class RDoc::Markup::AttributeManager

def split_into_flow
  res = []
  current_attr = 0
  str_len = @str.length
  # skip leading invisible text
  i = 0
  i += 1 while i < str_len and @str[i].chr == "\0"
  start_pos = i
  # then scan the string, chunking it on attribute changes
  while i < str_len
    new_attr = @attrs[i]
    if new_attr != current_attr
      if i > start_pos
        res << copy_string(start_pos, i)
        start_pos = i
      end
      res << change_attribute(current_attr, new_attr)
      current_attr = new_attr
      if (current_attr & @attributes.regexp_handling) != 0 then
        i += 1 while
          i < str_len and (@attrs[i] & @attributes.regexp_handling) != 0
        res << RDoc::Markup::RegexpHandling.new(current_attr,
                                                copy_string(start_pos, i))
        start_pos = i
        next
      end
    end
    # move on, skipping any invisible characters
    begin
      i += 1
    end while i < str_len and @str[i].chr == "\0"
  end
  # tidy up trailing text
  if start_pos < str_len
    res << copy_string(start_pos, str_len)
  end
  # and reset to all attributes off
  res << change_attribute(current_attr, 0) if current_attr != 0
  res
end