RegExpression Help

[Jim in Arizona]

I set up a regular expression validator on my web form to make sure
users were putting in correct time format but I can't seem to get it right.

The problem is that I need them to input a time based on the 12 hour
clock. This regular expression works fine:

^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])$

However, this does not include AM or PM designators and this is where I
can't seem to find the proper expression. I have tried this:

^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9]):b([AM]|[am]|[PM]|[pm])$

That one doesn't work. I even tried making it as simple as possible just
for testing purposes, like so:

^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])([AM])$
or
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])AM$

But, when I put in a time like 12:20AM or 12:20 AM, the validator is
triggered.

I'm hoping to avoid using a 24 hour clock as this would just cause
frustration for our secretaries.

TIA,
Jim

[Alexey Smirnov]

Re: RegExpression Help

On Apr 2, 7:03 pm, Jim in Arizona <tiltow...@hotm ail.comwrote:

I set up a regular expression validator on my web form to make sure
users were putting in correct time format but I can't seem to get it right.
>
The problem is that I need them to input a time based on the 12 hour
clock. This regular expression works fine:
>
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])$
>
However, this does not include AM or PM designators and this is where I
can't seem to find the proper expression. I have tried this:
>
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9]):b([AM]|[am]|[PM]|[pm])$
>
That one doesn't work. I even tried making it as simple as possible just
for testing purposes, like so:
>
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])([AM])$
or
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])AM$
>
But, when I put in a time like 12:20AM or 12:20 AM, the validator is
triggered.
>
I'm hoping to avoid using a 24 hour clock as this would just cause
frustration for our secretaries.
>
TIA,
Jim

Jim, you don't need brackets (used to create a set of characters) and
because of single space you have to use a "\s"

This will work

^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9]\s?AM|am|PM|pm) $

[Jim in Arizona]

Re: RegExpression Help

Jim, you don't need brackets (used to create a set of characters) and

because of single space you have to use a "\s"
>
This will work
>
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9]\s?AM|am|PM|pm) $
>

I'm pretty new at regular expressions being that this is my first time
ever trying to use them. I was going off the msdn article at
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...cs(VS.80).aspx and the :b
was supposed to be a single space. Of course, I was using it wrong.

Thanks for your help. I'll be able to move forward with my project now.

[Cowboy \(Gregory A. Beamer\)]

Re: RegExpression Help

^(((([1-9])|(([0][0-9])|([1][0-2]))):[0-5][0-9])\s?(AM|PM)?)|( ([0-9])|([0-1][0-9])|([2][0-3])):([0-5][0-9])$

Tests the following as true

12 hour time
1:00
12:59
1:01 AM
1:01 PM
12:59 AM
12:59 PM

24 hour time
00:01 - 12:01 AM
23:59 - 11:59 PM

Will fail on AM/PM on any 24 hour designation (anything 13:00 and above).
Have not fully tested all varieties.

You know you can also test valid times like this:

public static bool isValidTime(str ing time, ref DateTime dt)
{
return DateTime.TryPar se(time, out dt);
}



--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

*************** *************** ***************
Think outside the box!
*************** *************** ***************
"Jim in Arizona" <tiltowait@hotm ail.comwrote in message
news:O6MxciUdHH A.3632@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

>I set up a regular expression validator on my web form to make sure users
>were putting in correct time format but I can't seem to get it right.
>
The problem is that I need them to input a time based on the 12 hour
clock. This regular expression works fine:
>
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])$
>
However, this does not include AM or PM designators and this is where I
can't seem to find the proper expression. I have tried this:
>
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9]):b([AM]|[am]|[PM]|[pm])$
>
That one doesn't work. I even tried making it as simple as possible just
for testing purposes, like so:
>
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])([AM])$
or
^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9])AM$
>
But, when I put in a time like 12:20AM or 12:20 AM, the validator is
triggered.
>
I'm hoping to avoid using a 24 hour clock as this would just cause
frustration for our secretaries.
>
TIA,
Jim

[Alexey Smirnov]

Re: RegExpression Help

On Apr 2, 9:46 pm, Jim in Arizona <tiltow...@hotm ail.comwrote:

Jim, you don't need brackets (used to create a set of characters) and
because of single space you have to use a "\s"

>

This will work

>

^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9]\s?AM|am|PM|pm) $

>
I'm pretty new at regular expressions being that this is my first time
ever trying to use them. I was going off the msdn article athttp://msdn2.microsoft .com/en-us/library/2k3te2cs(VS.80) .aspxand the :b
was supposed to be a single space. Of course, I was using it wrong.
>

Jim, that article is about a regular expressions used in the Visual
Studio's "Find and Replace Window" :-)

You need to look at .NET Regular Expressions,

for example here
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...3z(VS.71).aspx

[Jim in Arizona]

Re: RegExpression Help

Alexey Smirnov wrote:

On Apr 2, 9:46 pm, Jim in Arizona <tiltow...@hotm ail.comwrote:

>>Jim, you don't need brackets (used to create a set of characters) and
>>because of single space you have to use a "\s"
>>This will work
>>^([0-1][0-2]):([0-5][0-9]\s?AM|am|PM|pm) $

>I'm pretty new at regular expressions being that this is my first time
>ever trying to use them. I was going off the msdn article athttp://msdn2.microsoft .com/en-us/library/2k3te2cs(VS.80) .aspxand the :b
>was supposed to be a single space. Of course, I was using it wrong.
>>

>
Jim, that article is about a regular expressions used in the Visual
Studio's "Find and Replace Window" :-)
>
You need to look at .NET Regular Expressions,
>
for example here
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...3z(VS.71).aspx
>

Well. That makes a world of difference, huh?
Thanks again.