Looking for a RegEx example

[markdmac]

Hi Guys, much as I know of VBScript, I am totally lost when it comes to regular expressions. I am hoping someone can provide me a simple example for the task I need to accomplish.

I want to open a text file. Enumerate each of the lines in the file to search for 3 lines of text that will each begin with specific text. I need to save those three lines if they are found into variables for later use and need to replace the text with new text.

The 3 lines of text I am looking for will each start with:
user_pref("network.proxy.

And I will be setting the following as the end state:
user_pref("network.proxy.http", "localhost";
user_pref("network.proxy.http_port", 8080);
user_pref("network.proxy.type", 1);

I would be grateful for any examples that can do all of the above. Thank you.

 

[TheKidd]

I can give you a snippet of code that I have that uses regular expressions. Hopefully you can use it to somehow create the code that you're needing. Hope it helps

CURR_PATH = shell.RegRead("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment\Path")
Set searchforOrant = New RegExp
searchforOrant.IgnoreCase = True
searchforOrant.Global = False
searchforOrant.Pattern = "q:\\orant\\bin"

set matchCount = searchforOrant.Execute(CURR_PATH)

If matchCount.Count <> 1 Then
   New_PATH = "Q:\ORANT\BIN;" & CURR_PATH
   Shell.RegWrite "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment\Path", New_PATH, "REG_EXPAND_SZ"

 

[markdmac]

Thanks TheKidd, I'm afraid this is similar with other examples I have found but doesn't demo for me the part I need which are combining the loop of the lines of text with checking for the pattern match.


For the sake of making this "easier" if a line of text is found that starts with my patter match I want to save that information to a variable and append to that variable each time a line is found. From there it can even just delete the line of code as I have working code to write the data I need to the file if these lines don't already exist.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[PHV]

What is your actual code and where are you stuck ?

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[markdmac]

Here is what I have now. I can do what I want with string replacement but I am thinking this is a good opportunity for me to learn about using regular expressions.
I am not sure if I am taking the right approach though since I need to search three different lines. Any recommendations on my approach are appreciated.

Dim objFSO,oTextStream
Set objFSO = CreateObject("scripting.filesystemobject")

DefaultProfileDir = "C:\Temp"


Set oTextStream = oFSO.OpenTextFile(DefaultProfileDir & "\prefs.js")
'make an array from the data file
FileArray = Split(oTextStream.ReadAll, vbNewLine)
'close the data file
oTextStream.Close


'user_pref("network.proxy.http", "localhost";
'user_pref("network.proxy.http_port", 8080);
'user_pref("network.proxy.type", 1);


For Each Line In FileArray
'Need to check for appropriate line of code with RegEx
LineCheck = GetFirstMatch("user_pref("&Chr(34)&"network.proxy.",Line)
	If LineCheck >= 1 Then
		'Save the line to a variable
		SaveSettings = SaveSettings & Line & vbCrLf
		'Now I need to replace the line
		 'Need to determine which of the 3 lines we have found set new line text

		'Not sure how to do the above replace 
		
		'Now write the new line to the report
		Report = Report & NewLine & vbCrLf
	Else 
		Report = Report & Line
	End If
Next

oTextStream.Write Report
oTextStream.Close


Function GetFirstMatch(PatternToMatch, StringToSearch)
	Dim regEx, CurrentMatch, CurrentMatches

	Set regEx = New RegExp
	regEx.Pattern = PatternToMatch
	regEx.IgnoreCase = True
	regEx.Global = True
	regEx.MultiLine = True
	Set CurrentMatches = regEx.Execute(StringToSearch)

	GetFirstMatch = ""
	If CurrentMatches.Count >= 1 Then
		Set CurrentMatch = CurrentMatches(0)
		If CurrentMatch.SubMatches.Count >= 1 Then
			GetFirstMatch = CurrentMatch.SubMatches(0)
		End If
	End If
	Set regEx = Nothing
End Function

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[MakeItSo]

Hi Mark,

this pattern should do the trick:
([\r\n]+)(user_pref\(\"network[\w\W\s\S]+\


For future working with RegExes, I recommend this tool to you:

http://regular-expression-laboratory.smartcode.com/info.html

It's a perfect little tool for experimenting with RegExes and finding the right pattern for matching and replacing.



Cheers,
Andy

[navy]"We had to turn off that service to comply with the CDA Bill."[/navy]
- The Bastard Operator From Hell

 

[markdmac]

Thanks MakeItSo. I'll give that a try and investigate that link later tonight when I can work on this project again.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[tsuji]

On matching-each-line basis.
[tt] .pattern="^\s*(?!//)\s*(user_pref\([""']network\.proxy\.)([\s\S]+)$"
[/tt]

 

[PHV]

Anyway, have a look here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/6wzad2b2(VS.85).aspx

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[markdmac]

Thanks PHV. I'll enjoy reading the msdn article.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[TheKidd]

Geez I tried providing an answer without realizing it was you markdmac. I didn't check the name before I responded. You're way ahead of me in this vbscript world