Convert a string to the character that it represents

Question

const char *lex1 = "\'a\'";   // prints 'a'
const char *lex2 = "\'\\t\'"; // prints '\t'
const char *lex3 = "\'0\'";   // prints '0'

How would I convert from a char * to the representative char ? For the above example, the conversion is as follows:

char lex1_converted = 'a';
char lex2_converted = '\t';
char lex3_converted = '0';

I am currently thinking of chains of if-else blocks, but there might be a better approach.

This is a homework problem related to lexical analysis with flex . Please provide the minimum hint required to comprehend the solution. Thanks!

Edit: Looks like I misinterpreted the tokenized strings in my first post :)

Answer 1

const char* lex1="your sample text";
char lex1_converted=*lex1;

this code will convert the first char of your lex1 , and if you want to convert others you had to do this

char lex1_converted=*(lex1+your_disire_index);
//example
char lex1_converted=*(lex1+1);

and also the other way is doing this

char lex1_converted=lex1[your_desire_index];

Answer 2

Please provide the minimum hint required to comprehend the solution.

A key attribute of the conversion is to detect that the source string may lack the expected format.

Below some untested sample code to get OP started.

Sorry, did not see "homework problem related to lexical analysis with flex" until late.
Non-flex, C only approach:
Pseudo code

// Return 0-255 on success
// Else return -1.
int swamp_convert(s)
  Find string length
  If length too small or string missing the two '
    return fail
  if s[1] char is not \
    if length is 3, return middle char
    return fail

  if length is 4 & character after \ is a common escaped character, (search a string)
    return corresponding value (table lookup)

   Maybe consider octal, hexadecimal, other escaped forms

   else return fail

 // Return 0-255 on success
 // Else return -1.
 int swamp_convert(const char *s) {
 size_t len = strlen(s);
 if (len < 3 || s[0] != '\'' || s[len - 1] != '\'') {
 return -1;
 }
 if (s[1] != '\\') {
 return (len == 3) ? s[1] : -1;
 }

 // Common escaped single charters
 const char *escape_chars = "abtnvfr\\\'\"";
 const char *e = strchr(escape_chars, s[2]);
 if (t && len == 4) {
 return "\a\b\t\n\v\f\r\\\'\""[e - escape_chars];
 }

 // Additional code to handle \0-7, \x, \X, maybe \e ...

 return -1;
 }