Determine if a string is squeezable

From Rosetta Code
Task
Determine if a string is squeezable
You are encouraged to solve this task according to the task description, using any language you may know.

Determine if a character string is   squeezable.

And if so,   squeeze the string   (by removing any number of a   specified   immediately repeated   character).


This task is very similar to the task     Determine if a character string is collapsible     except that only a specified character is   squeezed   instead of any character that is immediately repeated.


If a character string has a specified   immediately repeated   character(s),   the repeated characters are to be deleted (removed),   but not the primary (1st) character(s).


A specified   immediately repeated   character is any specified character that is   immediately   followed by an identical character (or characters).   Another word choice could've been   duplicated character,   but that might have ruled out   (to some readers)   triplicated characters   ···   or more.


{This Rosetta Code task was inspired by a newly introduced   (as of around November 2019)   PL/I   BIF:   squeeze.}


Examples

In the following character string with a specified   immediately repeated   character of   e:


 The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck! 


Only the 2nd   e   is an specified repeated character,   indicated by an underscore (above),   even though they (the characters) appear elsewhere in the character string.


So, after squeezing the string, the result would be:

 The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck! 



Another example: In the following character string,   using a specified immediately repeated character   s:

 headmistressship 


The "squeezed" string would be:

 headmistreship 


Task

Write a subroutine/function/procedure/routine···   to locate a   specified immediately repeated   character and   squeeze   (delete)   them from the character string.   The character string can be processed from either direction.


Show all output here, on this page:

  •   the   specified repeated character   (to be searched for and possibly squeezed):
  •   the   original string and its length
  •   the resultant string and its length
  •   the above strings should be "bracketed" with   <<<   and   >>>   (to delineate blanks)
  •   «««Guillemets may be used instead for "bracketing" for the more artistic programmers,   shown used here»»»


Use (at least) the following five strings,   all strings are length seventy-two (characters, including blanks),   except the 1st string:

                                                                                  immediately
 string                                                                            repeated
 number                                                                            character
                                                                                     ( ↓   a blank,  a minus,  a seven,  a period)
        ╔╗
   1    ║╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗    ' '    ◄■■■■■■  a null string  (length zero)
   2    ║"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ║    '-'
   3    ║..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888║    '7'
   4    ║I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ║    '.'
   5    ║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║  (below)  ◄■■■■■■  has many repeated blanks
        ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝     ↑
                                                                                       │
                                                                                       │
        For the 5th string  (Truman's signature line),  use each of these  specified immediately  repeated characters:
                                  •  a blank
                                  •  a minus
                                  •  a lowercase  r


Note:   there should be seven results shown,   one each for the 1st four strings,   and three results for the 5th string.

Other tasks related to string operations:
Metrics
Counting
Remove/replace
Anagrams/Derangements/shuffling
Find/Search/Determine
Formatting
Song lyrics/poems/Mad Libs/phrases
Tokenize
Sequences



11l

Translation of: Java
F squeeze(input, include)
   V s = ‘’
   L(i) 0 .< input.len
      I i == 0 | input[i - 1] != input[i] | (input[i - 1] == input[i] & input[i] != include)
         s ‘’= input[i]
   R s

V testStrings = [
   ‘’,
   ‘"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ’,
   ‘..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888’,
   ‘I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ’,
   ‘                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ’,
   ‘122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999’,
   ‘The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!’,
   ‘headmistressship’
]

V testChar = [
   ‘ ’,
   ‘-’,
   ‘7’,
   ‘.’,
   ‘ -r’,
   ‘5’,
   ‘e’,
   ‘s’
]

L(testNum) 0 .< testStrings.len
   V s = testStrings[testNum]
   L(c) testChar[testNum]
      V result = squeeze(s, c)
      print("use: '#.'\nold:  #2 <<<#.>>>\nnew:  #2 <<<#.>>>\n".format(c, s.len, s, result.len, result))
Output:
use: ' '
old:   0 <<<>>>
new:   0 <<<>>>

use: '-'
old:  72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
new:  70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

use: '7'
old:  72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
new:  69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

use: '.'
old:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
new:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

use: ' '
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

use: '-'
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

use: 'r'
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

use: '5'
old:  45 <<<122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999>>>
new:  41 <<<12233344445666666777777788888888999999999>>>

use: 'e'
old:  80 <<<The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>
new:  79 <<<The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>

use: 's'
old:  16 <<<headmistressship>>>
new:  14 <<<headmistreship>>>

8080 Assembly

puts:	equ	9
	org	100h
	jmp	demo
	;;;	Squeeze the string at DE on the character in C.
	;;;	The result is written starting at HL.
squeez:	mvi	b,'$'	; Last character seen
	dcx	d	; Move pointer back one item 	
sqzlp:	mvi	m,'$'	; Stop on end of string
	inx 	d	; Increment input pointer
	ldax	d	; Grab character from input string
	cmp 	m	; End reached?
	rz		; Then stop
	cmp	c	; Was it equal to the character to squeeze?
	jnz	sqzwr	; If not, then write it to the output
	mov	a,b	; If so, is the previous character?
	cmp	c 
	jz	sqzlp	; If so, ignore this one
sqzwr:	ldax	d	; Retrieve the character again
	mov	m,a	; It goes in the output
	mov	b,a	; And it is the last character seen
	inx	h	; Increment output pointer
	jmp	sqzlp
	;;;	Print the string in DE and character in C as specified,
	;;;	squeeze the string and print the output.
prsqz:	push	b	; Save input parameters
	push	d
	mov	a,c	; Store character
	sta	chval
	lxi	d,chstr	; Print character
	mvi	c,puts
	call	5
	pop	h	; Retrieve input string pointer
	push	h
	call	prbrkt	; Print the string in brackets
	pop	d	; Retrieve both input parameters
	pop 	b	
	lxi	h,buffer
	call	squeez	; Squeeze the input string
	lxi	h,buffer	; ... fall through to print the result
	;;;	Write the string at HL and its length in brackets
prbrkt:	push	h	; Keep the pointer
	mvi	b,0FFh	; Find the length
	mvi	a,'$'	; End marker
	dcx 	h
lscan:	inr	b	; Scan through the string incrementing B
	inx	h	; and HL until the end is found
	cmp	m
	jnz	lscan
	mov	a,b	; Find high and low digit (assuming < 100)
	mvi	b,'0'-1
pdigit:	inr	b	; B = high digit
	sui	10
	jnc	pdigit
	lxi	h,bstart+1
	adi	'0'+10
	mov	m,a	; Write low digit
	dcx	h
	mov	m,b	; Write high digit
	xchg
	mvi	c,puts	; Print length and brackets
	call 	5
	pop	d	; Retrieve the string pointer
	mvi	c,puts	; Print the string
	call 	5
	lxi	d,bend	; Print the ending brackets
	mvi	c,puts
	jmp	5
	;;;	Squeeze each string by the given character
demo:	lxi	h,list	; Pointer to start of list
loop:	mov	e,m	; Load pointer and character
	inx	h
	mov	d,m
	inx	h
	mov	c,m 
	inx	h
	xra	a	; Stop when zero reached
	ora	c
	rz
	push	h	; Keep list pointer
	call	prsqz	; Squeeze and print
	pop 	h	; Restore list pointer
	jmp 	loop
	;;;	Formatting strings
chstr:	db	'Character: "'
chval:	db	'*"',13,10,'$'
bstart:	db	'##<<<$'
bend:	db	'>>>'
nl:	db	13,10,'$'
	;;;	Input strings
str1: 	db	'$'
str2:	db	'"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing'
	db	' this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln $'
str3:	db	'..11111111111111111111111111111111111111'
	db	'11111111111111111111111117777888$'
str4: 	db	'I never give ',39,'em hell, I just tell the t'
	db	'ruth, and they think it',39,'s hell. $'
str5:	db	'                                        '
	db	'            --- Harry S Truman  $'
	;;;	Pairs of string pointers and characters to squeeze
list:	dw 	str1
	db 	' '
	dw	str2
	db 	'-'
	dw	str3
	db 	'7'
	dw	str4
	db 	'.'
	dw	str5
	db 	' '
	dw	str5
	db 	'-'
	dw	str5
	db 	'r'
	dw	0
	db 	0
buffer:	equ	$
Output:
Character: " "
00<<<>>>
00<<<>>>
Character: "-"
72<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
70<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>
Character: "7"
72<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
69<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>
Character: "."
72<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
72<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
Character: " "
72<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
20<<< --- Harry S Truman >>>
Character: "-"
72<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
70<<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>
Character: "r"
72<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
71<<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

Action!

PROC Squeeze(CHAR ARRAY in,out CHAR a)
  BYTE i,j
  CHAR c

  j=1 c=0
  FOR i=1 TO in(0)
  DO
    IF in(i)#c OR in(i)#a THEN
      c=in(i)
      out(j)=c
      j==+1
    FI
  OD
  out(0)=j-1
RETURN

PROC Test(CHAR ARRAY s CHAR a)
  CHAR ARRAY c(100)
  BYTE CH=$02FC ;Internal hardware value for last key pressed

  Squeeze(s,c,a)
  PrintF("Character to squeeze: ""%C""%E",a)
  PrintF("<<<%S>>> (len=%B)%E",s,s(0))
  PrintF("<<<%S>>> (len=%B)%E",c,c(0))
  PutE()
  PrintE("Press any key to continue")
  PutE()

  DO UNTIL CH#$FF OD
  CH=$FF
RETURN

PROC Main()
  Test("",' )
  Test("""If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"" --- Abraham Lincoln ",'-)
  Test("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",'7)
  Test("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",'.)
  Test("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ",' )
  Test("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ",'-)
  Test("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ",'r)
RETURN
Output:

Screenshot from Atari 8-bit computer

Character to squeeze: " "
<<<>>> (len=0)
<<<>>> (len=0)

Character to squeeze: "-"
<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>> (len=72)
<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>> (len=70)

Character to squeeze: "7"
<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>> (len=72)
<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>> (len=69)

Character to squeeze: "."
<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> (len=72)
<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> (len=72)

Character to squeeze: " "
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (len=72)
<<< --- Harry S Truman >>> (len=20)

Character to squeeze: "-"
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (len=72)
<<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>> (len=70)

Character to squeeze: "r"
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (len=72)
<<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>> (len=71)

Ada

with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;
procedure Test_Squeezable is
   procedure Squeeze (S : in String; C : in Character) is
      Res : String (1 .. S'Length);
      Len : Natural := 0;
   begin
      Put_Line ("Character to be squeezed: '" & C & "'");
      Put_Line ("Input  = <<<" & S & ">>>, length =" & S'Length'Image);
      for I in S'Range loop
         if Len = 0 or else (S(I) /= Res(Len) or S(I) /= C) then
            Len := Len + 1;
            Res(Len) := S(I);
         end if;
      end loop;
      Put_Line ("Output = <<<" & Res (1 .. Len) & ">>>, length =" & Len'Image);
   end Squeeze;
begin
   Squeeze ("", ' ');
   Squeeze ("""If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"" --- Abraham Lincoln ", '-');
   Squeeze ("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", '7');
   Squeeze ("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", '.');
   Squeeze ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", ' ');
   Squeeze ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", '-');
   Squeeze ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", 'r');
end Test_Squeezable;
Output:
Character to be squeezed: ' '
Input  = <<<>>>, length = 0
Output = <<<>>>, length = 0
Character to be squeezed: '-'
Input  = <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>, length = 72
Output = <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>, length = 70
Character to be squeezed: '7'
Input  = <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>, length = 72
Output = <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>, length = 69
Character to be squeezed: '.'
Input  = <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>, length = 72
Output = <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>, length = 72
Character to be squeezed: ' '
Input  = <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
Output = <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>, length = 20
Character to be squeezed: '-'
Input  = <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
Output = <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 70
Character to be squeezed: 'r'
Input  = <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
Output = <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>, length = 71

ALGOL 68

BEGIN
    # returns a squeezed version of s                                     #
    #         i.e. s with adjacent duplicate c characters removed         #
    PRIO SQUEEZE = 9;
    OP   SQUEEZE = ( STRING s, CHAR c )STRING:
         IF s = ""
         THEN ""   # empty string                                         #
         ELSE      # non-empty string                                     #
            [ LWB s : UPB s ]CHAR result;
            INT     r pos   := LWB result;
            result[ r pos ] := s[ LWB s ];
            FOR s pos FROM LWB s + 1 TO UPB s DO
                IF  result[ r pos ] /= s[ s pos ]
                OR  result[ r pos ] /= c
                THEN
                    r pos +:= 1;
                    result[ r pos ] := s[ s pos ]
                FI
            OD;
            result[ LWB result : r pos ]
         FI # SQUEEZE # ;
    # test the SQUEEZE operator                                           #
    PROC test squeeze = ( STRING s, CHAR c )VOID:
        BEGIN
            STRING z = s SQUEEZE c;
            print( ( "Squeezing """, c, """ in ", "<<<", s, ">>> (length ", whole( ( UPB s + 1 ) - LWB s, 0 ), ")", newline ) );
            print( ( "       ->        ",         "<<<", z, ">>> (length ", whole( ( UPB z + 1 ) - LWB z, 0 ), ")", newline ) )
        END # test squeeze # ;
    # task test cases                                                     #
    test squeeze( "",                                                                           " " );
    test squeeze( """If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"" --- Abraham Lincoln ", "-" );
    test squeeze( "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",   "7" );
    test squeeze( "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",   "." );
    STRING hst =  "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ";
    test squeeze( hst, " " );
    test squeeze( hst, "-" );
    test squeeze( hst, "r" )
END
Output:
Squeezing " " in <<<>>> (length 0)
       ->        <<<>>> (length 0)
Squeezing "-" in <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>> (length 72)
       ->        <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>> (length 70)
Squeezing "7" in <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>> (length 72)
       ->        <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>> (length 69)
Squeezing "." in <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> (length 72)
       ->        <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> (length 72)
Squeezing " " in <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (length 72)
       ->        <<< --- Harry S Truman >>> (length 20)
Squeezing "-" in <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (length 72)
       ->        <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>> (length 70)
Squeezing "r" in <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (length 72)
       ->        <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>> (length 71)

APL

Works with: Dyalog APL
task{
    ⍝ Squeeze a string
    squeeze  (/⍨)≠∨1,1↓⊣≠¯1⌽⊢

    ⍝ Display string and length in the manner given in the task
    display  {(¯2↑⍕≢),' «««',,'»»»'}

    ⍝ Squeeze string and display output
    show  {
        r  'chr: ''',,''''
        rr,⊂' in: ',display 
        rr,⊂'out: ',display  squeeze 
        r,⊂''
    }

    ⍝ Strings from the task
    s1''
    s2'"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"'
    s2s2,' --- Abraham Lincoln '
    s3'..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111'
    s3s3,'111111111111117777888'
    s4'I never give ''em hell, I just tell the truth, and t'
    s4s4,'hey think it''s hell. '
    s5'                                                   '
    s5s5,' --- Harry S Truman  '

    ' ' show s1
    '-' show s2
    '7' show s3
    '.' show s4
    { show s5}¨' -r'  ⍝⍝ note use of 'show' here in a lambda (dfn)
}
Works with: GNU APL
#!/usr/local/bin/apl --script

r  c squeeze s
  s  0,s,0                                                  
  r  1¯2↓∊((sc)s),¨c


r  display s
  r  (¯2↑⍕≢s),' «««',s,'»»»'


r  c show s
  r   ("chr: '",c,"'")
  r  r, (" in: ",display s)
  r  r,  ("out: ",display c squeeze s)
  r  r


main
    s1''
    s2'"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"'
    s2s2,' --- Abraham Lincoln '
    s3'..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111'
    s3s3,'111111111111117777888'
    s4'I never give ''em hell, I just tell the truth, and t'
    s4s4,'hey think it''s hell. '
    s5'                                                   '
    s5s5,' --- Harry S Truman  '

    ' ' show s1
    '-' show s2
    '7' show s3
    '.' show s4

     { show s5}¨' -r'

Output:
chr: ' '      
 in:  0 «««»»»
out:  0 «««»»»
              
chr: '-'                                                                              
 in: 72 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
out: 70 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»  
                                                                                      
chr: '7'                                                                              
 in: 72 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
out: 69 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»   
                                                                                      
chr: '.'                                                                              
 in: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
out: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
                                                                                      
chr: ' '                                                                              
 in: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
out: 20 ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»                                                    
                                                                                      
chr: '-'                                                                              
 in: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
out: 70 «««                                                    - Harry S Truman  »»»  
                                                                                      
chr: 'r'                                                                              
 in: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
out: 71 «««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»»

AutoHotkey

squeezable_string(str, char){
    for i, ch in StrSplit(str){
        if (ch <> prev) || !InStr(ch, char)
            res .= ch
        prev := ch
    }
    result := "
    (ltrim
    Original string:`t" StrLen(str) " characters`t«««" str "»»»
    Squeezable Character «««" char "»»»
    Resultant string:`t" StrLen(res) " characters`t«««" res "»»»
    )"
    return result
}
Examples:
data := [""
    , """If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"" --- Abraham Lincoln "
    , "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"
    , "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "]
char := ["","-","7","."]
for i, str in data
    MsgBox % squeezable_string(str, char[i])

str := "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
for i, char in [" ","-","r"]
    MsgBox % squeezable_string(str, char)
return
Outputs:
---------------------------
Original string:    0 characters    «««»»»
Squeezable Character «««»»»
Resultant string:   0 characters    «««»»»
---------------------------
Original string:    72 characters   «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
Squeezable Character «««-»»»
Resultant string:   70 characters   «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»
---------------------------
Original string:    72 characters   «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
Squeezable Character «««7»»»
Resultant string:   69 characters   «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»
---------------------------
Original string:    72 characters   «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
Squeezable Character «««.»»»
Resultant string:   72 characters   «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
---------------------------
Original string:    72 characters   «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
Squeezable Character ««« »»»
Resultant string:   20 characters   ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»
---------------------------
Original string:    72 characters   «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
Squeezable Character «««-»»»
Resultant string:   70 characters   «««                                                    - Harry S Truman  »»»
---------------------------
Original string:    72 characters   «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
Squeezable Character «««r»»»
Resultant string:   71 characters   «««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»»
---------------------------

AWK

# syntax: GAWK -f DETERMINE_IF_A_STRING_IS_SQUEEZABLE.AWK
BEGIN {
    arr[++n] = ""                                                                                 ; arr2[n] = " "
    arr[++n] = "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln "       ; arr2[n] = "-"
    arr[++n] = "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"         ; arr2[n] = "7"
    arr[++n] = "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "         ; arr2[n] = "."
    arr[++n] = "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "         ; arr2[n] = " -r"
    arr[++n] = "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!" ; arr2[n] = "e"
    arr[++n] = "headmistressship"                                                                 ; arr2[n] = "s"
    for (i=1; i<=n; i++) {
      for (j=1; j<=length(arr2[i]); j++) {
        main(arr[i],substr(arr2[i],j,1))
      }
    }
    exit(0)
}
function main(str,chr,  c,i,new_str,prev_c) {
    for (i=1; i<=length(str); i++) {
      c = substr(str,i,1)
      if (!(prev_c == c && c == chr)) {
        prev_c = c
        new_str = new_str c
      }
    }
    printf("use: '%s'\n",chr)
    printf("old: %2d <<<%s>>>\n",length(str),str)
    printf("new: %2d <<<%s>>>\n\n",length(new_str),new_str)
}
Output:
use: ' '
old:  0 <<<>>>
new:  0 <<<>>>

use: '-'
old: 72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
new: 70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

use: '7'
old: 72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
new: 69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

use: '.'
old: 72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
new: 72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

use: ' '
old: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new: 20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

use: '-'
old: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new: 70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

use: 'r'
old: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new: 71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

use: 'e'
old: 80 <<<The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>
new: 79 <<<The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>

use: 's'
old: 16 <<<headmistressship>>>
new: 14 <<<headmistreship>>>

BASIC

10 DEFINT A-Z
20 READ N: DIM S$(N): FOR I=1 TO N: READ S$(I): NEXT
30 READ S,C$: IF S=0 THEN END
40 PRINT "Character: '";C$;"'"
50 O$=S$(S): GOSUB 200
60 I$=S$(S): GOSUB 100: GOSUB 200
70 PRINT
80 GOTO 30
100 REM --
101 REM -- Squeeze I$ on character C$, output in O$
102 REM --
105 O$ = ""
110 X = INSTR(I$,C$)
120 IF X = 0 THEN O$ = O$ + I$: RETURN
130 O$ = O$ + LEFT$(I$,X)
140 FOR X=X TO LEN(I$): IF MID$(I$,X,1) = C$ THEN NEXT
150 I$ = RIGHT$(I$,LEN(I$)-X+1)
160 GOTO 110
200 REM --
201 REM -- Display O$ and its length in brackets
202 REM --
210 PRINT USING "##";LEN(O$);
220 PRINT "<<<";O$;">>>"
230 RETURN
400 REM -- Strings
410 DATA 5
415 DATA""
420 DATA"'If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?' --- Abraham Lincoln "
430 DATA"..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"
440 DATA"I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "
450 DATA"                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
500 REM -- String index and character to squeeze
510 DATA 1," ", 2,"-", 3,"7", 4,".", 5," ", 5,"-", 5,"r", 0,""
Output:
Character: ' '
 0<<<>>>
 0<<<>>>

Character: '-'
72<<<'If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?' --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
70<<<'If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?' - Abraham Lincoln >>>

Character: '7'
72<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
69<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

Character: '.'
72<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
72<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

Character: ' '
72<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
20<<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

Character: '-'
72<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
70<<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

Character: 'r'
72<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
71<<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

BCPL

get "libhdr"

// Squeeze a string
let squeeze(in, ch, out) = valof
$(  out%0 := 0
    for i=1 to in%0
        if i=1 | in%i~=ch | in%(i-1)~=ch
        $(  out%0 := out%0 + 1
            out%(out%0) := in%i
        $)
    resultis out
$)

// Print string with brackets and length
let brackets(s) be
    writef("%N: <<<%S>>>*N", s%0, s)

// Print original and collapsed version
let show(s, ch) be
$(  let v = vec 1+255/BYTESPERWORD
    writef("Character: '%C'*N", ch)
    brackets(s)
    brackets(squeeze(s, ch, v))
    wrch('*N')
$)

let start() be
$(  let s1=""
    let s2="*"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?*" --- Abraham Lincoln "
    let s3="..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"
    let s4="I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "
    let s5="                                                     --- Harry S Truman "

    show(s1, ' ')
    show(s2, '-')
    show(s3, '7')
    show(s4, '.')
    show(s5, ' ')
    show(s5, '-')
    show(s5, 'r')
$)
Output:
Character: ' '
0: <<<>>>
0: <<<>>>

Character: '-'
72: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
70: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

Character: '7'
72: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
69: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

Character: '.'
72: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
72: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

Character: ' '
72: <<<                                                     --- Harry S Truman >>>
20: <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

Character: '-'
72: <<<                                                     --- Harry S Truman >>>
70: <<<                                                     - Harry S Truman >>>

Character: 'r'
72: <<<                                                     --- Harry S Truman >>>
71: <<<                                                     --- Hary S Truman >>>

C

Identical implementation as in Determine_if_a_string_is_collapsible, as both tasks are very similar. The Lincoln quote contains backslashes to accommodate the double quotes via the command line. strcmpi is not part of the C Standard Library, thus comment out the definition in the code if testing on a system where it is already included.

#include<string.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
#include<stdio.h>

#define COLLAPSE 0
#define SQUEEZE 1

typedef struct charList{
    char c;
    struct charList *next;
} charList;

/*
Implementing strcmpi, the case insensitive string comparator, as it is not part of the C Standard Library.

Comment this out if testing on a compiler where it is already defined.
*/

int strcmpi(char str1[100],char str2[100]){
    int len1 = strlen(str1), len2 = strlen(str2), i;

    if(len1!=len2){
        return 1;
    }

    else{
        for(i=0;i<len1;i++){
            if((str1[i]>='A'&&str1[i]<='Z')&&(str2[i]>='a'&&str2[i]<='z')&&(str2[i]-65!=str1[i]))
                return 1;
            else if((str2[i]>='A'&&str2[i]<='Z')&&(str1[i]>='a'&&str1[i]<='z')&&(str1[i]-65!=str2[i]))
                return 1;
            else if(str1[i]!=str2[i])
                return 1;
        }
    }

    return 0;
}

charList *strToCharList(char* str){
    int len = strlen(str),i;

    charList *list, *iterator, *nextChar;

    list = (charList*)malloc(sizeof(charList));
    list->c = str[0];
    list->next = NULL;

    iterator = list;

    for(i=1;i<len;i++){
        nextChar = (charList*)malloc(sizeof(charList));
        nextChar->c = str[i];
        nextChar->next = NULL;

        iterator->next = nextChar;
        iterator = nextChar;
    }

    return list;
}

char* charListToString(charList* list){
    charList* iterator = list;
    int count = 0,i;
    char* str;

    while(iterator!=NULL){
        count++;
        iterator = iterator->next;
    }

    str = (char*)malloc((count+1)*sizeof(char));
    iterator = list;

    for(i=0;i<count;i++){
        str[i] = iterator->c;
        iterator = iterator->next;
    }

    free(list);
    str[i] = '\0';

    return str;
}

char* processString(char str[100],int operation, char squeezeChar){
    charList *strList = strToCharList(str),*iterator = strList, *scout;

    if(operation==SQUEEZE){
        while(iterator!=NULL){
            if(iterator->c==squeezeChar){
                scout = iterator->next;

                while(scout!=NULL && scout->c==squeezeChar){
                        iterator->next = scout->next;
                        scout->next = NULL;
                        free(scout);
                        scout = iterator->next;
                }
            }
            iterator = iterator->next;
        }
    }

    else{
        while(iterator!=NULL && iterator->next!=NULL){
            if(iterator->c == (iterator->next)->c){
                scout = iterator->next;
                squeezeChar = iterator->c;

                while(scout!=NULL && scout->c==squeezeChar){
                        iterator->next = scout->next;
                        scout->next = NULL;
                        free(scout);
                        scout = iterator->next;
                }
            }
            iterator = iterator->next;
        }
    }

    return charListToString(strList);
}

void printResults(char originalString[100], char finalString[100], int operation, char squeezeChar){
    if(operation==SQUEEZE){
        printf("Specified Operation : SQUEEZE\nTarget Character : %c",squeezeChar);
    }

    else
        printf("Specified Operation : COLLAPSE");

    printf("\nOriginal %c%c%c%s%c%c%c\nLength : %d",174,174,174,originalString,175,175,175,(int)strlen(originalString));
    printf("\nFinal    %c%c%c%s%c%c%c\nLength : %d\n",174,174,174,finalString,175,175,175,(int)strlen(finalString));
}

int main(int argc, char** argv){
    int operation;
    char squeezeChar;

    if(argc<3||argc>4){
        printf("Usage : %s <SQUEEZE|COLLAPSE> <String to be processed> <Character to be squeezed, if operation is SQUEEZE>\n",argv[0]);
        return 0;
    }

    if(strcmpi(argv[1],"SQUEEZE")==0 && argc!=4){
        scanf("Please enter characted to be squeezed : %c",&squeezeChar);
        operation = SQUEEZE;
    }

    else if(argc==4){
        operation = SQUEEZE;
        squeezeChar = argv[3][0];
    }

    else if(strcmpi(argv[1],"COLLAPSE")==0){
        operation = COLLAPSE;
    }

    if(strlen(argv[2])<2){
        printResults(argv[2],argv[2],operation,squeezeChar);
    }

    else{
        printResults(argv[2],processString(argv[2],operation,squeezeChar),operation,squeezeChar);
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Output :

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!" t
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : t
Original «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
Length : 80
Final    «««The beter the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
Length : 79

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!" e
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : e
Original «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
Length : 80
Final    «««The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
Length : 79

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!" l
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : l
Original «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
Length : 80
Final    «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'l be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
Length : 79

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze headmistressship s
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : s
Original «««headmistressship»»»
Length : 16
Final    «««headmistreship»»»
Length : 14

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "" ""
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character :
Original «««»»»
Length : 0
Final    «««»»»
Length : 0

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln" -
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : -
Original «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln»»»
Length : 71
Final    «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln»»»
Length : 69

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze ..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888 7
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : 7
Original «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
Length : 72
Final    «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»
Length : 69

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell." .
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : .
Original «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.»»»
Length : 71
Final    «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.»»»
Length : 71

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  " " "
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character :
Original «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
Length : 72
Final    ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»
Length : 20

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  " -
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : -
Original «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
Length : 72
Final    «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»»
Length : 70

C:\My Projects\networks>a squeeze "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  " r
Specified Operation : SQUEEZE
Target Character : r
Original «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
Length : 72
Final    «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»»
Length : 71

C#

using System;
using static System.Linq.Enumerable;

public class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        SqueezeAndPrint("", ' ');
        SqueezeAndPrint("\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ", '-');
        SqueezeAndPrint("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", '7');
        SqueezeAndPrint("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", '.');
        string s = "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ";
        SqueezeAndPrint(s, ' ');
        SqueezeAndPrint(s, '-');
        SqueezeAndPrint(s, 'r');
    }

    static void SqueezeAndPrint(string s, char c) {
        Console.WriteLine($"squeeze: '{c}'");
        Console.WriteLine($"old: {s.Length} «««{s}»»»");
        s = Squeeze(s, c);
        Console.WriteLine($"new: {s.Length} «««{s}»»»");
    }

    static string Squeeze(string s, char c) => string.IsNullOrEmpty(s) ? "" :
        s[0] + new string(Range(1, s.Length - 1).Where(i => s[i] != c || s[i] != s[i - 1]).Select(i => s[i]).ToArray());
}
Output:
squeeze: ' '
old: 0 «««»»»
new: 0 «««»»»
squeeze: '-'
old: 72 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
new: 70 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»
squeeze: '7'
old: 72 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
new: 69 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»
squeeze: '.'
old: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
new: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
squeeze: ' '
old: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
new: 20 ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»
squeeze: '-'
old: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
new: 70 «««                                                    - Harry S Truman  »»»
squeeze: 'r'
old: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
new: 71 «««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»»

C++

The solution is a straightforward application of the standard library function "unique".

#include <algorithm>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

template<typename char_type>
std::basic_string<char_type> squeeze(std::basic_string<char_type> str, char_type ch) {
    auto i = std::unique(str.begin(), str.end(),
        [ch](char_type a, char_type b) { return a == ch && b == ch; });
    str.erase(i, str.end());
    return str;
}

void test(const std::string& str, char ch) {
    std::cout << "character: '" << ch << "'\n";
    std::cout << "original: <<<" << str << ">>>, length: " << str.length() << '\n';
    std::string squeezed(squeeze(str, ch));
    std::cout << "result: <<<" << squeezed << ">>>, length: " << squeezed.length() << '\n';
    std::cout << '\n';
}

int main(int argc, char** argv) {
    test("", ' ');
    test("\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ", '-');
    test("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", '7');
    test("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", '.');
    std::string truman("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ");
    test(truman, ' ');
    test(truman, '-');
    test(truman, 'r');
    return 0;
}
Output:
character: ' '
original: <<<>>>, length: 0
result: <<<>>>, length: 0

character: '-'
original: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>, length: 72
result: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>, length: 70

character: '7'
original: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>, length: 72
result: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>, length: 69

character: '.'
original: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>, length: 72
result: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>, length: 72

character: ' '
original: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length: 72
result: <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>, length: 20

character: '-'
original: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length: 72
result: <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>, length: 70

character: 'r'
original: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length: 72
result: <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>, length: 71

Clojure

(defn squeeze [s c]
  (let [spans (partition-by #(= c %) s)
        span-out (fn [span]
                   (if (= c (first span))
                     (str c)
                     (apply str span)))]
    (apply str (map span-out spans))))

(defn test-squeeze [s c]
  (let [out (squeeze s c)]
    (println (format "Input:   <<<%s>>> (len %d)\n" s (count s))
             (format "becomes: <<<%s>>> (len %d)" out (count out)))))
Output:
(def test-data [""
                "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln "
                "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"
                "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "
                "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "])

(test-squeeze (nth test-data 0) (first " "))
  Input:   <<<>>> (len 0)
  becomes: <<<>>> (len 0)
(test-squeeze (nth test-data 1) \-)
  Input:   <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>> (len 72)
  becomes: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>> (len 70)
(test-squeeze (nth test-data 2) \7)
  Input:   <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>> (len 72)
  becomes: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>> (len 69)
(test-squeeze (nth test-data 3) \.)
  Input:   <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> (len 72)
  becomes: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> (len 72)
(test-squeeze (nth test-data 4) (first " "))
  Input:   <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (len 72)
  becomes: <<< --- Harry S Truman >>> (len 20)
(test-squeeze (nth test-data 4) \-)
  Input:   <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (len 72)
  becomes: <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>> (len 70)
(test-squeeze (nth test-data 4) \r)
  Input:   <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (len 72)
  becomes: <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>> (len 71)

Cowgol

include "cowgol.coh";
include "strings.coh";

sub squeeze(ch: uint8, str: [uint8], buf: [uint8]): (r: [uint8]) is
    r := buf;
    var prev: uint8 := 0;
    while [str] != 0 loop
        if prev != ch or [str] != ch then
            prev := [str];
            [buf] := prev;
            buf := @next buf;
        end if;
        str := @next str;
    end loop;
    [buf] := 0;
end sub;

sub squeezeAndPrint(ch: uint8, str: [uint8]) is   
    sub bracketLength(str: [uint8]) is
        print_i32(StrLen(str) as uint32);
        print(" <<<");
        print(str);
        print(">>>\n");
    end sub;
    
    var buf: uint8[256];
    bracketLength(str);
    bracketLength(squeeze(ch, str, &buf[0]));
    print_nl();
end sub;

var strs: [uint8][] := {
"",
"\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ",
"..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
"I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
"                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
};

squeezeAndPrint(' ', strs[0]);
squeezeAndPrint('-', strs[1]);
squeezeAndPrint('7', strs[2]);
squeezeAndPrint('.', strs[3]);
squeezeAndPrint(' ', strs[4]);
squeezeAndPrint('-', strs[4]);
squeezeAndPrint('r', strs[4]);
Output:
0 <<<>>>
0 <<<>>>

72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

D

Translation of: C#
import std.stdio;

void squeezable(string s, char rune) {
    writeln("squeeze: '", rune, "'");
    writeln("old: <<<", s, ">>>, length = ", s.length);

    write("new: <<<");
    char last = '\0';
    int len = 0;
    foreach (c; s) {
        if (c != last || c != rune) {
            write(c);
            len++;
        }
        last = c;
    }
    writeln(">>>, length = ", len);

    writeln;
}

void main() {
    squeezable(``, ' ');
    squeezable(`"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln `, '-');
    squeezable(`..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888`, '7');
    squeezable(`I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. `, '.');

    string s = `                                                    --- Harry S Truman  `;
    squeezable(s, ' ');
    squeezable(s, '-');
    squeezable(s, 'r');
}
Output:
squeeze: ' '
old: <<<>>>, length = 0
new: <<<>>>, length = 0

squeeze: '-'
old: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>, length = 72
new: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>, length = 70

squeeze: '7'
old: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>, length = 72
new: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>, length = 69

squeeze: '.'
old: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>, length = 72
new: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>, length = 72

squeeze: ' '
old: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
new: <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>, length = 20

squeeze: '-'
old: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
new: <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 70

squeeze: 'r'
old: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
new: <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>, length = 71

Delphi

Translation of: Java
program Determine_if_a_string_is_squeezable;

{$APPTYPE CONSOLE}

uses
  System.SysUtils;

var
  TestStrings: TArray<string> = ['',
    '''If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?'' --- Abraham Lincoln ',
    '..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888',
    'I never give ''em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it''s hell. ',
    '                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ',
    '122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999',
    'The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you''ll be from help when ya get stuck!',
    'headmistressship'];
  TestChar: TArray<string> = [' ', '-', '7', '.', ' -r', '5', 'e', 's'];

function squeeze(s: string; include: char): string;
begin
  var sb := TStringBuilder.Create;
  for var i := 1 to s.Length do
  begin
    if (i = 1) or (s[i - 1] <> s[i]) or ((s[i - 1] = s[i]) and (s[i] <> include)) then
      sb.Append(s[i]
  end;
  Result := sb.ToString;
  sb.Free;
end;

begin
  for var testNum := 0 to high(TestStrings) do
  begin
    var s := TestStrings[testNum];
    for var c in TestChar[testNum] do
    begin
      var result: string := squeeze(s, c);
      writeln(format('use: "%s"'#10'old:  %2d <<<%s>>>'#10'new:  %2d <<<%s>>>'#10, [c,
        s.Length, s, result.length, result]));
    end;
  end;
  readln;
end.
Output:
use: " "
old:   0 <<<>>>
new:   0 <<<>>>

use: "-"
old:  72 <<<'If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?' --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
new:  70 <<<'If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?' - Abraham Lincoln >>>

use: "7"
old:  72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
new:  69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

use: "."
old:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
new:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

use: " "
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

use: "-"
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

use: "r"
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

use: "5"
old:  45 <<<122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999>>>
new:  41 <<<12233344445666666777777788888888999999999>>>

use: "e"
old:  80 <<<The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>
new:  79 <<<The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>

use: "s"
old:  16 <<<headmistressship>>>
new:  14 <<<headmistreship>>>

EasyLang

func$ squeeze s$ x$ .
   for c$ in strchars s$
      if c$ <> x$ or c$ <> cc$
         r$ &= c$
      .
      cc$ = c$
   .
   return r$
.
proc do s$ x$ . .
   print "'" & x$ & "'"
   print "«««" & s$ & "»»» (" & len s$ & ")"
   r$ = squeeze s$ x$
   print "«««" & r$ & "»»» (" & len r$ & ")"
   print ""
.
do "" " "
do "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln " "-"
do "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888" "7"
do "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. " "."
do "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  " " "
do "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  " "-"
do "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  " "r"

F#

// Determine if a string is squeezable. Nigel Galloway: June 9th., 2020
let squeeze n i=if String.length n=0 then None else
                let fN=let mutable g=n.[0] in (fun n->if n=i && n=g then false else g<-n; true)
                let fG=n.[0..0]+System.String(n.[1..].ToCharArray()|>Array.filter fN)
                if fG.Length=n.Length then None else Some fG
let isSqueezable n g=match squeeze n g with
                      Some i->printfn "%A squeezes <<<%s>>> (length %d) to <<<%s>>> (length %d)" g n n.Length i i.Length
                     |_->printfn "%A does not squeeze <<<%s>>> (length %d)" g n n.Length

isSqueezable "" ' '
isSqueezable "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln " '-'
isSqueezable "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888" '7'
isSqueezable "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. " '.'
let fN=isSqueezable "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  " in fN ' '; fN '-'; fN 'r'
Output:
' ' does not squeeze <<<>>> (length 0)
'-' squeezes <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>> (length 72) to <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>> (length 70)
'7' squeezes <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>> (length 72) to <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>> (length 69)
'.' does not squeeze <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> (length 72)
' ' squeezes <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (length 72) to <<< --- Harry S Truman >>> (length 20)
'-' squeezes <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (length 72) to <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>> (length 70)
'r' squeezes <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (length 72) to <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>> (length 71)

Factor

USING: formatting fry io kernel math sbufs sequences strings ;
IN: rosetta-code.squeeze

: (squeeze) ( str c -- new-str )
    [ unclip-slice 1string >sbuf ] dip
    '[ over last over [ _ = ] both? [ drop ] [ suffix! ] if ]
    reduce >string ;

: squeeze ( str c -- new-str )
    over empty? [ 2drop "" ] [ (squeeze) ] if ;

: .str ( str -- ) dup length "«««%s»»» (length %d)\n" printf ;
 
: show-squeeze ( str c -- )
    dup "Specified character: '%c'\n" printf
    [ "Before squeeze: " write drop .str ]
    [ "After  squeeze: " write squeeze .str ] 2bi nl ;

: squeeze-demo ( -- )
    {
        ""
        "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln "
        "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"
        "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "
    } "\0-7." [ show-squeeze ] 2each

    "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  "
    [ CHAR: space ] [ CHAR: - ] [ CHAR: r ] tri
    [ show-squeeze ] 2tri@ ;
 
MAIN: squeeze-demo
Output:
Specified character: ' '
Before squeeze: «««»»» (length 0)
After  squeeze: «««»»» (length 0)

Specified character: '-'
Before squeeze: «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»» (length 72)
After  squeeze: «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»» (length 70)

Specified character: '7'
Before squeeze: «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»» (length 72)
After  squeeze: «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»» (length 69)

Specified character: '.'
Before squeeze: «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (length 72)
After  squeeze: «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (length 72)

Specified character: ' '
Before squeeze: «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
After  squeeze: ««« --- Harry S Truman »»» (length 20)

Specified character: '-'
Before squeeze: «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
After  squeeze: «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»» (length 70)

Specified character: 'r'
Before squeeze: «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
After  squeeze: «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»» (length 71)

Fortran

program main
implicit none
character(len=:),allocatable :: strings(:)

strings=[ character(len=72) :: &
'', &
'"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln',  &
'..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888', &
'I never give ''em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it''s hell.',&
'                                                    --- Harry S Truman'    &
]

   call printme( trim(strings(1)), ' ' )
   call printme( strings(2:4),     ['-','7','.'] )
   call printme( strings(5),       [' ','-','r'] )

contains

impure elemental subroutine printme(str,chr)
character(len=*),intent(in) :: str
character(len=1),intent(in) :: chr
character(len=:),allocatable :: answer
   write(*,'(a)')repeat('=',9)
   write(*,'("IN:   <<<",g0,">>>")')str
   answer=compact(str,chr)
   write(*,'("OUT:  <<<",g0,">>>")')answer
   write(*,'("LENS: ",*(g0,1x))')"from",len(str),"to",len(answer),"for a change of",len(str)-len(answer)
   write(*,'("CHAR: ",g0)')chr
end subroutine printme

elemental function compact(str,charp) result (outstr)

character(len=*),intent(in)  :: str
character(len=1),intent(in)  :: charp
character(len=:),allocatable :: outstr
character(len=1)             :: ch, last_one
integer                      :: i, pio ! position in output

   outstr=repeat(' ',len(str))      ! start with a string big enough to hold any output
   if(len(outstr)==0)return         ! handle edge condition
   last_one=str(1:1)                ! since at least this long start output with first character
   outstr(1:1)=last_one
   pio=1

   do i=2,len(str)
      ch=str(i:i)
      pio=pio+merge(0,1, ch.eq.last_one.and.ch.eq.charp) ! decide whether to advance before saving
      outstr(pio:pio)=ch  ! store new one or overlay the duplcation
      last_one=ch
   enddo

   outstr=outstr(:pio)              ! trim the output string to just what was set
end function compact

end program main
}
Output:
=========
IN:   <<<>>>
OUT:  <<<>>>
LENS: from 0 to 0 for a change of 0
CHAR:  
=========
IN:   <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
OUT:  <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>
LENS: from 72 to 70 for a change of 2
CHAR: -
=========
IN:   <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
OUT:  <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>
LENS: from 72 to 69 for a change of 3
CHAR: 7
=========
IN:   <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
OUT:  <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
LENS: from 72 to 72 for a change of 0
CHAR: .
=========
IN:   <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
OUT:  <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>
LENS: from 72 to 20 for a change of 52
CHAR:  
=========
IN:   <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
OUT:  <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>
LENS: from 72 to 70 for a change of 2
CHAR: -
=========
IN:   <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
OUT:  <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>
LENS: from 72 to 71 for a change of 1
CHAR: r



FreeBASIC

function squeeze(byval s as string,target as string) as string
      dim as string g
      dim as long n
      for n =0 to len(s)-2
            if s[n]=asc(target) then
            if s[n]<>s[n+1]  then g+=chr(s[n])
           else
            g+=chr(s[n])
            end if
      next n
      if len(s) then g+=chr(s[n])
      return g
end function

dim as string z,o
        print "character "" """
        o=""
        print "original ";o;tab(90);"(";len(o);")"
        z=Squeeze("", " ")
        print "squeeze  "; z;tab(90);"(";len(z);")"
        print
        print "character ""-"""
        o= """If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"" --- Abraham Lincoln "  
        print "original ";o;tab(90);"(";len(o);")"
        z=Squeeze(o,"-")
        print "squeeze  "; z;tab(90);"(";len(z);")"
        print
        print "character ""7"""
        o="..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"
        print "original ";o;tab(90);"(";len(o);")"
        z=Squeeze(o,"7")
        print "squeeze  "; z;tab(90);"(";len(z);")"
        print
        print "character ""."""
        o="I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "
        print "original ";o;tab(90);"(";len(o);")"
        z=Squeeze(o,".")
        print "squeeze  ";z ;tab(90);"(";len(z);")"
        print
        dim as string s = "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
        print "character "" """
        o="                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
        print "original ";o;tab(90);"(";len(o);")"
        z=Squeeze(s, " ")
        print "squeeze  ";z ;tab(90);"(";len(z);")"
        print
         print "character ""-"""
        o="                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
        print "original ";o;tab(90);"(";len(o);")"
        z=Squeeze(s, "-")
        print "squeeze  "; z;tab(90);"(";len(z);")"
        print
          print "character ""r"""
        o="                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
        print "original ";o;tab(90);"(";len(o);")"
        z=Squeeze(s, "r")
        print "squeeze  "; z;tab(90);"(";len(z);")"
        sleep
Output:
character " "
original                                                                                 ( 0)
squeeze                                                                                  ( 0)

character "-"
original "If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln         ( 72)
squeeze  "If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln           ( 70)

character "7"
original ..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888        ( 72)
squeeze  ..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888           ( 69)

character "."
original I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.         ( 72)
squeeze  I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.         ( 72)

character " "
original                                                     --- Harry S Truman          ( 72)
squeeze   --- Harry S Truman                                                             ( 20)

character "-"
original                                                     --- Harry S Truman          ( 72)
squeeze                                                      - Harry S Truman            ( 70)

character "r"
original                                                     --- Harry S Truman          ( 72)
squeeze                                                      --- Hary S Truman           ( 71)

Frink

squeeze[str, ch] :=
{
   println["Use: '$ch'"]
   println["old: " + length[str] + " <<<$str>>>"]
   str =~ subst["($ch)\\1+", "$$1", "g"]
   println["new: " + length[str] + " <<<$str>>>"]
}

lines = [["", [""]],
         [""""If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln """, ["-"]],
["..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", ["7"]],
["I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", ["."]],
["                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ",[" ", "-", "r"]]]

for [line, chars] = lines
   for char = chars
      println[squeeze[line, char]]
Output:
Use: ''
old: 0 <<<>>>
new: 0 <<<>>>

Use: '-'
old: 72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
new: 70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

Use: '7'
old: 72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
new: 69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

Use: '.'
old: 72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
new: 69 <<<I never give 'em hel, I just tel the truth, and they think it's hel. >>>

Use: ' '
old: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new: 20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

Use: '-'
old: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new: 70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

Use: 'r'
old: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new: 71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

Go

package main

import "fmt"

// Returns squeezed string, original and new lengths in
// unicode code points (not normalized).
func squeeze(s string, c rune) (string, int, int) {
    r := []rune(s)
    le, del := len(r), 0
    for i := le - 2; i >= 0; i-- {
        if r[i] == c && r[i] == r[i+1] {
            copy(r[i:], r[i+1:])
            del++
        }
    }
    if del == 0 {
        return s, le, le
    }
    r = r[:le-del]
    return string(r), le, len(r)
}

func main() {
    strings := []string{
        "",
        `"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln `,
        "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
        "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
        "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  ",
        "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!",
        "headmistressship",
        "aardvark",
        "😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌",
    }
    chars := [][]rune{{' '}, {'-'}, {'7'}, {'.'}, {' ', '-', 'r'}, {'e'}, {'s'}, {'a'}, {'😍'}}

    for i, s := range strings {
        for _, c := range chars[i] {
            ss, olen, slen := squeeze(s, c)
            fmt.Printf("specified character = %q\n", c)
            fmt.Printf("original : length = %2d, string = «««%s»»»\n", olen, s)
            fmt.Printf("squeezed : length = %2d, string = «««%s»»»\n\n", slen, ss)
        }
    }
}
Output:
specified character = ' '
original : length =  0, string = «««»»»
squeezed : length =  0, string = «««»»»

specified character = '-'
original : length = 72, string = «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
squeezed : length = 70, string = «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»

specified character = '7'
original : length = 72, string = «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
squeezed : length = 69, string = «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»

specified character = '.'
original : length = 72, string = «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
squeezed : length = 72, string = «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»

specified character = ' '
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 20, string = ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»

specified character = '-'
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 70, string = «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»»

specified character = 'r'
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 71, string = «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»»

specified character = 'e'
original : length = 80, string = «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
squeezed : length = 79, string = «««The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»

specified character = 's'
original : length = 16, string = «««headmistressship»»»
squeezed : length = 14, string = «««headmistreship»»»

specified character = 'a'
original : length =  8, string = «««aardvark»»»
squeezed : length =  7, string = «««ardvark»»»

specified character = '😍'
original : length =  8, string = «««😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌»»»
squeezed : length =  6, string = «««😍😀🙌💃😍🙌»»»

Groovy

Translation of: Java
class StringSqueezable {
    static void main(String[] args) {
        String[] testStrings = [
                "",
                "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ",
                "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
                "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
                "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ",
                "122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999",
                "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!",
                "headmistressship"
        ]

        String[] testChar = [" ", "-", "7", ".", " -r", "5", "e", "s"]
        for (int testNum = 0; testNum < testStrings.length; testNum++) {
            String s = testStrings[testNum]
            for (char c : testChar[testNum].toCharArray()) {
                String result = squeeze(s, c)
                System.out.printf("use: '%c'%nold:  %2d <<<%s>>>%nnew:  %2d <<<%s>>>%n%n", c, s.length(), s, result.length(), result)
            }
        }
    }

    private static String squeeze(String input, char include) {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder()
        for (int i = 0; i < input.length(); i++) {
            if (i == 0 || input.charAt(i - 1) != input.charAt(i) || (input.charAt(i - 1) == input.charAt(i) && input.charAt(i) != include)) {
                sb.append(input.charAt(i))
            }
        }
        return sb.toString()
    }
}
Output:
use: ' '
old:   0 <<<>>>
new:   0 <<<>>>

use: '-'
old:  72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
new:  70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

use: '7'
old:  72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
new:  69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

use: '.'
old:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
new:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

use: ' '
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

use: '-'
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

use: 'r'
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

use: '5'
old:  45 <<<122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999>>>
new:  41 <<<12233344445666666777777788888888999999999>>>

use: 'e'
old:  80 <<<The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>
new:  79 <<<The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>

use: 's'
old:  16 <<<headmistressship>>>
new:  14 <<<headmistreship>>>

Haskell

import Text.Printf (printf)

input :: [(String, Char)]
input = [ ("", ' ')
        , ("The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!", 'e')
        , ("headmistressship", 's')
        , ("\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ", '-')
        , ("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", '7')
        , ("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", '.')
        , ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", 'r')
        , ("aardvark", 'a')
        , ("😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌", '😍')
        ]

collapse :: Eq a => [a] -> a -> [a]
collapse s c = go s
  where go [] = []
        go (x:y:xs)
          | x == y && x == c = go (y:xs)
          | otherwise        = x : go (y:xs)
        go xs = xs

main :: IO ()
main = 
  mapM_ (\(a, b, c) -> printf "squeeze: '%c'\nold: %3d «««%s»»»\nnew: %3d «««%s»»»\n\n" c (length a) a (length b) b) 
  $ (\(s, c) -> (s, collapse s c, c)) <$> input
Output:
squeeze: ' '
old:   0 «««»»»
new:   0 «««»»»

squeeze: 'e'
old:  80 «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
new:  79 «««The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»

squeeze: 's'
old:  16 «««headmistressship»»»
new:  14 «««headmistreship»»»

squeeze: '-'
old:  72 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
new:  70 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»

squeeze: '7'
old:  72 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
new:  69 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»

squeeze: '.'
old:  72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
new:  72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»

squeeze: 'r'
old:  72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
new:  71 «««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»»

squeeze: 'a'
old:   8 «««aardvark»»»
new:   7 «««ardvark»»»

squeeze: '😍'
old:   8 «««😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌»»»
new:   6 «««😍😀🙌💃😍🙌»»»

J

Invoking j with the standard startup scripts includes definitions to delete excess, leading, and trailing blanks. deb corresponds to task squeeze, additionally removing leading and trailing blanks. The definitions are

   dlb
}.~ (=&' ' (i.) 0:)
   dtb
#~ ([: +./\. ' '&~:)
   deb
#~ ((+.) (1: |. (> </\)))@(' '&~:)

Onward with the task. squeeze makes a logical vector of inequality and uses Boolean algebra against itself shifted by one position to mask the text.

squeeze=: (] #~ 1 (0}) [: (+. _1&|.) ~:) ::(''"_)

main=: dyad define
 squoze=. x squeeze y
 msg=. ,: 'squeeze ''' , x , ''' reduces the length from ',(":#y),' to ',(":#squoze)
 msg=. msg , '<<<' ,  y , '>>>'
 msg=. msg , '<<<' ,  squoze , '>>>'
)

to_be_squished=: noun define

"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln
..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888
I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.
                                                    --- Harry S Truman
                                                    --- Harry S Truman
                                                    --- Harry S Truman
)
   'x' squeeze 'xabxxcxdxxx'  NB. example
xabxcxdx


   ,.' -7. -r' main&.> <;._2 to_be_squished
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
squeeze ' ' reduces the length from 0 to 0                                    
<<<>>>                                                                        
<<<>>>                                                                        
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
squeeze '-' reduces the length from 71 to 69                                  
<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln>>> 
<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln>>>   
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
squeeze '7' reduces the length from 72 to 69                                  
<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>   
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
squeeze '.' reduces the length from 71 to 71                                  
<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.>>> 
<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.>>> 
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
squeeze ' ' reduces the length from 70 to 19                                  
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman>>>  
<<< --- Harry S Truman>>>                                                     
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
squeeze '-' reduces the length from 70 to 68                                  
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman>>>  
<<<                                                    - Harry S Truman>>>    
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
squeeze 'r' reduces the length from 70 to 69                                  
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman>>>  
<<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman>>>   
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

APL translation

Translation of: APL
NB. Note |.!.1 here instead of the APL version's 1 , }. to more elegantly handle the null case in J
sq =: ] #~ ~: +. _1 |.!.1 ] ~: 1 |. ]

Run:

require'format/printf'  NB.  For formatting the output
'C I' =: <"1 |: P =: ; ;"0 1^:(0<#@[)&.>/"1 (({.~ ; (}.~>:)) i.&'|')&> LF cut noun define
|
-|"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln 
7|..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888
.|I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. 
 -r|                                                    --- Harry S Truman  
)
S =: sq&.>/"1 P
smoutput 'chr: ''%s''\nin:  %d «««%s»»»\nout: %d «««%s»»»\n' sprintf C ,. (#&.>I),.I ,. (#&.>S),.S
Output:
chr: ''
in:  0 «««»»»
out: 0 «««»»»
                                                                                                                                                   
chr: '-'
in:  72 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
out: 70 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»
  
chr: '7'
in:  72 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
out: 69 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»
   
chr: '.'
in:  72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
out: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»

chr: ' '
in:  72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
out: 20 ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»
                                                    
chr: '-'
in:  72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
out: 70 «««                                                    - Harry S Truman  »»»
  
chr: 'r'
in:  72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
out: 71 «««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»»

Java

//  Title:  Determine if a string is squeezable

public class StringSqueezable {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String[] testStrings = new String[] {
                "", 
                "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ", 
                "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", 
                "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", 
                "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ",
                "122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999",
                "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!",
                "headmistressship"};

        String[] testChar = new String[] {
                " ", 
                "-", 
                "7", 
                ".", 
                " -r",
                "5",
                "e",
                "s"};
        for ( int testNum = 0 ; testNum < testStrings.length ; testNum++ ) {
            String s = testStrings[testNum];
            for ( char c : testChar[testNum].toCharArray() ) {
                String result = squeeze(s, c);
                System.out.printf("use: '%c'%nold:  %2d <<<%s>>>%nnew:  %2d <<<%s>>>%n%n", c, s.length(), s, result.length(), result);
            }
        }
    }
    
    private static String squeeze(String in, char include) {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
        for ( int i = 0 ; i < in.length() ; i++ ) {
            if ( i == 0 || in.charAt(i-1) != in.charAt(i) || (in.charAt(i-1) == in.charAt(i) && in.charAt(i) != include)) {
                sb.append(in.charAt(i));
            }
        }
        return sb.toString();
    }

}
Output:
use: ' '
old:   0 <<<>>>
new:   0 <<<>>>

use: '-'
old:  72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
new:  70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

use: '7'
old:  72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
new:  69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

use: '.'
old:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
new:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

use: ' '
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

use: '-'
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

use: 'r'
old:  72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
new:  71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

use: '5'
old:  45 <<<122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999>>>
new:  41 <<<12233344445666666777777788888888999999999>>>

use: 'e'
old:  80 <<<The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>
new:  79 <<<The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>

use: 's'
old:  16 <<<headmistressship>>>
new:  14 <<<headmistreship>>>

jq

Preamble

The PL/I documentation makes it clear that all runs of the specified character are to be squeezed:

  • "SQUEEZE returns a string that reduces all multiple occurrences of a [specified] character to one ..."
  • The example given is in effect 'SabcSS:SSdefSSSghSS' => 'SabcS:SdefSghS' where S signifies a single space character.

jq program

# Assume $c is specified as a single character correctly
def squeeze($c): gsub("[\($c)]+"; $c);

def Guillemets: "«««\(.)»»»";

def Squeeze(s; $c):
  "Squeeze character: \($c)",
   (s | "Original: \(Guillemets) has length \(length)",
        (squeeze($c) | "result is \(Guillemets) with length \(length)")),
   "";

Demo

 Squeeze("\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln "; "-"),
   Squeeze ("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"; "7"),
   Squeeze ("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "; "."),
   Squeeze ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "; " "),
   Squeeze ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "; "-"),
   Squeeze ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "; "r"),

   Squeeze("SabcSS:SSdefSSSghSS";"S")
Output:
Squeeze character: -
Original: «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»» has length 72
result is «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»» with length 70

Squeeze character: 7
Original: «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»» has length 72
result is «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»» with length 69

Squeeze character: .
Original: «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» has length 72
result is «««.»»» with length 1

Squeeze character:  
Original: «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» has length 72
result is ««« --- Harry S Truman »»» with length 20

Squeeze character: -
Original: «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» has length 72
result is «««                                                    - Harry S Truman  »»» with length 70

Squeeze character: r
Original: «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» has length 72
result is «««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»» with length 71

Squeeze character: S
Original: «««SabcSS:SSdefSSSghSS»»» has length 19
result is «««SabcS:SdefSghS»»» with length 14

Julia

const teststringpairs = [
    ("", ' '),
    (""""If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln """, '-'),
    ("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", '7'),
    ("""I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. """, '.'),
    ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", ' '),
    ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", '-'),
    ("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", 'r')]

function squeezed(s, c)
    t = isempty(s) ? "" : s[1:1]
    for x in s[2:end]
        if x != t[end] || x != c
            t *= x
        end
    end
    t
end
 
for (s, c) in teststringpairs
    n, t = length(s), squeezed(s, c)
    println("«««$s»»» (length $n)\n",
        s == t ? "is not squeezed, so remains" : "squeezes to", 
        ":\n«««$t»»» (length $(length(t))).\n")
end
Output:
«««»»» (length 0)
is not squeezed, so remains:
«««»»» (length 0).

«««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»» (length 72)
squeezes to:
«««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»» (length 70).

«««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»» (length 72)
squeezes to:
«««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»» (length 69).

«««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (length 72)
is not squeezed, so remains:
«««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (length 72).

«««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
squeezes to:
««« --- Harry S Truman »»» (length 20).

«««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
squeezes to:
«««                                                    - Harry S Truman  »»» (length 70).

«««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
squeezes to:
«««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»» (length 71).

Kotlin

Translation of: Java
fun main() {
    val testStrings = arrayOf(
        "",
        "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ",
        "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
        "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
        "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ",
        "122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999",
        "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!",
        "headmistressship")
    val testChar = arrayOf(
        " ",
        "-",
        "7",
        ".",
        " -r",
        "5",
        "e",
        "s")
    for (testNum in testStrings.indices) {
        val s = testStrings[testNum]
        for (c in testChar[testNum].toCharArray()) {
            val result = squeeze(s, c)
            System.out.printf("use: '%c'%nold:  %2d &gt;&gt;&gt;%s&lt;&lt;&lt;%nnew:  %2d &gt;&gt;&gt;%s&lt;&lt;&lt;%n%n", c, s.length, s, result.length, result)
        }
    }
}

private fun squeeze(input: String, include: Char): String {
    val sb = StringBuilder()
    for (i in input.indices) {
        if (i == 0 || input[i - 1] != input[i] || input[i - 1] == input[i] && input[i] != include) {
            sb.append(input[i])
        }
    }
    return sb.toString()
}
Output:
use: ' '
old:   0 >>><<<
new:   0 >>><<<

use: '-'
old:  72 >>>"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln <<<
new:  70 >>>"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln <<<

use: '7'
old:  72 >>>..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888<<<
new:  69 >>>..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888<<<

use: '.'
old:  72 >>>I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. <<<
new:  72 >>>I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. <<<

use: ' '
old:  72 >>>                                                    --- Harry S Truman  <<<
new:  20 >>> --- Harry S Truman <<<

use: '-'
old:  72 >>>                                                    --- Harry S Truman  <<<
new:  70 >>>                                                    - Harry S Truman  <<<

use: 'r'
old:  72 >>>                                                    --- Harry S Truman  <<<
new:  71 >>>                                                    --- Hary S Truman  <<<

use: '5'
old:  45 >>>122333444455555666666777777788888888999999999<<<
new:  41 >>>12233344445666666777777788888888999999999<<<

use: 'e'
old:  80 >>>The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!<<<
new:  79 >>>The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!<<<

use: 's'
old:  16 >>>headmistressship<<<
new:  14 >>>headmistreship<<<

Lua

Translation of: D
function squeezable(s, rune)
    print("squeeze: `" .. rune .. "`")
    print("old: <<<" .. s .. ">>>, length = " .. string.len(s))

    local last = nil
    local le = 0
    io.write("new: <<<")
    for c in s:gmatch"." do
        if c ~= last or c ~= rune then
            io.write(c)
            le = le + 1
        end
        last = c
    end
    print(">>>, length = " .. le)

    print()
end

function main()
    squeezable("", ' ');
    squeezable("\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ", '-')
    squeezable("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", '7')
    squeezable("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", '.')
 
    local s = "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
    squeezable(s, ' ')
    squeezable(s, '-')
    squeezable(s, 'r')
end

main()
Output:
squeeze: ` `
old: <<<>>>, length = 0
new: <<<>>>, length = 0

squeeze: `-`
old: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>, length = 72
new: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>, length = 70

squeeze: `7`
old: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>, length = 72
new: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>, length = 69

squeeze: `.`
old: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>, length = 72
new: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>, length = 72

squeeze: ` `
old: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
new: <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>, length = 20

squeeze: `-`
old: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
new: <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 70

squeeze: `r`
old: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>, length = 72
new: <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>, length = 71

Mathematica / Wolfram Language

ClearAll[Squeeze]
Squeeze[s_String,sq_String]:=StringReplace[s,x:(sq..):>sq]
s={
  "",
  "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln", 
  "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
  "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
  "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
};
Squeeze[s[[1]],""]
Squeeze[s[[2]],"-"]
Squeeze[s[[3]],"7"]
Squeeze[s[[4]],"."]
Squeeze[s[[5]]," "]
Squeeze[s[[5]],"-"]
Squeeze[s[[5]],"r"]
Output:
""
"\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" - Abraham Lincoln "
"..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888"
"I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "
" --- Harry S Truman "
"                                                    - Harry S Truman "
"                                                    --- Hary S Truman  "


MATLAB / Octave

squeeze is a base function Matlab and Octave, therefore its name is changed to squeezee()

function r = squeezee(s,c)
  ix = [];
  c  = unique(c);
  for k=1:length(c)
    ix=[ix; find((s(1:end-1)==s(2:end)) & (s(1:end-1)==c(k)))+1];
  end
  r=s;
  r(ix)=[];     

  fprintf(1,'Character to be squeezed: "%s"\n',c);
  fprintf(1,'Input:  <<<%s>>>  length: %d\n',s,length(s));
  fprintf(1,'Output: <<<%s>>>  length: %d\n',r,length(r));
  fprintf(1,'Character to be squeezed: "%s"\n',c);

end 


squeezee('', ' ') 
squeezee('║╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗', '-') 
squeezee('║"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ║', '7')
squeezee('║..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888║', '.')
squeezee('║I never give ''em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it''s hell. ║', '.')
squeezee('║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║', '.')
squeezee('║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║', '-')
squeezee('║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║', 'r')
Output:
octave:1> test squeezee
Character to be squeezed: " "
Input:  <<<>>>  length: 0
Output: <<<>>>  length: 0
Character to be squeezed: " "
ans =
Character to be squeezed: "-"
Input:  <<<║╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗>>>  length: 222
Output: <<<║╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗>>>  length: 222
Character to be squeezed: "-"
ans = ║╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
Character to be squeezed: "7"
Input:  <<<║"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ║>>>  length: 78
Output: <<<║"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ║>>>  length: 78
Character to be squeezed: "7"
ans = ║"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ║
Character to be squeezed: "."
Input:  <<<║..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888║>>>  length: 78
Output: <<<║.1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888║>>>  length: 77
Character to be squeezed: "."
ans = ║.1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888║
Character to be squeezed: "."
Input:  <<<║I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ║>>>  length: 78
Output: <<<║I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ║>>>  length: 78
Character to be squeezed: "."
ans = ║I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ║
Character to be squeezed: "."
Input:  <<<║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║>>>  length: 78
Output: <<<║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║>>>  length: 78
Character to be squeezed: "."
ans = ║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║
Character to be squeezed: "-"
Input:  <<<║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║>>>  length: 78
Output: <<<║                                                    - Harry S Truman  ║>>>  length: 76
Character to be squeezed: "-"
ans = ║                                                    - Harry S Truman  ║
Character to be squeezed: "r"
Input:  <<<║                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ║>>>  length: 78
Output: <<<║                                                    --- Hary S Truman  ║>>>  length: 77
Character to be squeezed: "r"
ans = ║                                                    --- Hary S Truman  ║

1. Paste this code into the Code Pane 2. In the Interface Pane, in the Command Center, type "demo" and hit enter.

to-report split [ string ] 
  ;; utility reporter to split a string into a list
  report n-values length string [ [ n ] -> item n string ] 
end

to-report squeeze [ character string ]
  ;; reporter that actually does the squeeze function
  ;; remote immeadiately repeating instances of character from string
  ifelse ( string = "" )
  [ report "" ] ;; empty input, report empty output
  [ report 
      reduce 
        [ [ a b ] ->
          ( word a 
            ifelse-value b = character and b = last a 
            [ "" ] 
            [  b ]
          )
        ]
        split string   
  ]
end

to-report bracket [ string ]
  ;; utility reporter to enclose a string in brackets
  report ( word "<<<" string ">>>" )
end

to-report format [ string ]
  ;; utility reporter to format the output as required
  report ( word bracket string " " length string )
end

to demo-squeeze [ character string ]
  ;; procedure to display the required output
  output-print bracket character 
  output-print format string
  output-print format squeeze character string 
end

to demo
  ;; procedure to perform the test cases
  demo-squeeze " " ""
  demo-squeeze "-" "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln "
  demo-squeeze "7" "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"
  demo-squeeze "." "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "
  demo-squeeze " " "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
  demo-squeeze "-" "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
  demo-squeeze "r" "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
end
Output:
observer> demo
<<< >>>
<<<>>> 0
<<<>>> 0
<<<->>>
<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>> 72
<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>> 70
<<<7>>>
<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>> 72
<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>> 69
<<<.>>>
<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> 72
<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> 72
<<< >>>
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> 72
<<< --- Harry S Truman >>> 20
<<<->>>
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> 72
<<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>> 70
<<<r>>>
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> 72
<<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>> 71

Nim

import unicode, strformat

proc squeeze(s: string; ch: Rune) =
  echo fmt"Specified character: '{ch}'"
  let original = s.toRunes
  echo fmt"Original: length = {original.len}, string = «««{s}»»»"
  var previous = Rune(0)
  var squeezed: seq[Rune]
  for rune in original:
    if rune != previous:
      squeezed.add(rune)
      previous = rune
    elif rune != ch:
      squeezed.add(rune)
  echo fmt"Squeezed: length = {squeezed.len}, string = «««{squeezed}»»»"
  echo ""


const Strings = ["",
        "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ",
        "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
        "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
        "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  ",
        "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!",
        "headmistressship",
        "aardvark",
        "😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌",]

const Chars = [@[Rune(' ')], @[Rune('-')], @[Rune('7')], @[Rune('.')],
               @[Rune(' '), Rune('-'), Rune('r')],
               @[Rune('e')], @[Rune('s')], @[Rune('a')], "😍".toRunes]


for i, s in Strings:
  for ch in Chars[i]:
    s.squeeze(ch)
Output:
Specified character: ' '
Original: length = 0, string = «««»»»
Squeezed: length = 0, string = «««»»»

Specified character: '-'
Original: length = 72, string = «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
Squeezed: length = 70, string = «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»

Specified character: '7'
Original: length = 72, string = «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
Squeezed: length = 69, string = «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»

Specified character: '.'
Original: length = 72, string = «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
Squeezed: length = 72, string = «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»

Specified character: ' '
Original: length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
Squeezed: length = 20, string = ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»

Specified character: '-'
Original: length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
Squeezed: length = 70, string = «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»»

Specified character: 'r'
Original: length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
Squeezed: length = 71, string = «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»»

Specified character: 'e'
Original: length = 80, string = «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
Squeezed: length = 79, string = «««The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»

Specified character: 's'
Original: length = 16, string = «««headmistressship»»»
Squeezed: length = 14, string = «««headmistreship»»»

Specified character: 'a'
Original: length = 8, string = «««aardvark»»»
Squeezed: length = 7, string = «««ardvark»»»

Specified character: '😍'
Original: length = 8, string = «««😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌»»»
Squeezed: length = 6, string = «««😍😀🙌💃😍🙌»»»

Perl

use strict;
use warnings;
use Unicode::UCD 'charinfo';

for (
  ['', ' '],
  ['"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ', '-'],
  ['..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888', '7'],
  ["I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", '.'],
  ['                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ', ' '],
  ['                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ', '-'],
  ['                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ', 'r']
) {
    my($phrase,$char) = @$_;
    (my $squeeze = $phrase) =~ s/([$char])\1+/$1/g;
    printf "\nOriginal length: %d <<<%s>>>\nSqueezable on \"%s\": %s\nSqueezed length: %d <<<%s>>>\n",
        length($phrase), $phrase,
        charinfo(ord $char)->{'name'},
        $phrase ne $squeeze ? 'True' : 'False',
        length($squeeze), $squeeze
}
Output:
Original length: 0 <<<>>>
Squeezable on "SPACE": False
Squeezed length: 0 <<<>>>

Original length: 72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
Squeezable on "HYPHEN-MINUS": True
Squeezed length: 70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

Original length: 72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
Squeezable on "DIGIT SEVEN": True
Squeezed length: 69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

Original length: 72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
Squeezable on "FULL STOP": False
Squeezed length: 72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

Original length: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
Squeezable on "SPACE": True
Squeezed length: 20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

Original length: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
Squeezable on "HYPHEN-MINUS": True
Squeezed length: 70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

Original length: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
Squeezable on "LATIN SMALL LETTER R": True
Squeezed length: 71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

Phix

with javascript_semantics
constant tests = {"",                                                                         " ",
                  `"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln `,"-",
                  "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888","7",
                  "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",".",
                  "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "," -r"},
         fmt = """      
length %2d      input: <<<%s>>>
length %2d squeeze(%c): <<<%s>>>
"""
function squeeze(sequence s, integer ch)
    if length(s)>1 then
        integer outdx = 1
        object prev = s[1]
        for i=2 to length(s) do
            if s[i]!=prev or prev!=ch then
                prev = s[i]
                outdx += 1
                s[outdx] = prev
            end if
        end for
        s = s[1..outdx]
    end if
    return s
end function
 
for i=1 to length(tests) by 2 do
    string ti = tests[i], chars = tests[i+1]
    for j=1 to length(chars) do
        string si = squeeze(ti,chars[j])
        printf(1,fmt,{length(ti),ti,length(si),chars[j],si})
    end for
end for
Output:
length  0      input: <<<>>>
length  0 squeeze( ): <<<>>>

length 72      input: <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
length 70 squeeze(-): <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

length 72      input: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
length 69 squeeze(7): <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

length 72      input: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
length 72 squeeze(.): <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

length 72      input: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
length 20 squeeze( ): <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

length 72      input: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
length 70 squeeze(-): <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

length 72      input: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
length 71 squeeze(r): <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

PHP

<?php

function squeezeString($string, $squeezeChar) {
    $previousChar = null;
    $squeeze = '';
    $charArray = preg_split('//u', $string, -1, PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY);
    for ($i = 0 ; $i < count($charArray) ; $i++) {
        $currentChar = $charArray[$i];
        if ($previousChar !== $currentChar || $currentChar !== $squeezeChar) {
            $squeeze .= $charArray[$i];
        }
        $previousChar = $currentChar;
    }
    return $squeeze;
}

function isSqueezable($string, $squeezeChar) {
    return ($string !== squeezeString($string, $squeezeChar));
}

$strings = array(
    ['-', '"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln '],
    ['1', '..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888'],
    ['l', "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "],
    [' ', '                                                    --- Harry S Truman  '],
    ['9', '0112223333444445555556666666777777778888888889999999999'],
    ['e', "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!"],
    ['k', "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!"],
);
foreach ($strings as $params) {
    list($char, $original) = $params;
    echo 'Original   : <<<', $original, '>>> (len=', mb_strlen($original), ')', PHP_EOL;
    if (isSqueezable($original, $char)) {
        $squeeze = squeezeString($original, $char);
        echo 'Squeeze(', $char, ') : <<<', $squeeze, '>>> (len=', mb_strlen($squeeze), ')', PHP_EOL, PHP_EOL;
    } else {
        echo 'Squeeze(', $char, ') : string is not squeezable (char=', $char, ')...', PHP_EOL, PHP_EOL;
    }
}
Output:
Original   : <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>> (len=72)
Squeeze(-) : <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>> (len=70)

Original   : <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>> (len=72)
Squeeze(1) : <<<..17777888>>> (len=10)

Original   : <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> (len=72)
Squeeze(l) : <<<I never give 'em hel, I just tel the truth, and they think it's hel. >>> (len=69)

Original   : <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> (len=72)
Squeeze( ) : <<< --- Harry S Truman >>> (len=20)

Original   : <<<0112223333444445555556666666777777778888888889999999999>>> (len=55)
Squeeze(9) : <<<0112223333444445555556666666777777778888888889>>> (len=46)

Original   : <<<The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>> (len=80)
Squeeze(e) : <<<The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>> (len=79)

Original   : <<<The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>> (len=80)
Squeeze(k) : string is not squeezable (char=k)...

Prolog

squeeze_( [], _, [] ).
squeeze_( [A], _, [A] ).
squeeze_( [A,A|T], A, R ) :- squeeze_( [A|T], A, R ).
squeeze_( [A,A|T], B, [A|R] ) :- dif( A, B ), squeeze_( [A|T], B, R ).
squeeze_( [A,B|T], S, [A|R] ) :- dif( A, B ), squeeze_( [B|T], S, R ).

squeeze( Str, SqueezeChar, Collapsed ) :-
    string_chars( Str, Chars ),
    squeeze_( Chars, SqueezeChar, Result ),
    string_chars( Collapsed, Result ).
Output:
?- squeeze( "", ' ', New ).
New = "".

?- squeeze( "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ", -, New ).
New = "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" - Abraham Lincoln " .

?- squeeze( "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", '7', New ).
New = "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888" .

?- squeeze( "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", '.', New ).
New = "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. " .

?- squeeze( "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", ' ', New ).
New = " --- Harry S Truman " .

?- squeeze( "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", '-', New ).
New = "                                                    - Harry S Truman  " .

?- squeeze( "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", 'r', New ).
New = "                                                    --- Hary S Truman  " .

To determine if a string is squeezed or not then the input and output strings should be the same, eg:

?- S = "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888", squeeze( S, '1', S ).
false.

?- S = "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888", squeeze( S, '7', S ).
S = "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888"

Python

from itertools import groupby

def squeezer(s, txt):
    return ''.join(item if item == s else ''.join(grp)
                   for item, grp in groupby(txt))

if __name__ == '__main__':
    strings = [
            "",
            '"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ',
            "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
            "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
            "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  ",
            "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!",
            "headmistressship",
            "aardvark",
            "😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌",
            ]
    squeezers = ' ,-,7,., -r,e,s,a,😍'.split(',')
    for txt, chars in zip(strings, squeezers):
        this = "Original"
        print(f"\n{this:14} Size: {len(txt)} «««{txt}»»»" )
        for ch in chars:
            this = f"Squeezer '{ch}'"
            sqz = squeezer(ch, txt)
            print(f"{this:>14} Size: {len(sqz)} «««{sqz}»»»" )
Output:
Original       Size: 0 «««»»»
  Squeezer ' ' Size: 0 «««»»»

Original       Size: 72 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
  Squeezer '-' Size: 70 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»

Original       Size: 72 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
  Squeezer '7' Size: 69 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»

Original       Size: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
  Squeezer '.' Size: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»

Original       Size: 72 «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
  Squeezer ' ' Size: 20 ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»
  Squeezer '-' Size: 70 «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»»
  Squeezer 'r' Size: 71 «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»»

Original       Size: 80 «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
  Squeezer 'e' Size: 79 «««The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»

Original       Size: 16 «««headmistressship»»»
  Squeezer 's' Size: 14 «««headmistreship»»»

Original       Size: 8 «««aardvark»»»
  Squeezer 'a' Size: 7 «««ardvark»»»

Original       Size: 8 «««😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌»»»
  Squeezer '😍' Size: 6 «««😍😀🙌💃😍🙌»»»


R

squeeze_string <- function(string, character){
    
    str_iterable <- strsplit(string, "")[[1]]
    
    message(paste0("Original String: ", "<<<", string, ">>>\n", 
                   "Length: ", length(str_iterable), "\n",
                   "Character: ", character))
    
    detect <- rep(TRUE, length(str_iterable))
    
    
    for(i in 2:length(str_iterable)){
      
      if(length(str_iterable) == 0) break
      if(str_iterable[i] != character) next
      
      if(str_iterable[i] == str_iterable[i-1])
        
        detect[i] <- FALSE
    }
    
    squeezed_string <- paste(str_iterable[detect], collapse = "")
    
    message(paste0("squeezed string: ", "<<<",squeezed_string, ">>>\n",
                   "Length: ", length(str_iterable[detect])), "\n")
    
  }
  
  
  squeeze_string("", " ")
  squeeze_string("'If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?' --- Abraham Lincoln ", "-")
  squeeze_string("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", "7")
  squeeze_string("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", ".")
  squeeze_string("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", " ")
  squeeze_string("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", "-")
  squeeze_string("                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ", "r")
  squeeze_string("  Ciao Mamma, guarda come mi diverto!!!  ", "!")
Output:
    Original String: <<<>>>
    Length: 0
  Character:  
    squeezed string: <<<>>>
    Length: 0
  
  Original String: <<<'If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?' --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
    Length: 72
  Character: -
    squeezed string: <<<'If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?' - Abraham Lincoln >>>
    Length: 70
  
  Original String: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
    Length: 72
  Character: 7
  squeezed string: <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>
    Length: 69

  Original String: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
    Length: 72
  Character: .
  squeezed string: <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
    Length: 72
  
  Original String: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
    Length: 72
  Character:  
    squeezed string: <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>
    Length: 20
  
  Original String: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
    Length: 72
  Character: -
    squeezed string: <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>
    Length: 70
  
  Original String: <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
    Length: 72
  Character: r
  squeezed string: <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>
    Length: 71
  
  Original String: <<<  Ciao Mamma, guarda come mi diverto!!!  >>>
    Length: 41
  Character: !
    squeezed string: <<<  Ciao Mamma, guarda come mi diverto!  >>>
    Length: 39

Racket

#lang racket/base

(define (squeeze-string s c)
  (let loop ((cs (string->list s)) (squeezing? #f) (l 0) (acc null))
    (cond [(null? cs) (values l (list->string (reverse acc)))]
          [(and squeezing? (char=? (car cs) c)) (loop (cdr cs) #t l acc)]
          [else (loop (cdr cs) (char=? (car cs) c) (add1 l) (cons (car cs) acc))])))

(define (report-squeeze s c)
  (define-values (l′ s′) (squeeze-string s c))
  (printf "Squeezing ~s in «««~a»»» (length ~a)~%" c s (string-length s))
  (printf "Result: «««~a»»» (length ~a)~%~%" s′ l′))

(define (Determine-if-a-string-is-squeezeable)
  (report-squeeze "" #\space)
  (report-squeeze "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln " #\-)
  (report-squeeze "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888" #\7)
  (report-squeeze "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. " #\.)
  (define truman-sig "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ")
  (report-squeeze truman-sig #\space)
  (report-squeeze truman-sig #\-)
  (report-squeeze truman-sig #\r))

(module+ main
  (Determine-if-a-string-is-squeezeable))
Output:
Squeezing #\space in «««»»» (length 0)
Result: «««»»» (length 0)

Squeezing #\- in «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»» (length 72)
Result: «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»» (length 70)

Squeezing #\7 in «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»» (length 72)
Result: «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»» (length 69)

Squeezing #\. in «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (length 72)
Result: «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (length 72)

Squeezing #\space in «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
Result: ««« --- Harry S Truman »»» (length 20)

Squeezing #\- in «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
Result: «««                                                    - Harry S Truman  »»» (length 70)

Squeezing #\r in «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»» (length 72)
Result: «««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»» (length 71)

Raku

(formerly Perl 6)

Works with: Rakudo version 2019.07.1
map {
    my $squeeze = $^phrase;
    sink $^reg;
    $squeeze ~~ s:g/($reg)$0+/$0/;
    printf "\nOriginal length: %d <<<%s>>>\nSqueezable on \"%s\": %s\nSqueezed length: %d <<<%s>>>\n",
      $phrase.chars, $phrase, $reg.uniname, $phrase ne $squeeze, $squeeze.chars, $squeeze
},  
  '', ' ', 
  '"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ', '-',
  '..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888', '7',
  "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", '.',
  '                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ', ' ',
  '                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ', '-',
  '                                                    --- Harry S Truman  ', 'r'
Output:
Original length: 0 <<<>>>
Squeezable on "SPACE": False
Squeezed length: 0 <<<>>>

Original length: 72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
Squeezable on "HYPHEN-MINUS": True
Squeezed length: 70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

Original length: 72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
Squeezable on "DIGIT SEVEN": True
Squeezed length: 69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

Original length: 72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
Squeezable on "FULL STOP": False
Squeezed length: 72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

Original length: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
Squeezable on "SPACE": True
Squeezed length: 20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

Original length: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
Squeezable on "HYPHEN-MINUS": True
Squeezed length: 70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

Original length: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
Squeezable on "LATIN SMALL LETTER R": True
Squeezed length: 71 <<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>>

REXX

/*REXX program "squeezes" all immediately repeated characters in a string (or strings). */
@.=                                              /*define a default for the  @.  array. */
#.1= ' '; @.1=
#.2= '-'; @.2= '"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln '
#.3= '7'; @.3=  ..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888
#.4=  . ; @.4= "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "
#.5= ' '; @.5= '                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  '
#.6= '-'; @.6= @.5
#.7= 'r'; @.7= @.5

     do j=1;    L= length(@.j)                   /*obtain the length of an array element*/
     say copies('═', 105)                        /*show a separator line between outputs*/
     if j>1  &  L==0     then leave              /*if arg is null and  J>1, then leave. */
     say '    specified immediate repeatable character='     #.j      "   ('"c2x(#.j)"'x)"
     say '    length='right(L, 3)     "   input=«««" || @.j || '»»»'
     new= squeeze(@.j, #.j)
       w= length(new)
     say '    length='right(w, 3)     "  output=«««" || new || '»»»'
     end   /*j*/
exit                                             /*stick a fork in it,  we're all done. */
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
squeeze: procedure; parse arg y 1 $ 2,z          /*get string; get immed. repeated char.*/
         if pos(z || z, y)==0  then return y     /*No repeated immediate char?  Return Y*/
                                                 /* [↑]  Not really needed;  a speed─up.*/
                     do k=2  to length(y)        /*traipse through almost all the chars.*/
                     _= substr(y, k, 1)                      /*pick a character from  Y */
                     if _==right($, 1) & _==z then iterate   /*Same character?  Skip it.*/
                     $= $ || _                               /*append char., it's diff. */
                     end     /*j*/
         return $
output   when using the internal default inputs:
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
    specified immediate repeatable character=      ('20'x)
    length=  0    input=«««»»»
    length=  0   output=«««»»»
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
    specified immediate repeatable character= -    ('2D'x)
    length= 72    input=«««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
    length= 70   output=«««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
    specified immediate repeatable character= 7    ('37'x)
    length= 72    input=«««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
    length= 69   output=«««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
    specified immediate repeatable character= .    ('2E'x)
    length= 72    input=«««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
    length= 72   output=«««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
    specified immediate repeatable character=      ('20'x)
    length= 72    input=«««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
    length= 20   output=««« --- Harry S Truman »»»
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
    specified immediate repeatable character= -    ('2D'x)
    length= 72    input=«««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
    length= 70   output=«««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»»
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
    specified immediate repeatable character= r    ('72'x)
    length= 72    input=«««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
    length= 71   output=«««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»»
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Ruby

strings = ["",
        '"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ',
        "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
        "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
        "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  ",
        "😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌",]
squeeze_these = ["", "-", "7", ".", " -r", "😍"]

strings.zip(squeeze_these).each do |str, st|
  puts "original:     «««#{str}»»» (size #{str.size})"
  st.chars.each do |c|
    ssq = str.squeeze(c)
    puts "#{c.inspect}-squeezed: «««#{ssq}»»» (size #{ssq.size})" 
  end
  puts
end
Output:
original:     «««»»» (size 0)

original:     «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»» (size 72)
"-"-squeezed: «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»» (size 70)

original:     «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»» (size 72)
"7"-squeezed: «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»» (size 69)

original:     «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (size 72)
"."-squeezed: «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (size 72)

original:     «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»» (size 72)
" "-squeezed: ««« --- Harry S Truman »»» (size 20)
"-"-squeezed: «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»» (size 70)
"r"-squeezed: «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»» (size 71)

original:     «««😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌»»» (size 8)
"😍"-squeezed: «««😍😀🙌💃😍🙌»»» (size 6)

Rust

See collapsible strings for the alternative implementation approach.

fn squeezable_string<'a>(s: &'a str, squeezable: char) -> impl Iterator<Item = char> + 'a {
    let mut previous = None;

    s.chars().filter(move |c| match previous {
        Some(p) if p == squeezable && p == *c => false,
        _ => {
            previous = Some(*c);
            true
        }
    })
}

fn main() {
    fn show(input: &str, c: char) {
        println!("Squeeze: '{}'", c);
        println!("Input ({} chars): \t{}", input.chars().count(), input);
        let output: String = squeezable_string(input, c).collect();
        println!("Output ({} chars): \t{}", output.chars().count(), output);
        println!();
    }

    let harry = r#"I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.
    ---  Harry S Truman"#;

    #[rustfmt::skip]
    let inputs = [
        ("", ' '),
        (r#""If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln "#, '-'),
        ("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", '7'),
        (harry, ' '),
        (harry, '-'),
        (harry, 'r'),
        ("The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!", 'e'),
        ("headmistressship", 's'),
    ];

    inputs.iter().for_each(|(input, c)| show(input, *c));
}

Sidef

func squeeze(str, c) {
    str.gsub(Regex("(" + c.escape + ")" + '\1+'), {|s1| s1 })
}

var strings = ["",
        '"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ',
        "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
        "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
        "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  ",
        "😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌"]

var squeeze_these = ["", "-", "7", ".", " -r", "😍"]

[strings, squeeze_these].zip {|str,st|
    say "    original: «««#{str}»»» (length: #{str.len})"
    st.each {|c|
        var ssq = squeeze(str, c)
        say "'#{c}'-squeezed: «««#{ssq}»»» (length: #{ssq.len})"
    }
    say ''
}
Output:
    original: «««»»» (length: 0)

    original: «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»» (length: 72)
'-'-squeezed: «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»» (length: 70)

    original: «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»» (length: 72)
'7'-squeezed: «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»» (length: 69)

    original: «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (length: 72)
'.'-squeezed: «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»» (length: 72)

    original: «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»» (length: 72)
' '-squeezed: ««« --- Harry S Truman »»» (length: 20)
'-'-squeezed: «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»» (length: 70)
'r'-squeezed: «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»» (length: 71)

    original: «««😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌»»» (length: 8)
'😍'-squeezed: «««😍😀🙌💃😍🙌»»» (length: 6)

Tcl

# Set test data as a list pairing even and odd values
# as test string and squeeze character(s) respectively.
set test {
    {} {" "}
    {"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln } {"-"}
    {..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888} {"7"}
    {I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. } {"."} ;# '
    {                                                    --- Harry S Truman  } {" " "-" "r"}
    {The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!} {"e"} ;# '
    {headmistressship} {"s"}
}

foreach {str chrs} $test {
    foreach c $chrs {
        # Escape non-word replacement characters (such as .)
        set c [regsub -all {\W} $c {\\&}]

        # Uses regexp lookbehind to detect repeated characters
        set re [subst -noback {($c)(\1+)}] ;# build expression
        set sub [regsub -all $re $str {\1}]

        # Output
        puts [format "Original (length %3d): %s" [string length $str] $str]
        puts [format "Subbed   (length %3d): %s" [string length $sub] $sub]
        puts ----------------------
    }
}
Output:
Original (length   0):
Subbed   (length   0):
----------------------
Original (length  72): "If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln
Subbed   (length  70): "If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln
----------------------
Original (length  72): ..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888
Subbed   (length  69): ..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888
----------------------
Original (length  72): I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.
Subbed   (length  72): I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell.
----------------------
Original (length  72):                                                     --- Harry S Truman
Subbed   (length  20):  --- Harry S Truman
----------------------
Original (length  72):                                                     --- Harry S Truman
Subbed   (length  70):                                                     - Harry S Truman
----------------------
Original (length  72):                                                     --- Harry S Truman
Subbed   (length  71):                                                     --- Hary S Truman
----------------------
Original (length  80): The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!
Subbed   (length  79): The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!
----------------------
Original (length  16): headmistressship
Subbed   (length  14): headmistreship
----------------------

Visual Basic .NET

Translation of: C#
Imports System.Linq.Enumerable

Module Module1

    Function Squeeze(s As String, c As Char) As String
        If String.IsNullOrEmpty(s) Then
            Return ""
        End If
        Return s(0) + New String(Range(1, s.Length - 1).Where(Function(i) s(i) <> c OrElse s(i) <> s(i - 1)).Select(Function(i) s(i)).ToArray())
    End Function

    Sub SqueezeAndPrint(s As String, c As Char)
        Console.WriteLine("squeeze: '{0}'", c)
        Console.WriteLine("old: {0} «««{1}»»»", s.Length, s)
        s = Squeeze(s, c)
        Console.WriteLine("new: {0} «««{1}»»»", s.Length, s)
    End Sub

    Sub Main()
        Const QUOTE = """"

        SqueezeAndPrint("", " ")
        SqueezeAndPrint(QUOTE & "If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" & QUOTE & " --- Abraham Lincoln ", "-")
        SqueezeAndPrint("..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888", "7")
        SqueezeAndPrint("I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ", ".")

        Dim s = "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "
        SqueezeAndPrint(s, " ")
        SqueezeAndPrint(s, "-")
        SqueezeAndPrint(s, "r")
    End Sub

End Module
Output:
squeeze: ' '
old: 0 «««»»»
new: 0 «««»»»
squeeze: '-'
old: 72 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
new: 70 «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»
squeeze: '7'
old: 72 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
new: 69 «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»
squeeze: '.'
old: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
new: 72 «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
squeeze: ' '
old: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
new: 20 ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»
squeeze: '-'
old: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
new: 70 «««                                                    - Harry S Truman  »»»
squeeze: 'r'
old: 72 «««                                                    --- Harry S Truman  »»»
new: 71 «««                                                    --- Hary S Truman  »»»

V (Vlang)

Translation of: Go
// Returns squeezed string, original and new lengths in
// unicode code points (not normalized).
fn squeeze(s string, c string) (string, int, int) {
    mut r := s.runes()
    mut t := c.runes()[0]
    le, mut del := r.len, 0
    for i := le - 2; i >= 0; i-- {
        if r[i] == t && r[i] == r[i+1] {
            r.delete(i)
            del++
        }
    }
    if del == 0 {
        return s, le, le
    }
    r = r[..le-del]
    return r.string(), le, r.len
}
 
fn main() {
    strings := [
        "",
        '"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln ',
        "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
        "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
        "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  ",
        "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!",
        "headmistressship",
        "aardvark",
        "😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌",
	]
    chars := [[' '], ['-'], ['7'], ['.'], [' ', '-', 'r'], ['e'], ['s'], ['a'], ['😍']]
 
    for i, s in strings {
        for c in chars[i] {
            ss, olen, slen := squeeze(s, c)
            println("specified character = $c")
            println("original : length = ${olen:2}, string = «««$s»»»")
            println("squeezed : length = ${slen:2}, string = «««$ss»»»\n")
        }
    }
}
Output:
specified character =  
original : length =  0, string = «««»»»
squeezed : length =  0, string = «««»»»

specified character = -
original : length = 72, string = «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
squeezed : length = 70, string = «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»

specified character = 7
original : length = 72, string = «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
squeezed : length = 69, string = «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»

specified character = .
original : length = 72, string = «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
squeezed : length = 72, string = «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»

specified character =  
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 20, string = ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»

specified character = -
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 70, string = «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»»

specified character = r
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 71, string = «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»»

specified character = e
original : length = 80, string = «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
squeezed : length = 79, string = «««The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»

specified character = s
original : length = 16, string = «««headmistressship»»»
squeezed : length = 14, string = «««headmistreship»»»

specified character = a
original : length =  8, string = «««aardvark»»»
squeezed : length =  7, string = «««ardvark»»»

specified character = 😍
original : length =  8, string = «««😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌»»»
squeezed : length =  6, string = «««😍😀🙌💃😍🙌»»»

Wren

Translation of: Go
Library: Wren-fmt
import "./fmt" for Fmt

// Returns squeezed string, original and new lengths in
// unicode code points (not normalized).
var squeeze = Fn.new { |s, ch|
    var c = s.codePoints.toList
    var le = c.count
    if (le < 2) return [s, le, le]
    for (i in le-2..0) {
        if (c[i] == ch.codePoints[0] && c[i] == c[i+1]) c.removeAt(i)
    }
    var cc = c.reduce("") { |acc, cp| acc + String.fromCodePoint(cp) }
    return [cc, le, cc.count]
}

var strings = [
    "",
    "\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln ",
    "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
    "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
    "                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  ",
    "The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!",
    "headmistressship",
    "aardvark",
    "😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌"
]

var chars = [ [" "], ["-"], ["7"], ["."], [" ", "-", "r"], ["e"], ["s"], ["a"], ["😍"] ]

var i = 0
for (s in strings) {
    for (ch in chars[i]) {
        var r = squeeze.call(s, ch)
        System.print("Specified character = '%(ch)'")
        System.print("original : length = %(Fmt.d(2, r[1])), string = «««%(s)»»»")
        System.print("squeezed : length = %(Fmt.d(2, r[2])), string = «««%(r[0])»»»\n")
    }
    i = i + 1
}
Output:
Specified character = ' '
original : length =  0, string = «««»»»
squeezed : length =  0, string = «««»»»

Specified character = '-'
original : length = 72, string = «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln »»»
squeezed : length = 70, string = «««"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln »»»

Specified character = '7'
original : length = 72, string = «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888»»»
squeezed : length = 69, string = «««..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888»»»

Specified character = '.'
original : length = 72, string = «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»
squeezed : length = 72, string = «««I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. »»»

Specified character = ' '
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 20, string = ««« --- Harry S Truman »»»

Specified character = '-'
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 70, string = «««                                                   -  Harry S Truman  »»»

Specified character = 'r'
original : length = 72, string = «««                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  »»»
squeezed : length = 71, string = «««                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  »»»

Specified character = 'e'
original : length = 80, string = «««The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»
squeezed : length = 79, string = «««The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!»»»

Specified character = 's'
original : length = 16, string = «««headmistressship»»»
squeezed : length = 14, string = «««headmistreship»»»

Specified character = 'a'
original : length =  8, string = «««aardvark»»»
squeezed : length =  7, string = «««ardvark»»»

Specified character = '😍'
original : length =  8, string = «««😍😀🙌💃😍😍😍🙌»»»
squeezed : length =  6, string = «««😍😀🙌💃😍🙌»»»

XPL0

string 0;
char C, I, J, Last;

proc Squeeze(Char, S); \Eliminate specified repeated characters from string
char Char, S;
[I:= 0;  J:= 0;  Last:= -1;
loop [if S(I) # Last or Char # Last then
        [C(J):= S(I);
        if S(I) = 0 then quit;
        J:= J+1;
        ];
     Last:= S(I);
     I:= I+1;
     ];
];

int String, K, Char;
[String:= [
    "",
    "^"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?^" --- Abraham Lincoln ",
    "..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888",
    "I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. ",
    "                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "];
Char:= [0, ^-, ^1, ^l, ^ , ^-, ^r];
C:= Reserve(79+1);      \space for collapsed string
for K:= 0 to 4+2 do
    [Squeeze(Char(K), String(if K>4 then 4 else K));
    Text(0, "<<<");  Text(0, String(if K>4 then 4 else K));  Text(0, ">>> ");
    IntOut(0, I);  CrLf(0);
    Text(0, "<<<");  Text(0, C);  Text(0, ">>> ");  IntOut(0, J);  CrLf(0);
    ];
]
Output:
<<<>>> 0
<<<>>> 0
<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>> 72
<<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>> 70
<<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>> 72
<<<..17777888>>> 10
<<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>> 72
<<<I never give 'em hel, I just tel the truth, and they think it's hel. >>> 69
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> 72
<<< --- Harry S Truman >>> 20
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> 72
<<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>> 70
<<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>> 72
<<<                                                    --- Hary S Truman  >>> 71

zkl

fcn squeeze(c,str){   // Works with UTF-8
   s,cc,sz,n := Data(Void,str), String(c,c), c.len(), 0; // byte buffer in case of LOTs of deletes
   while(Void != (n=s.find(cc,n))){ str=s.del(n,sz) }  // and searching is faster for big strings
   s.text
}
strings:=T(
T("",""),
T("-","\"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?\" --- Abraham Lincoln "),
T("7","..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888"),
T(" ","I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. "),
T(" ","                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "),
T("-","                                                    --- Harry S Truman  "),
T("r","                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  "),
T("e","The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!"),
T("s","headmistressship"),
T("\Ubd;","\Ubc;\Ubd;\Ubd;\Ube;"),
);

foreach c,s in (strings){
   println("Squeeze: \"",c,"\"");
   println("Before: %2d <<<%s>>>".fmt(s.len(-8),s));
   sstr:=squeeze(c,s);
   println("After:  %2d <<<%s>>>\n".fmt(sstr.len(-8),sstr));
}
Output:
Squeeze: ""
Before:  0 <<<>>>
After:   0 <<<>>>

Squeeze: "-"
Before: 72 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" --- Abraham Lincoln >>>
After:  70 <<<"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" - Abraham Lincoln >>>

Squeeze: "7"
Before: 72 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117777888>>>
After:  69 <<<..1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111117888>>>

Squeeze: " "
Before: 72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>
After:  72 <<<I never give 'em hell, I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell. >>>

Squeeze: " "
Before: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
After:  20 <<< --- Harry S Truman >>>

Squeeze: "-"
Before: 72 <<<                                                    --- Harry S Truman  >>>
After:  70 <<<                                                    - Harry S Truman  >>>

Squeeze: "r"
Before: 72 <<<                                                   ---  Harry S Truman  >>>
After:  71 <<<                                                   ---  Hary S Truman  >>>

Squeeze: "e"
Before: 80 <<<The better the 4-wheel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>
After:  79 <<<The better the 4-whel drive, the further you'll be from help when ya get stuck!>>>

Squeeze: "s"
Before: 16 <<<headmistressship>>>
After:  14 <<<headmistreship>>>

Squeeze: "½"
Before:  4 <<<¼½½¾>>>
After:   3 <<<¼½¾>>>