StringRegExp only returning optional group

[gamepin126]

The relevant code's quite large, but this is the primary issue I'm having. I'm using RegexBuddy to test my patterns, and it has no issue returning the value I want.

Test string : "value               795.45    23.57%    64.28"
Pattern : "^value\s{2,}\d+(\.\d+)?"

Both without quotes, of course.

$input = InputBox("input", "")
$pattern = InputBox("pattern", "")


    $array = StringRegExp($input, $pattern, 1)

    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

Now, that pattern should return "value 795.45" however, it only returns ".45". Is this intended, or an alternate method of getting the string I want? I've had this issue every time I've used optional groups. It's the only thing that gets returned.

Edited December 21, 2009 by gamepin126

[danielkza]

I think you messed up your pattern (posted the wrong one), because a string starting with 'value' will never match '^white'.

[gamepin126]

I think you messed up your pattern (posted the wrong one), because a string starting with 'value' will never match '^white'.

Ah, I guess I did. But that's not the issue. I'll fix that in the post but those are just test words. Edited December 21, 2009 by gamepin126

[danielkza]

Yeah, I figured you would have noticed it. But your problem is very simple to solve: some RegEx software (like, I assume, RegexBuddy) default to returning the whole match in the first element of the returned array.

AutoIT doesn't do that: you have to instruct it to do so by using flag 2.

"2 - Return array of matches including the full match (Perl / PHP style)."

Edited December 21, 2009 by danielkza

[gamepin126]

Yeah, I figured you would have noticed it. But your problem is very simple to solve: some RegEx software (like, I assume, RegexBuddy) default to returning the whole match in the first element of the returned array.

AutoIT doesn't do that: you have to instruct it to do so by using flag 2.

"2 - Return array of matches including the full match (Perl / PHP style)."

That did it, thanks. And thanks for the quick responses. However, it's also returning the correct match, and ".45" in the next element which is a little annoying, but workable.

[danielkza]

Just make the last group non-capturing:

"^value\s{2,}\d+(?:\.\d+)?"

Edited December 21, 2009 by danielkza

[gamepin126]

Awesome, I'm still new to regex.

Thanks again!

[GEOSoft]

RegExBuddy is not great for use with the PCRE reg ex engine. I've actually stopped using it entirely.

[gamepin126]

RegExBuddy is not great for use with the PCRE reg ex engine. I've actually stopped using it entirely.

Hmm, so then are you using Expresso? It's the only other editor I know of. That's also really unfortunate to hear. I use EditPad Pro as my main text editor, it's so handy! Edited December 21, 2009 by gamepin126