Re: how do I split a string?

Consider using std::string for the return type, arguments and internal
representation. You can extract a char array from it anytime.
Considering errors rudimentarily to be handled by exceptions, your
routine boils down to:

#include <string>
#include <iostream>

std::string splitstring(
    const std::string& teststr, // string to split
    const std::string& beginstr, // start marker string
    const std::string& endstr // end marker string
) {
    // Locate start marker string, assumed there is no need for it
    // to be prefix of teststr.
    std::string::size_type p1 = teststr.find( beginstr );
    if ( p1 == std::string::npos )
       throw "Cannot find start marker";

    p1 += beginstr.length(); // p1 points past start marker now.

    // Locate end marker string, assumed there is no need for it
    // to be suffix of teststr.
    std::string::size_type p2 = teststr.find( endstr, p1 );
    if ( p2 == std::string::npos )
       throw "Cannot find end marker";

    // return string between p1 and p2.
    return teststr.substr( p1, p2 - p1 );
}

int main()
{
    try {
       std::cout
          << splitstring( "XXXXXtest:blah;YYYYY", "test:", ";" )
          << std::endl;
    }
    catch ( const std::string& ex ) {
       std::cout << "EXCEPTION: " << ex << std::endl;
    }

    return 0;
}

best,

    MiB.

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