preg_match pattern for 1 to 3 arguments

[elck]

Hi there,

I have $pattern='/\*pag[^\]]*)[^\]]*)[^\]]*)\*/';
that works well for three arguments like:

*pag:first:second:third*

But I would like one that works also for fewer arguments, and simple returns an empty string for the patterns missing.

so other patters could be:

*pag:first:second*

and even

*pag:first::third*

can this be done with one pattern?

 

[13sio]

see if this works

$pattern='/\*pag:([^\]]*?):([^\]]*?):?([^\]]*?)\*/';

 

[elck]

Mh no, doesn't do the trick,
anyway I programmed my way around the problem,
so thanks anyway.