Efficient data conversion of list of strings

A component cooperable with an input buffer and an output buffer in a computer system for converting a plurality of strings stored in said input buffer to a plurality of evenly spaced strings in said output buffer, comprising:

• means for first passing over said input buffer including:
• placing each string having a string length in said input buffer into said output buffer at a next available address,
• means, responsive to a string length being longer than a maximum string length, for setting said maximum string length to said string length and setting said string as the last incorrectly placed string in the output buffer,
• means for incrementing the next available address in the output buffer by the maximum string length plus the product of any positive difference between the current string length and previous maximum string length and the number of strings already placed in the output buffer;
• and
• means for second passing over said output buffer from the last incorrectly placed string in a direction opposite said first passing means including:
• means for moving each incorrectly placed string in said output buffer to an address being a multiple of said maximum string length from the start of the output buffer.