RegExp - returns only 1 result (instead of 2) - when in list they are in sequence

[Zedna]

I have list of values delimited by | and I try to search values with similar base name.

example: base name = 'my_first', list = '|my_other|my_first|my_other|my_first_01|'

I that example I try to search |my_first*| in list.

I need to get only number of similar names for given base name so I use StringRegExpReplace()

and test @extended where is returned number of replacements.

I have almost good RegExp patttern which is working fine:

StringRegExpReplace($list1, '|' & $base_name & '[^|]*|', '|')

StringRegExpReplace($list1, '|my_first[^|]*|', '|')

until similar names are in list in sequence (there are no other names between them)

like this list = '|my_other|my_first|my_first_01|my_other|',

in such case it returns in @extended only 1 instead of expected number 2.

Please help me because I'm not experienced in RegExp very much, thanks.

Here is my Autoit code:

$list1 = '|my_other|my_first|my_other|my_first_01|'
$list2 = '|my_other|my_first|my_first_01|my_other|'

$base_name = 'my_first'

ConsoleWrite(@CRLF)
ConsoleWrite('list1 (OK)' & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite('list1: ' & $list1 & @CRLF)
$ret = StringRegExpReplace($list1, '\|' & $base_name & '[^|]*\|', '|')
ConsoleWrite('@error/@extended: ' & @error & ' ' & @extended & @CRLF)

; ---

ConsoleWrite(@CRLF)
ConsoleWrite('list2 (PROBLEM)' & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite('list2: ' & $list2 & @CRLF)
$ret = StringRegExpReplace($list2, '\|' & $base_name & '[^|]*\|', '|')
ConsoleWrite('@error/@extended: ' & @error & ' ' & @extended & @CRLF)

RESULT:
 

list1 (OK)
list1: |my_other|my_first|my_other|my_first_01|
@error/@extended: 0 2

list2 (PROBLEM)
list2: |my_other|my_first|my_first_01|my_other|
@error/@extended: 0 1

 

Edited June 15, 2014 by Zedna

[guinness]

$ret = StringRegExpReplace($list2, '\|' & $base_name & '[^|]*(?=\|)', '')

Use this ...

 

[mikell]

$ret = StringRegExpReplace($list1, '\|\Q' & $base_name & '\E[^|]*', '|')

Don't remove the 2nd |

I suggest the use of  Q...E  in case of special characters in $base_name 

[Zedna]

Thank you both guys!

It works good.

Also thanks for useful tip with Q E which I will use definitely.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Zedna

[Zedna]

$ret = StringRegExpReplace($list2, '\|' & $base_name & '[^|]*(?=\|)', '')

Can you explain me that part: (?=|) ?

I couldn't find description of ?= in the helpfile for StringRegExp().

[guinness]

It's a positive lookahead i.e. (?=)

PS It's in the help file of v3.3.10.0 and above, thanks to jchd.

Edited June 15, 2014 by guinness

[Zedna]

PS It's in the help file of v3.3.10.0 and above, thanks to jchd.

Ah. OK.

I use AutoIt 3.2.12.1 as my primary (release) version and 3.3.7.23 as secondary (beta) version :)

so I'm "few" years late :)

Edited June 15, 2014 by Zedna

[guinness]

I haven't forgotten! -_0

[Zedna]

It's a positive lookahead i.e. (?=)

PS It's in the help file of v3.3.10.0 and above, thanks to jchd.

 

Just for the reference, description is here in Online Documentation:

http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/functions/StringRegExp.htm

[guinness]

Thanks.