>>>>>>>Thanks to all (Dragan, Marcia and Tore). I wonder which solution is the fastest?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Since you have all the code, why don't you test all the solutions and let us know?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>(Edit: This reply is for Yossi)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I think Dranag's solution is the fastest and optimal, because analyze the string only once and using the minimal instruction set.
>>>>>>
>>>>>Imagine tcBig 650KB long with 10000 "A": the check will be done 10000 times,
>>>>>If the "A" is at the end of the resulting string, will take longer ;-)))
>>>>
>>>>You are right, and I didn't saw Marcia's algorithm that is excelent!
>>>>
>>>>This is the testing results of the 3 algorithms in my PC with a 50000 chars string:
>>>>
>>>>- Dragan: 52.5 secs and maintain the original order
>>>>- Tore: 30.9 secs and doesn't maintain original order (order is alphabetical because SQL)
>>>>- Marcia: 1.4 secs and maintain the original order => WINNER!
>>>>
>>>>Congrats Marcia! :D
>>>
>>>hmmm, Is it too late to enter the compiteition?
>>>
>>>

FUNCTION NonDupe(cString)
>>>LOCAL cNewStr 
>>> 
>>>cNewStr =""
>>>DO WHILE LEN(cString) > 0
>>>	cNewStr = cNewStr + LEFT(cString,1)
>>>	cString = STRTRAN(cString, LEFT(cString,1))
>>>ENDDO
>>>RETURN cNewStr
>>>ENDFUNC

>>>
>>>Which is shorter and faster than Marcia's alghorithm by 40% in my testing
>>>
>>>But all are nothing compared when you've got some C++ code working for you.
>>>The FoxTools.fll contains a function REDUCE() which is extremely fast on eliminating characters from a string.
>>>It has been written to reduce spaces but has a different role for other characters. It will remove them and replace with spaces.
>>>
>>>The following alghorith does not not work for detecting the space as a separate character, but if you're only concerned with non-space characters the following is about a 100 times faster than Marcia's routine.
>>>
>>>
>>>

FUNCTION NonDupe3(cString)
>>>LOCAL cNewStr 
>>> 
>>>cNewStr =""
>>>
>>>DO WHILE LEN(cString) > 0
>>>	cNewStr = cNewStr + LEFT(cString,1)
>>>	cString = LTRIM(REDUCE(cString, LEFT(cString,1)))
>>>ENDDO
>>>RETURN cNewStr
>>>ENDFUNC

>>>
>>>Walter,
>>
>>How is your entry competitive? You haven't done your own work, just refactored Marcia's entry. Easy to change what's been done rather than come up with a method yourself.
>
>John, How can be an entry of close to a 100x times faster, not be competitive?
>
>And no, my strategy is different: a cross between dragans and marcias... put on your glasses.
>On second look mine is just a minor variation on what Thomas wrote. However, I did not see that one (nor you) before I wrote mine.
>And I did not see anyone bring up REDUCE() in foxtools, did you?
>
>Boy you really have a problem with Dutch windmills huh?

Your solution was identical to Marcia including the names, with the addition of 1 new command. Great Work.. You and Naomi win the prize for developerhood...