regex question, parsing csv files

[edpatterson]

I am parsing a csv file with nine fields. I tried
[tt]
chomp;
/,(.*)^/;
[/tt]
thinking it would grab just the last field, nope. I would like to avoid having 9 sets of (.*), if possible.

Ed

 

[duncdude]

if you would like the last value then try:-

/.*,([^,]+)$/;


Kind Regards
Duncan

 

[KevinADC]

you could and probably should use a module like Text::CSV to read the CSV file, or you could do this:

chomp;
print (split(/,/))[8];

you are using the beginning of string anchor "^" in your regexp when you meant to use the end of string anchor "$"

 

[stevexff]

KevinADC is right - CSVs seem simple but there are pitfalls for the unwary, like embedded commas for a start. Use one of the CSV parser modules to avoid re-inventing the wheel.

 

[edpatterson]

<Twack!> Sound of smacking oneself in the head.

Changing ^ to $ fixed the problem.

I'll also be reading up on Text::CSV since reinventing the wheel is not one of my favorite things to do.

Ed