Javascript regex match formatting to parse data

Question

I need to match data within a string in order to parse the data. The format for the data is follows

A*(anything)B*(anything)ABC*(anything)

The keys will always be A, B, ABC or DCE.

I have it working for the keys with the length of one character.

$(function() {

var s = "A*(anything)B*(anything)ABC*(anything)DCE*(anything)";

s.match(/(A|B|ABC|DCE)\*[^*]+(?!\*)/g).forEach(match => {
    var [k, v] = match.split('*');

    console.log(k + "->" + v);
});

});

However, this is the output (doesn't work with 1+ length keys

A->(anything)
B->(anything)AB
DCE->(anything)

The value is not always (anything) - it is dynamic.

I think the issue is with (?!*)/g

Are the desired values always in parentheses like that?

CertainPerformance
– CertainPerformance

2018-05-13 05:38:37 +00:00
Commented May 13, 2018 at 5:38 — CertainPerformance
– CertainPerformance, Commented May 13, 2018 at 5:38

Tim Biegeleisen · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-13 06:07:44Z

1

I managed to get your logic working using a formal regex matcher. The problem with your regex pattern is that you are using a negative lookahead to stop the match. Instead, use a positive lookahead which asserts that we have reached the next (A|B|ABC|DCE)* or the end of the string.

var s = "A*(anything)B*(anything)ABC*(anything)DCE*(anything)";
var regexp = /(A|B|ABC|DCE)\*(.*?)(?=(?:A|B|ABC|DCE)\*|$)/g;
var match = regexp.exec(s);
while (match != null) {
    print(match[0].split("\*")[0] + "->"+ match[0].split("\*")[1]);
    match = myRegexp.exec(myString);
}

Demo

edited May 13, 2018 at 6:07

answered May 13, 2018 at 5:54

Tim Biegeleisen

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4 Comments

Ahmed Enzea Over a year ago

Great, this works like a charm. Is there a way to store "A|B|ABC|DCE" in a variable and then implement it into the regex from the variable?

Tim Biegeleisen Over a year ago

@AhmedEnzea Yes, you may use a RegExp object constructor, see here. Just pass any string you wish to the constructor.

The fourth bird Over a year ago

You are right about the placeholder! Deleted my answer and upvoted yours.

Tim Biegeleisen Over a year ago

@Thefourthbird It's sometimes hard here to even figure out what is being asked. I appreciate your support.

ewwink · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-13 06:36:47Z

0

why not using [^\)] instead of [^*]

var s = "A*(anything)B*(anything)ABC*(anything)DCE*(anything)";

// s.match(/[ABCDE]+\*[^\)]+\)/g).forEach(match =>
// or
s.match(/(A|B|ABC|DCE)\*[^\)]+\)/g).forEach(match => {
    var [k, v] = match.split('*');

    console.log(k + "->" + v);
});

edited May 13, 2018 at 6:36

answered May 13, 2018 at 6:15

ewwink

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2 Comments

Tim Biegeleisen Over a year ago

This happens to work for the exact example input given, but it would fail if, for example, the content were this (and) that, or anything else which doesn't always terminate in closing parenthesis.

ewwink Over a year ago

please update your anything so we know exactly the problem

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