RegEx expression help
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Fayu wrote:
I am trying to use lookahead/lookback
Why would you?
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I found an example on the web which used that to get the substring. Again, I am new to this. What would you suggest?
What I added to my first response.
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What I added to my first response.
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I didnt realize you updated your comment. The 'Value' is unknown, can I use * as a wild card?
What I provided returns everything between the
]]]and the next[or the end of the line. -
I am new to this whole regex thing. I have read up on it but i still need some help. I have expressions (shown below) and I want to get the values (substring). For example, in example 1 i want to search for my property ([[[MyProperty1]]]) and I want to get back 'Value'. In example 2, i want to be able to search for [[[MyProperty2]]] and have value2 as the result. Cant you help me write the pattern as well as explain to me what is being done in the pattern to acheive this goal. I have tried '(?<=\[{3}MyProperty1).*?(?=<\]{3})' but it does not work. Thanks in advance. Example 1: [[[MyProperty1]]] Value Example 2: [[[MyProperty1]]] Value [[[MyProperty2]]] value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] value 3
I think
(\[\[\[MyProperty3\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))is enough for both of ur requirements, if i understood it clearly :| something like ...Regex regex = new Regex(@"(\[\[\[MyProperty3\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))");
Match regexmatch = regex.Match(@"[[[MyProperty1]]] Value [[[MyProperty2]]] value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] value 3");
regexmatch.Groups["MyProperty3"].ValueIt'd work for values like value, value2 and value 3 as well. Mark as answer if it answers ur question :)
modified on Friday, April 9, 2010 3:18 PM
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I think
(\[\[\[MyProperty3\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))is enough for both of ur requirements, if i understood it clearly :| something like ...Regex regex = new Regex(@"(\[\[\[MyProperty3\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))");
Match regexmatch = regex.Match(@"[[[MyProperty1]]] Value [[[MyProperty2]]] value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] value 3");
regexmatch.Groups["MyProperty3"].ValueIt'd work for values like value, value2 and value 3 as well. Mark as answer if it answers ur question :)
modified on Friday, April 9, 2010 3:18 PM
I prefer a more generalized technique.
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I think
(\[\[\[MyProperty3\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))is enough for both of ur requirements, if i understood it clearly :| something like ...Regex regex = new Regex(@"(\[\[\[MyProperty3\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))");
Match regexmatch = regex.Match(@"[[[MyProperty1]]] Value [[[MyProperty2]]] value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] value 3");
regexmatch.Groups["MyProperty3"].ValueIt'd work for values like value, value2 and value 3 as well. Mark as answer if it answers ur question :)
modified on Friday, April 9, 2010 3:18 PM
The property name is looks like this [[[MyProperty2]]] but does not end with . So the property/value item shows up as [[[MyProperty2]]] Value2. So if there are multiple properties it will look like this: [[[MyProperty1]]] Value1 [[[MyProperty2]]] Value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] Value3. Having said that, the pattern provided did not work because I think it is looking for end tag. One other thing I want to point out is that there can be only one property which can or cannot have a space after it. My requirements: 1) Get the value of a property if only one propery is listed ([[[MyProperty1]]] value1) 2) Get the value of a property if there are more than one properies listed ([[[MyProperty1]]] value1 [[[MyProperty2]]] value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] value3 3) In the pattern, I want to pass in the property name and get back the value 4) Use VBScript.RegexExp object (which I dont think will make a difference when it comes to pattern) Thanks so much for assisting me with this.
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The property name is looks like this [[[MyProperty2]]] but does not end with . So the property/value item shows up as [[[MyProperty2]]] Value2. So if there are multiple properties it will look like this: [[[MyProperty1]]] Value1 [[[MyProperty2]]] Value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] Value3. Having said that, the pattern provided did not work because I think it is looking for end tag. One other thing I want to point out is that there can be only one property which can or cannot have a space after it. My requirements: 1) Get the value of a property if only one propery is listed ([[[MyProperty1]]] value1) 2) Get the value of a property if there are more than one properies listed ([[[MyProperty1]]] value1 [[[MyProperty2]]] value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] value3 3) In the pattern, I want to pass in the property name and get back the value 4) Use VBScript.RegexExp object (which I dont think will make a difference when it comes to pattern) Thanks so much for assisting me with this.
I understand is not in string of properties. Its a Named capture group literal in regex used to store matched strings under that name provided inside <> This solution does worked with MyProperty1, MyProperty2 and MyProperty3. Try it urself !!! ;) Note: To get value of property, replace #### from
(\[\[\[####\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<####>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))to that name Example To get MyProperty3 use regex(\[\[\[MyProperty3\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))Search for Named capture groups to understand use of <> in regex. Edit: I have updated it lil bit to take care of end of line as well. -
I understand is not in string of properties. Its a Named capture group literal in regex used to store matched strings under that name provided inside <> This solution does worked with MyProperty1, MyProperty2 and MyProperty3. Try it urself !!! ;) Note: To get value of property, replace #### from
(\[\[\[####\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<####>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))to that name Example To get MyProperty3 use regex(\[\[\[MyProperty3\]\]\][\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))Search for Named capture groups to understand use of <> in regex. Edit: I have updated it lil bit to take care of end of line as well. -
I wrote a pattern that works as well thanks to you and everyone else that helped me out. THANKS! Here is my pattern in case you want to see it (and let me know if im missing something): \[{3}MyProperty1\]{3} ([^ ]+)
Great !!! Its always better to use Named capturing groups in complicated regex patterns. But this one is ok ;) BTW what about values with spaces ?
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Great !!! Its always better to use Named capturing groups in complicated regex patterns. But this one is ok ;) BTW what about values with spaces ?
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Dont worry my solution still works !!! I guess u don;t need name captured groups, so I have removed it n here is new one
(\[{3}MyProperty4\]{3}[\s{1}])(.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))
Mark as anwser !!!! :-D
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The property name is looks like this [[[MyProperty2]]] but does not end with . So the property/value item shows up as [[[MyProperty2]]] Value2. So if there are multiple properties it will look like this: [[[MyProperty1]]] Value1 [[[MyProperty2]]] Value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] Value3. Having said that, the pattern provided did not work because I think it is looking for end tag. One other thing I want to point out is that there can be only one property which can or cannot have a space after it. My requirements: 1) Get the value of a property if only one propery is listed ([[[MyProperty1]]] value1) 2) Get the value of a property if there are more than one properies listed ([[[MyProperty1]]] value1 [[[MyProperty2]]] value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] value3 3) In the pattern, I want to pass in the property name and get back the value 4) Use VBScript.RegexExp object (which I dont think will make a difference when it comes to pattern) Thanks so much for assisting me with this.
I prefer the technique I showed. You then enumerate the Matches and fill a Dictionary with the Names and Values. Your requirements 1 -- 3 are then satisfied by the Dictionary and you only have to execute the RegEx once per group of properties.
Fayu wrote:
Use VBScript
Then why post it in the C# forum? Or maybe you should give more information on the bigger picture of what you are trying to accomplish.
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Dont worry my solution still works !!! I guess u don;t need name captured groups, so I have removed it n here is new one
(\[{3}MyProperty4\]{3}[\s{1}])(.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))
Mark as anwser !!!! :-D
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Dont worry my solution still works !!! I guess u don;t need name captured groups, so I have removed it n here is new one
(\[{3}MyProperty4\]{3}[\s{1}])(.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))
Mark as anwser !!!! :-D
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Now time to callback my initial post. :| Like I said use Named capturing groups. Using this you can just return the value of provided propertyname
Regex regex = new Regex(@"(\[{3}MyProperty3\]{3}[\s{1}])(?<MyProperty3>.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$))");
Match regexmatch = regex.Match(@"[[[MyProperty1]]] Value [[[MyProperty2]]] value2 [[[MyProperty3]]] value 3");
string value = regexmatch.Groups["MyProperty3"].ValueAbove code will return value of property MyProperty3
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I would LOVE an explanation on the logic behind this... (\[{3}Property2\]{3}[\s{1}])(.*?(?=\s{1}\[|$)) The only part I understand is (\[{3}Property2\]{3}[\s{1}])
Yeah!!! u ought to know everything thats going around on earth :wtf: Google will take you to right place if you search for positive lookahead in regex :-\
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I prefer the technique I showed. You then enumerate the Matches and fill a Dictionary with the Names and Values. Your requirements 1 -- 3 are then satisfied by the Dictionary and you only have to execute the RegEx once per group of properties.
Fayu wrote:
Use VBScript
Then why post it in the C# forum? Or maybe you should give more information on the bigger picture of what you are trying to accomplish.
Your solution will also give same result, but it will return all properties. As Fayu asked on his requirement, it wasnt he is looking for. Cheers !!!
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Your solution will also give same result, but it will return all properties. As Fayu asked on his requirement, it wasnt he is looking for. Cheers !!!
Navnath R. Kale wrote:
it wasnt he is looking for
It should be.
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I prefer the technique I showed. You then enumerate the Matches and fill a Dictionary with the Names and Values. Your requirements 1 -- 3 are then satisfied by the Dictionary and you only have to execute the RegEx once per group of properties.
Fayu wrote:
Use VBScript
Then why post it in the C# forum? Or maybe you should give more information on the bigger picture of what you are trying to accomplish.
Fayu wrote:
I wish I can use the CLR but the requirements I have prevent me from using the CLR.
::Throws up hands::