Hi world!

Just need a tiny bit of help with this regexp:

PHP Code:

<?
$text = "<open>¬!”£$%^&*()_+{}:@~?`-=[];’#<>,./</close>";
if (preg_match("/<open>([^<]*)<\/close>/i",  $text,  $matches)) print $matches[1];
?>

The above regexp doesn't work because of the '<' that exists in the string. If i remove it, the regexp works:

PHP Code:

<?
$text = "<open>¬!”£$%^&*()_+{}:@~?`-=[];’#>,./</close>";
if (preg_match("/<open>([^<]*)<\/close>/i",  $text,  $matches)) print $matches[1];
?>

Any ideas why and any workarounds???

thanks

What do you mean it doesn't work?(like does it throw an error, or does it just not match your pattern?) What type of patterns are you trying to match?

Sorry for the lack of clarity.

It doesn't match the pattern!

I am trying to extract everything inbetween <open> and </close>.

It works fine up until it finds a '<' in the string.

Any ideas?

What about:

"/<open>([^<]*?)<\/close>/i"

That's what i'm using... isn't it???

"/<open>([^<]*?)<\/close>/i"

There's an extra question mark that ought to put it in non-greedy mode...

Can anyone explain what this code does?

Thanks 0beron, it works.

But, for some reason, it is now spitting out:

�!��$%^&*()_+{}:@~?`-=[];�#<>,./

as the match!!! Any ideas why???

Hi Tomos,

In a nut sheel, it checks the string to see if <open>some text here</close> exists and then extracts the "some text here".

Oh right. So where would it be used?

Originally Posted by fambi

Thanks 0beron, it works.

But, for some reason, it is now spitting out:

�!��$%^&*()_+{}:@~?`-=[];�#<>,./

as the match!!! Any ideas why???

Not sure - might have something to do with the character set used to output the match? Try calling addslashes() or htmlentities() on the string before echoing it?

Tomos - this code uses a regular expression, which is basically a very compact and flexible way of finding specific things in text strings - here it is being used for picking out tags of some sort, but you can use them to check URLs and emails are valid, to match code numbers for an ordering system, to make sure usernames and form input don't have any dodgy characters or bits of script in them, the list goes on.

Oh right. Thanks 0beron!

0beron - i thought the same and will try it out.

Tomos - this example can be used to extract the <title> of a webpage

Originally Posted by fambi

Thanks 0beron, it works.

Sorry 0beron! I have to take my words back... it doesn't seem to be working.

This is the full php script, nothing more and nothing less:

PHP Code:

<?
    $text = "<open>¬!”£$%^&*()_+{}:@~?`-=[];’#<>,./</close>";
    if (preg_match("/<open>([^<]*?)<\/close>/i",  $text,  $matches)) 
    {
        print "<pre>";
        print_r($matches);
        print "</pre>";
    }
?>

If you have a few seconds, please try it out. I still have the same problem, i.e. if i remove the 'less than' sign it works, otherwise not.

0beron! 0beron! Where art thou 0beron?