regexp expression for month

[kylomas 412]

Regexp Experts,

I am looking for a month in an HTML page.

When I run the expression

(?s)(?i)>(sep.*?)<

I get the expected results, but, when I then try to expand the expression for alternation such as

(?s)(?i)>((sep|oct).*?)<

I get the expected line and another line with "sep" in the array.

I am not looking for a fix, just an explanation as I am trying to understand this cryptic language.

Thanks,

kylomas

[AZJIO 125]

'(?si)>((?:sep|oct).*?)<'

Edited October 26, 2012 by AZJIO

[kylomas 412]

AZJIO,

Thanks,

kylomas

[kylomas 412]

AZJIO,

One more question, please. The "?:" works as documented here?

Non-capturing group. Behaves just like a normal group, but does not record the matching characters in the array nor can the matched text be used for back-referencing.

I do not understand this. If you have time, a simple explanation, please?

kylomas

[Malkey 181]

Using the StringRegExp function, the text of the test string that matches the pattern within a non-capturing group will not appear in the resulting array.

Using the StringRegExp or StringRegExpReplace functions, a non-capture group or groups doesdo not generate a back-reference.

See example.

;Non-capturing group behaviour -  Behaves just like a normal group, but does not record the matching characters in the array

Local $STestString = "abc#123 def#456 ghi#789"

; The two capture groups, "([a-z]+)" and "([0-9]+)", match the letters and the numbers.
; Both letters and numbers appear in the array.
Local $sRes = "Capture groups" & @CRLF
Local $aTheArray = StringRegExp($STestString, "([a-z]+)#([0-9]+)", 3)
For $i = 0 To UBound($aTheArray) - 1
    $sRes &= "$aTheArray[" & $i & "] = " & $aTheArray[$i] & @CRLF
Next
MsgBox(0, "Results 1 Array - Both letters and numbers are in capture groups", $sRes)

; The non-capturing group, "(?:[0-9]+)", matches the numbers. Note: The matching characters,
; the numbers, does not appear in the array.
$sRes = "With one non-capture groups" & @CRLF
Local $aTheArray = StringRegExp($STestString, "([a-z]+)#(?:[0-9]+)", 3)
For $i = 0 To UBound($aTheArray) - 1
    $sRes &= "$aTheArray[" & $i & "] = " & $aTheArray[$i] & @CRLF
Next
MsgBox(0, "Results 2 Array - Matching numbers are in a non-capturing group", $sRes)


;============================== Back-referencing =========================================
;Non-capturing group behaviour - nor can the matched text be used for back-referencing.

; Again two capture groups, "([a-z]+)" and "([0-9]+)".
$sRes = "Back-referencing captured groups" & @CRLF
$sRes &= StringRegExpReplace($STestString, "([a-z]+)#([0-9]+)", 'Back-reference 1 = "1" and Back-reference 2 = "2" or "$2" or "${2}"' & @CRLF)
MsgBox(0, "Results 3 Back-referencing two captured groups used.", $sRes)

; Again, second group, matches the numbers, can not be used for back-referencing.
; There is no "2" or "$2" or "${2}" - back-referencing notation for second back-reference.
$sRes = "Back-referencing - Second group is a non-captured group" & @CRLF
$sRes &= StringRegExpReplace($STestString, "([a-z]+)#(?:[0-9]+)", 'Back-reference 1 = "1" and Back-reference 2 = "2" or "$2" or "${2}"' & @CRLF)
MsgBox(0, "Results 4 Back-referencing - Second group, numbers, is a non-captured group", $sRes)

[kylomas 412]

Malkey,

Thanks,

kylomas