algorithms/cpp/zigZagConversion/zigZagConversion.cpp

// Source : https://oj.leetcode.com/problems/zigzag-conversion/
// Author : Hao Chen
// Date   : 2014-07-17

/********************************************************************************** 
* 
* The string "PAYPALISHIRING" is written in a zigzag pattern on a given number of rows like this: 
* (you may want to display this pattern in a fixed font for better legibility)
* 
* P   A   H   N
* A P L S I I G
* Y   I   R
* 
* And then read line by line: "PAHNAPLSIIGYIR"
* 
* Write the code that will take a string and make this conversion given a number of rows:
* 
* string convert(string text, int nRows);
* 
* convert("PAYPALISHIRING", 3) should return "PAHNAPLSIIGYIR".
* 
*               
**********************************************************************************/

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

string convert(string s, int nRows) {
    //The cases no need to do anything
    if (nRows<=1 || nRows>=s.size()) return s;
     
    vector<string> r(nRows);
    int row = 0;
    int step = 1;
    for(int i=0; i<s.size(); i ++) {
        if (row == nRows-1) step = -1;
        if (row == 0) step = 1;
        //cout << row <<endl;
        r[row] += s[i];
        row += step;
    }
    
    string result;
    for (int i=0; i<nRows; i++){
        result += r[i];
    }
    return result;
}

int main(int argc, char**argv){

    string s;
    int r;

    s = "PAYPALISHIRING";
    r = 3;
    cout << s << " : " << convert(s, 3) << endl;

}