Question about stringregexp

[benjbong]

I'm having trouble understanding stringregexp. I've experimented and read the help file over and over but nothing seems to be clicking with me. My end goal is to be verify whether or not a string is in the format of hrs:mins:secs like 1:15:01

I would think \d:\d\d:\d\d would work?

[benjbong]

so if i have the script

$string = "0:00:0a"
if not StringRegExp($string, 'd:dd:dd') Then
msgbox(0,"","invalid time")
EndIf

it works. But if i change this line to:

$string = "a0:00:00"

it doesn't say it's invalid. How to i make sure entire string is in the format of 0-9:0-90-9:0-90-9?

Edited March 9, 2012 by benjbong

[kylomas]

benjbong,

Nor should it because the regex is matching on your pattern in both instances. To make matching start at the beginning of the line you need to use the "(?m)" specification first followed by the start of line character, "^". You pattern might look like "(?m)^d:dd:dd".

I'm just learning regex so you may need to experiment.

kylomas

[jchd]

You need to anchor your pattern. StringRegExp($string, '^d:dd:dd$')

If you don't, the regexp engine will find a matching part in your subject string, abcd7:15:23efgh would match.

Also, are you sure you allow for 8:99:99 to match?

@kylomas,

The multiline option isn't required, at least from what the OP shows.

Edited March 9, 2012 by jchd

[kylomas]

@jchd,

Thanks

[jchd]

You're always welcome.

Should the OP have to deal with $s = '1:23:45' & @CRLF & '2:34:56' & @CRLF & '3:45:67'

then, yes, the pattern would need to be '(?m)^d:dd:dd$'

But still my question remains open: are seconds and minutes > 59 to be allowed?

[kylomas]

@jchd,

Given the string "12:32:31" pattern "^dd:dd:dd" matches, but pattern "^dd:dd:dd$" does not. I am using a string regexp tester I found on the forum to test this. I deon't understand the use of "$", please explain.

kylomas

[benjbong]

You need to anchor your pattern. StringRegExp($string, '^d:dd:dd$')

If you don't, the regexp engine will find a matching part in your subject string, abcd7:15:23efgh would match.

Also, are you sure you allow for 8:99:99 to match?

@kylomas,

The multiline option isn't required, at least from what the OP shows.

That works, thanks. So the ^ indicates the start of the string and the $ indicates the end? But you're right, i would need it to be 0-60 in the mins and secs portion.

would this work:

StringRegExp($string, '^d:[0-5]d:[0-5]d$')

Edited March 9, 2012 by benjbong

[benjbong]

That works, thanks. So the ^ indicates the start of the string and the $ indicates the end? But you're right, i would need it to be 0-60 in the mins and secs portion.

would this work:

StringRegExp($string, '^d:[0-5]d:[0-5]d$')

I meant to say 0-59. The expression I put up there works. Thanks you guys, this is making a lot more sense now. Is there a better resource than the help file to better learn expressions?

[benjbong]

@jchd,

Given the string "12:32:31" pattern "^dd:dd:dd" matches, but pattern "^dd:dd:dd$" does not. I am using a string regexp tester I found on the forum to test this. I deon't understand the use of "$", please explain.

kylomas

It looks like you're missing the in front of the second d - you have dd instead of dd

[kylomas]

benjbong,

Good catch,

kylomas

[jchd]

Correct about ^ and $. They (generally) match start and end of subject string, so your subject can't show anything before or after the pattern. In multiline mode (the (?m) discussed) they match at line boundaries as well, so the pattern will match a line in my example above (where you just now rightfully found a typo, thanks [it's a bit late for me, 2AM]).

Edit: I thought it was in mine!

Yes your [0-5]d subpattern is correct for minutes and seconds.

I'll post a very good regexp reference shortly, stay tuned.

Here it is: http://www.asiteaboutnothing.net/regexp/ HIGHLY recommended!

Edited March 9, 2012 by jchd

[benjbong]

Correct about ^ and $. They (generally) match start and end of subject string, so your subject can't show anything before or after the pattern. In multiline mode (the (?m) discussed) they match at line boundaries as well, so the pattern will match a line in my example above (where you just now rightfully found a typo, thanks [it's a bit late for me, 2AM]).

Edit: I thought it was in mine!

Yes your [0-5]d subpattern is correct for minutes and seconds.

I'll post a very good regexp reference shortly, stay tuned.

Brilliant, cheers.

[jchd]

I posted the site (see above).