RegEx help pls - Teh Forum

<body> <div id="header"> <span class="left"> <span class="back"><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT"><span class="image mobile_back" title="Back"></span></a></span> <span class="image mobile_logo" title="Beehive Forum Logo"></span> </span> <ul> <li> <a class="reply_all" href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.0&return_msg=41616.4"> <span class="image mobile_reply_all"></span><span class="text">Reply to All</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="navigation" href="#"> <span class="image mobile_navigation"></span><span class="text">Show messages</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="main" href="#"><span class="image mobile_menu" title="Menu"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu main"> <ul> <li><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Messages</a></li> <li><a href="lpm.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Inbox</a></li> <li><a href="lsearch.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Search</a></li> <li><a href="llogon.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Login</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu navigation"><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.1">1–10</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.11">11–14</a></div> <div id="page_content"> <h3 class="thread_title"><a href="index.php?webtag=DEFAULT&amp;msg=41616.4">RegEx help pls</a> </h3> <div id="messages" data-navigation="41616_4_14_10"> <a name="a41616_4"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_4"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: milko<span class="message_time">30 Oct 2015 21:50</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 31 Oct 2015 01:16"></span></span> <span class="message_count">4 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4">41616.4</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.2">41616.2</a></div> <div class="message_body"> That seems like before it'll help me I will need to get more of the basics in my head. In that it is telling me stuff about my expression, but I'm finding little of that any use. Bookmarked!<br /><br /> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.4&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.4"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_5"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_5"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Peter (BOUGHTONP)<span class="message_time">30 Oct 2015 21:54</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: milko <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 30 Oct 2015 22:36"></span></span> <span class="message_count">5 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.5">41616.5</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.1">41616.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> The closest thing to what you appear to be trying is this: <pre style="color:#40F;"> ^(?:(?!mov|mpg|mp4).)*$</pre> <p>The negative lookahead <tt style="color:#40F;">(?!this)</tt> needs to be before the <tt style="color:#40F;">.</tt> and the alternation (<tt style="color:#40F;">this|stuff</tt>) handles the different strings being checked. </p><p>The outer <tt style="color:#40F;">(?:group)</tt> is almost the same as just <tt style="color:#40F;">(this)</tt> but slightly more efficient (probably not noticeably so, but it's only two extra characters). </p><p>If what you actually have is one filename per cell and you want to exclude those file extensions, a better way (that won't exclude "asmov.jpg" for example), would be: </p><pre style="color:#40F;"> ^.*$(?<!\.(?:mov|mpg|mp4))</pre> <p>This matches the entire string with <tt style="color:#40F;">^.*$</tt> then uses the negative look<em>behind</em> <tt style="color:#40F;">(?<!this)</tt> to exclude the extensions from occurring there (with a preceeding . character, which the slash escapes). </p><p>Both versions allow extra strings added just by appending <tt style="color:#40F;">|more|items|yay</tt> appropriately.</p> <div class="edit_text">EDITED: 30 Oct 2015 21:58 by BOUGHTONP</div> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.5&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.5"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_6"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_6"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: milko<span class="message_time">30 Oct 2015 22:43</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 30 Oct 2015 23:14"></span></span> <span class="message_count">6 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.6">41616.6</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4#a41616_5" target="_self">41616.5</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Now that's what I'm talking about. Thanks, Peter! Does the job perfectly. Now to think of what other situations this kind of thing will help me in.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.6&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.6"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_7"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_7"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: koswix<span class="message_time">30 Oct 2015 23:35</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 31 Oct 2015 01:16"></span></span> <span class="message_count">7 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.7">41616.7</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4#a41616_5" target="_self">41616.5</a></div> <div class="message_body"> See? </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.7&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.7"> <span class="rating">+1/1</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_8"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_8"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)<span class="message_time">31 Oct 2015 01:17</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: koswix <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 31 Oct 2015 09:13"></span></span> <span class="message_count">8 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.8">41616.8</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4#a41616_7" target="_self">41616.7</a></div> <div class="message_body"> <span class="emoticon e_unsure" title=":-/"><span class="e__">:-/</span></span></div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.8&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.8"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_9"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_9"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: koswix<span class="message_time">31 Oct 2015 09:14</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 31 Oct 2015 11:21"></span></span> <span class="message_count">9 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.9">41616.9</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4#a41616_8" target="_self">41616.8</a></div> <div class="message_body"> I know, right? </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.9&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.9"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_10"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_10"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Kenny J (WINGNUTKJ)<span class="message_time">31 Oct 2015 09:59</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 31 Oct 2015 17:06"></span></span> <span class="message_count">10 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.10">41616.10</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4#a41616_5" target="_self">41616.5</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Bravo!<br /><br /> After avoiding the things for years, the software I work with has suddenly sprouted a regex based text file parsing engine, and I'm having to try to remember everything I ever knew about them.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.10&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.10"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_11"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_11"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: koswix<span class="message_time">31 Oct 2015 12:20</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Kenny J (WINGNUTKJ) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 31 Oct 2015 18:45"></span></span> <span class="message_count">11 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.11">41616.11</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4#a41616_10" target="_self">41616.10</a></div> <div class="message_body"> When ever I see regex i just pretend I'm hacking a terminal in Fallout 3.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.11&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.11"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_12"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_12"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Peter (BOUGHTONP)<span class="message_time">31 Oct 2015 17:12</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Kenny J (WINGNUTKJ) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 31 Oct 2015 18:45"></span></span> <span class="message_count">12 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.12">41616.12</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4#a41616_10" target="_self">41616.10</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Sometimes I wonder why people avoid regex, given that it's easier than most other languages, particularly any general purpose one. <p>Then I remember there's a reason software has so many bugs in. <span class="emoticon e_unsure" title=":/"><span class="e__">:/</span></span></p></div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.12&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.12"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41616_13"></a><div class="message" id="message_41616_13"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Kenny J (WINGNUTKJ)<span class="message_time">31 Oct 2015 18:54</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 31 Oct 2015 19:10"></span></span> <span class="message_count">13 of 14</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.13">41616.13</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41616.4#a41616_12" target="_self">41616.12</a></div> <div class="message_body"> There's a reason that software has so many bugs in, but I don't think it's anything to do with regular expressions. Top 3 in my office: Lack of testing, lack of review oversight, lack of understanding of requirements.<br /><br /> I think you answered your question about why people avoid regex up there, by posting a bit of Regex. It's an arcane and very compact syntax with very little in common to natural language, and is therefore a pain in the arse to maintain if you're not dealing with it day in, day out.<br /><br /> I took to adding exhaustive comments to any regex I wrote, because I knew that in six months time, some idiot would be picking through the code trying to figure out what it was doing. I wanted to give them as much information as possible about what the expression was for, and how it worked, because there would be a fairly good chance that idiot would be me.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41616.13&return_msg=41616.4" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41616.13"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="message_page_footer"> <ul> <li class="right_col"><form accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" action="lmessages.php" target="_self"><input type="hidden" name="webtag" id="webtag" class="bhinputtext" value="DEFAULT" dir="ltr" /><input type="hidden" name="msg" id="msg" class="bhinputtext" value="41616.14" dir="ltr" /><input type="submit" name="submit" id="keep_reading" value="Keep reading…" class="button" /></form></li> </ul> </div> </div> </body>