An\023d\040\025the\035\040ev\027eni\021ng\040\034and\026\0
40th\021e\040m\035orn\021ing\022\040we\034re\040\025the\023\040\034thi\020rd\04
0\025day\034\056\012\012\02214\040\020And\034\040Go\025d\040s\024aid\034\054\04
0L\021et\040\026the\034re\023\040be\020\040li\034ght\020s\040i\025n\040t\034he\
040\021fir\027mam\035ent\020\040of\021\040th\035e\040h\025e\020ave\035n\040t\02
7o\040d\021ivi\034de\012\022\040\040\040\020the\034\040da\024y\040f\025rom\034\
040th\025e\040n\022ig\034ht\073\022\040an\024d\040l\035et\040\021the\020m\040b\
034e\040f\025or\040\021sig\034ns\054\027\040an\021d\040f\034or\027\040se\023aso
\034ns\054\027\040an\020d\040f\034or\012\025\040\040\040\024day\035s\054\040\02
0and\021\040ye\035ars\024\072\012\020\01215\034\040An\020d\040l\020et\040\034th
e\021m\040b\022e\040f\034or\040\020lig\022hts\034\040in\023\040th\020e\034\040f
i\026rma\021men\034t\040o\024f\040t\025he\040\034hea\023ven\021\040to\034\040gi
\021ve\040\023lig\035ht\020\040up\027on\012\035the\020\040ea\025rth\034\072\040
a\021nd\040\020it\040\034was\023\040so\026\056\012\012\03516\040\027A\021nd\040
\034God\026\040ma\020de\040\034two\023\040gr\021eat\034\040li\022ght\021s\073\0
40\035the\020\040gr\026ea\034ter\020\040li\024ght\034\040to\021\040ru\027le\040
\034the\025\040da\023y\054\040\034and\023\040th\025e\012\040\034\040\025\040le\
023sse\034r\040l\027igh\020t\040t\034o\040rule\040\026the\034\040ni\023ght\020\
072\040h\034e\040m\023ad\027e\040t\035he\040\022sta\023rs\040\035als\020o\056\0
12\021\01217\035\040An\027d\040G\023od\040\034set\025\040th\022em\020\040in\020
\040th\035e\040f\021irm\020ame\034nt\040\022of\040\020the\034\040he\021ave\022n
\040t\034o\040g\025iv\021e\040l\034igh\020t\040u\025pon\035\040th\020e\012\040\
027\040\040e\034art\026h\054\012\021\01218\034\040An\020d\040t\024o\035\040ru\0
20le\040\020ove\035r\040t\020he\040\021day\040and\016\040over\040the\040night\0
54\016\040an\016d\040to\040di\016vide\040the\040li\016ght\016\040from\012\040\0
40\040the\040dark\010ness\072\040and\040God\040s\016aw\040\016that\040it\016\04
0wa\016s\040good\056\012\01219\040And\040the\040evening\040and\040th\016e\040mo
rni\016ng\040were\017\040th\016e\040fou\016rth\040day\056\012\0122\040A\016nd\0
40\016God\040said\054\040Let\040the\040waters\040br\016ing\016\040forth\040abu\
016ndantly\040the\040moving\040crea\016ture\040that\012\040\040\040ha\016th\040
life\054\040and\040fowl\040that\040may\040f\016ly\040above\040the\040earth\040\
016in\040\016the\040op\016en\040firmament\040of\016\012\040\040\017\040heav\016
en\056\012\01221\016\040An\016d\040God\040created\040g\016reat\040whales\054\04
0and\040every\040\016living\040creatur\016e\040that\040moveth\054\040which\012\
040\040\040the\040w\016aters\040b\016rought\040for\016th\040abun\016dantly\054\
040after\040the\016ir\040kind\054\040an\017d\040every\040wi\016nged\040fo\016wl
\012\040\040\040after\040his\040kind\072\040a\016nd\040\016God\040saw\040that\0
40i\016t\040was\040g\016ood\016\056\012\01222\040And\040G\016od\040blessed\040\
017the\016m\054\040sayi\016ng\054\040Be\016\040fruitf\016ul\054\040and\016\040m
u\016ltipl\016y\054\040and\040fill\040the\012\040\040\040wa\016ter\016s\040in\0
40the\040se\017as\054\040and\016\040le\016t\040fowl\040\016multiply\040i\016n\0
40t\016he\040earth\056\012\01223\040And\040t\016he\040even\010ing\040a\034nd\04
0\021th\025e\040m\035orn\020ing\025\040we\035re\040\025the\020\040fi\034fth\020
\040da\020y\056\012\034\01224\021\040An\025d\040\035God\025\040sa\027id\054\034
\040Le\022t\040t\026he\040\034ear\020th\040\020bri\034ng\040\023for\026th\040\0
34th\021e\040l\025ivi\034ng\040\022cre\026atu\034re\040\020aft\020er\040his\040
\010kind\054\012\040\010\040\040cattl\034e\054\040\025and\021\040cr\034eep\020i
ng\021\040th\034ing\026\054\040a\020nd\040\034bea\027st\022\040of\034\040th\025
e\040e\023art\034h\040a\024fte\021r\040h\035is\040\020kin\027d\072\040\034and\0
23\040it\025\012\040\034\040\040w\021as\040\025so\056\034\012\0122\0275\040A\02
0nd\040\034God\020\040ma\024de\040\034the\027\040be\021ast\034\040o\023f\040t\0
20he\040\034ear\020th\040\020aft\034er\040his\040\027kin\034d\054\040\022and\02
3\040ca\034ttl\022e\040\024aft\034er\040\024the\025ir\012\035\040\040\040\020ki
n\025d\054\040\035and\022\040ev\020ery\034\040th\020ing\020\040t\034hat\020\040
cr\025eep\034eth\021\040up\027on\040\034the\040ear\027th\040\034aft\027er\040\0
20his\034\040k\025ind\026\072\040a\034nd\040\021God\025\012\040\040\034\040sa\0
21w\040t\023hat\040i\034t\040w\027as\040\021goo\035d\025\056\012\012\02226\040\
034And\022\040Go\026d\040s\035aid\021\054\040L\021et\040\034us\040\027mak\020e\
040m\034an\040\024in\025\040ou\035r\040i\020mag\020e\054\040\034aft\023er\040\0
25our\034\040li\021ken\022ess\034\072\040a\020nd\040\023l\034et\040\024the\024m
\012\040\034\040\040h\027ave\040domin\034ion\020\040ov\020er\040\034the\027\040
fi\024sh\034\040of\021\040th\021e\040s\034ea\054\020\040an\025d\040o\034ver\022
\040th\020e\040f\034owl\021\040of\022\040th\035e\040\021air\023\054\040a\034nd\
012\021\040\040\040\026ove\034r\040t\027he\040\021cat\034tle\027\054\040a\021nd
\040\034ove\022r\040\021all\035\040th\027e\040e\021art\034h\054\040\025and\021\
040ov\034er\040\025eve\026ry\040\034cre\020epi\025ng\034\040th\021ing\027\040th
\034at\012\023\040\040\040\020cre\035epe\023th\040\020upo\034n\040t\026he\040\0
20ear\035th\020\056\012\012\02727\040\034So\040\023God\020\040cr\034eat\027ed\0
40\021man\034\040in\027\040hi\020s\040o\034wn\040\025im\024age\035\054\040i\027
n\040t\023he\040\034ima\027ge\040\023of\040\034God\023\040create\034d\040h\025e
\040h\024im\034\073\012\040\021\040\040m\022ale\034\040an\020d\040f\022ema\034l
e\040\021cre\020ate\034d\040h\021e\040t\022hem\034\056\012\027\01228\023\040An\
034d\040G\023od\040\020ble\034sse\023d\040t\021hem\034\054\040a\021nd\040\023Go
d\035\040sa\027id\021\040un\034to\040\021the\025m\054\040\034Be\040\025fru\021i
tf\034ul\054\020\040an\025d\040m\034ultiply\027\054\012\034\040\040\040\022and\
023\040re\034ple\025nis\021h\040t\034he\040\027ear\021th\054\034\040an\025d\040
s\024ubd\034ue\021\040it\026\072\040a\034nd\040\023hav\020e\040d\035omi\023nio\
020n\040o\034ver\026\040th\020e\040f\035ish\020\040o\021f\012\040\035\040\040t\
027he\040\025sea\034\054\040a\021nd\040\022ove\035r\040t\020he\040fowl\034\040o
f\020\040th\020e\040\034air\021\054\040a\022nd\040\034ove\020r\040e\022ver\034y
\040l\023ivi\020ng\040\034thi\023ng\040\021tha\034t\012\035\040\040\040\022mov\
021eth\034\040up\023on\040\027the\034\040ea\022rth\026\056\012\012\03429\040\02
7And\024\040Go\034d\040\026sai\023d\054\040\034Beh\023old\020\054\040I\034\040h
a\022ve\040\021giv\035en\040\024you\021\040ev\034ery\020\040h\020erb\034\040be\
027ari\021ng\040\034see\024d\054\040\020whi\035ch\040\027is\012\021\040\040\040
\034upo\020n\040t\025he\034\040fa\022ce\040\020of\040\034all\020\040th\024e\040
e\034art\027h\054\040\020and\034\040every\040\026tre\034e\054\021\040in\020\040
th\034e\040w\023hic\022h\040i\034s\040t\023he\040\021fru\034it\040\021of\012\02
3\040\040\040\035a\040t\027re\021e\040y\035iel\020din\027g\040s\034eed\024\073\
040t\027o\040y\034ou\040\027it\040\023sha\034ll\040\020be\040\024fo\034r\040m\0
25eat\027\056\012\012\0343\040\021And\025\040to\034\040ev\023ery\025\040be\034a
st\023\040of\023\040th\034e\040\021ear\022th\054\034\040an\027d\040t\024o\040e\
035ver\020y\040f\025owl\034\040of\022\040th\021e\040a\034ir\054\021\040a\027nd\
040\034to\040\025eve\023ry\012\034\040\040\040\023thi\020ng\040\034tha\023t\040
c\025ree\034pet\025h\040u\023po\034n\040t\027he\040\020ear\034th\054\040whe\026
rei\035n\040t\027her\023e\040i\035s\040l\020ife\021\054\040I\034\040h\024ave\02
3\040gi\035ven\025\012\040\040\023\040ev\034ery\022\040gr\020een\034\040he\020r
b\040\024for\034\040me\025at\027\072\040a\034nd\040\025it\040\024was\034\040so\
022\056\012\012\02031\040\034And\023\040Go\021d\040s\034aw\040\021eve\023ry\035
\040th\027ing\021\040th\034at\040\021he\040\020had\034\040ma\021de\054\025\040a
n\034d\054\040\027beh\027old\035\054\040\026it\040\026was\034\040ve\023ry\040\0
27goo\034d\056\040\025And\023\012\040\040\035\040th\021e\040e\020ven\034ing\021
\040a\020nd\040\034the\027\040mo\021rni\034ng\040\023wer\025e\040t\034he\040\02
3six\023th\040\034day\021\056\012
__CHR__

</perlcode>


--

  -Tommy Butler
   see if I'm online »http://ooopps.sourceforge.net/online

   Tommy Butler <tommy@atrixnet.com>
   phone: (817)-468-7716
   6711 Forest Park Dr
   Arlington, TX
        76001-8403

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