regular expressions

[mlowe9]

Background: I am using MATCH with the Match:Regular flag to use a regular expression to match a pattern.

How do I write a regular expression in Clarion to match everything EXCEPT a string? For example, I have a 3-digit string that I want the MATCH to return True if it's not 'ZZZ'.

I've tried [^ZZZ] and [^Z][^Z][^Z] but neither works because the [^] is for a single character, not a group of characters. Thanks in advance.

 

[MarkGoldberg]

Hi mlowe9,

why not simply say
szVar <> 'ZZZ'

If you must use MATCH, then try
NOT MATCH( szVar, 'ZZZ', Match:Regular)

That said, I assume you're doing something more complex, can you please elaborate.

- Mark

 

[mlowe9]

I have a procedure that takes a regular expression argument. That procedure uses MATCH then uses the argument as the pattern. Does that make sense?

I've been using it for a while, but just got a new request to do this procedure for a pattern not including a specific string.

I could modify the procedure to maybe look for a NOT in the argument, but I was hoping to just use the procedure as is and pass the regular expression - I figure there has to be a way to do it...I've used regular expressions for a while and they are pretty flexible (once you figure it out)

So you suggest just changing the procedure. I guess it probably would be easier..I've been trying to figure this stupid regular expression out all day. Thanks!

 

[MarkGoldberg]

You could hack your procedure so that if your passed in regular expression started with a special symbol, say a '~', then you alter the logic to say NOT MATCH vs. MATCH

I know it's a hack, but it might be the cleanest solution.

HTH,
Mark

 

[mlowe9]

Yeah, based on your input I decided on using < and > to enclose any regular expression I did NOT want to match - and changing my procedure to handle it.

Thanks again.
Matt