don't quite understand StringRegExp

[dwaynek]

here is the help file's script using option 1:

;Option 1, using offset
$nOffset = 1
While 1
    $array = StringRegExp('<test>a</test> <test>b</test> <test>c</Test>', '<(?i)test>(.*?)</(?i)test>', 1, $nOffset)
    
    If @error = 0 Then
        $nOffset = @extended
    Else
        ExitLoop
    EndIf
    for $i = 0 to UBound($array) - 1
        msgbox(0, "RegExp Test with Option 1 - " & $i, $array[$i])
    Next
WEnd

it outputs a then b then c. i thought by default it puts these values into the array $array but when i tried to display these values after the while loop as shown below eg msgbox (0,"", array[0]), i got an error!

;Option 1, using offset
$nOffset = 1
While 1
    $array = StringRegExp('<test>a</test> <test>b</test> <test>c</Test>', '<(?i)test>(.*?)</(?i)test>', 1, $nOffset)
    
    If @error = 0 Then
        $nOffset = @extended
    Else
        ExitLoop
    EndIf
    for $i = 0 to UBound($array) - 1
        msgbox(0, "RegExp Test with Option 1 - " & $i, $array[$i])
    Next
WEnd

msgbox(0,"",$array[0])

the error is: Subscript used with non-Array variable.

but didn't it just work a second ago within the While loop?

so my question is, how do i retain the values in $array so i can use them for later?

Edited July 31, 2009 by dwaynek

[Authenticity]

You need to read the return value and the function description carefully. As it's stated in the function description:

Flag = 1 or 2 :
@Error Meaning 
0 Array is valid. Check @Extended for next offset 
1 Array is invalid. No matches. 
2 Bad pattern, array is invalid. @Extended = offset of error in pattern.

So somewhere it must fail and set @error to exit the loop, which in this case invalidates the content of $array. To make it possible to record the matches either use a global array and ReDim it and record the $array content each loop, or specify 3 in the third parameter of the StringRegExp() function to search and return global matches.

[dwaynek]

You need to read the return value and the function description carefully. As it's stated in the function description:

Flag = 1 or 2 :
@Error Meaning 
0 Array is valid. Check @Extended for next offset 
1 Array is invalid. No matches. 
2 Bad pattern, array is invalid. @Extended = offset of error in pattern.

So somewhere it must fail and set @error to exit the loop, which in this case invalidates the content of $array. To make it possible to record the matches either use a global array and ReDim it and record the $array content each loop, or specify 3 in the third parameter of the StringRegExp() function to search and return global matches.

thanks! i didn't realize that's what "global matches" meant. i knew what a global array or variable was but the way the help doc used the term, i thought it meant something else. sometimes reading docs isn't as helpful as someone else's enlightened explanation. >_< thanks again!

[exodius]

If you aren't already using it, I'd recommend downloading this Quick Tester made by Lazycat, it's pretty sweet for figuring out how to phrase your Regular Expressions.

[rudi]

Quick Tester made by Lazycat

I expirienced, that this include list is required when using that "Quick Tester" with Autoit v3.3.0.0

#include <GUIConstants.au3>
#include <windowsconstants.au3>
#include <buttonconstants.au3>
#include <comboconstants.au3>
#include <guiedit.au3>
#include <tabconstants.au3>

BTW: The Online Help of Autoit includes a regexp tester:

Autoit -> Tutorials -> String Regular Expression: At the end of this topic you'll find a button labeled "Open StringRegExpGUI.au3".

Regards, Rudi.