RegEx synax question

[rudi]

Hi.

This basically is a pure RegEx question, so it's a bit OT here

But I know that several RegEx specialists are here, ... so forgive me asking here for the required help >_<

To correct the sevices file of several PCs I want to check an additional entry required for an ERP client:

RegExString="turbo\s+1526/tcp"

will match anything like "turbo <whitespace(s)>1526/tcp"

I'd like to expand that search expression, so that it will match this one (without comment).

And additional in case, IF there is a valid comment behind this statement, but NOT, if something follows that isn't a valid comment.

A valid comment is separated through "<whitespace(s)>#"

Valid entries:

"turbo 1526/tcp"

"turbo 1526/tcp "

"turbo 1526/tcp # some comment"

Invalid entries:

"turbo 1526/tcp#"

"turbo 1526/tcp ;"

"turbo 1526/tcp ; some comment"

"turbo 1526/tcp some comment"

"turbo 1526/tcpsome comment"

Regards, Rudi.

[Community On Patrol]

Hi rudi,

Just a note on Regular Expressions and AutoIt in case you didn't know.

AutoIt uses the PCRE (Perl Compatible Regular Expressions) engine.

If you are using google for tutorials or just searching for specifics, keep this in mind when looking for expressions or help on expressions.

Some things that may help you along with future questions or concerns:

QuickStart

Tutorials

RegExCoach

[rudi]

Hi.

The basics of RegEx are known.

What I fail to "express" is:

Match, if "RegEx1" is the full line

OR

Match, if "RegEx1" & "Whitespace(s)" is found

OR

Match, if "RegEx1" & "Whitespace(s)" & "#" is found.

What I thought of is this, but it doesn't do the job, as at least one whiteblank has to follow:

"turbo\s+1526/tcp\s+[#]*"

Regards, Rudi.

[SmOke_N]

"turbo\s+1526/tcp(?:\s+#\w.*?|\s*)(?:\z|\r)"

Try that

Edit:

Had a mistake after tcp

Edited September 29, 2008 by SmOke_N

[rudi]

Hi,

I think I've got it using optionals:

(turbo\s+1526/tcp(\s+$|\s+#.+))

Regards, Rudi.

[rudi]

"turbo\s+1526/tcp\(?:\s+#\w.*?|\s*)(?:\z|\r\n)"

Try that

I missed to mention, that I use filereadtoarray() and examine every line separately.

So this one seems to do the job:

"turbo\s+1526/tcp(\s+#.*?$|\s*$)"

Thanks! Rudi.

[SmOke_N]

I missed to mention, that I use filereadtoarray() and examine every line separately.

So this one seems to do the job:

"turbo\s+1526/tcp(\s+#.*?$|\s*$)"

Thanks! Rudi.

I made account for that (every line separate or if you were reading an entire file). \z is the same as $ for PCRE ...

Edit:

But what you have looks like it will work as well >_<

Edited September 29, 2008 by SmOke_N

[jokke]

Hi rudi,

Just a note on Regular Expressions and AutoIt in case you didn't know.

AutoIt uses the PCRE (Perl Compatible Regular Expressions) engine.

If you are using google for tutorials or just searching for specifics, keep this in mind when looking for expressions or help on expressions.

Some things that may help you along with future questions or concerns:

QuickStart

Tutorials

RegExCoach

Sorry to go offtopic here, but is this a bot or something as the posts from this "user" is allways so "strict" self help related ?

Edited September 29, 2008 by jokke

[SmOke_N]

Sorry to go offtopic here, but is this a bot or something as the posts from this "user" is allways so "strict" self help related ?

Which just goes to prove a point with this question. No one ever takes the time to search before opening their yap.

[jokke]

Which just goes to prove a point with this question. No one ever takes the time to search before opening their yap.

WOW i did not expect that one

But i get you'r point.

[rudi]

@SmOke_N

Thanks again for your 1st reply. Without that one I would still be searching for the right RegEx

Finally this is what is doing all I need:

"^\s*turbo\s+1526/tcp(\s+#.*$|\s*$)"

Regards, Rudi.

-----

PS: Explanation. Not for you, but for others that might search for RegEx examples: I do remember very well my first weeks with RegEx. I'm still a beginner, but now at least I can read most of these expressions >_<

"^": start of line

"\s*": "\s" whitespace, "*" zero to unlimited times. So "leading whitespaces may occur, but are not required"

"turbo": literally "turbo"

"\s+": as above, "+" means one to unlimited times

"1526/tcp": literally, as above

(one|two): match either "one" or "two"

"\s+": one or more whitespaces

"#": followed by the correct comment sign "#"

".*$": "." any character (except linebreak), zero to unlimited times, "$" up to end of line.

"|": OR

"\s": zero to unlimited whitespaces, "$" up to EOL.

So behind the correct entry there may be whitespaces (they don't harm). If whitespaces occur, the 1st "non-whitespace" has to be "#", after that everything to EOL is fine.