Regex Issues

**Some Guy** · Nov 21 '05, 08:49 PM

Re: Regex Issues

I think you're having problems with all those &'s between the brakets.
Maybe?

"([Chr(0) & "-" & Chr(31) ]+)|"

"Mike Labosh" <mlabosh@hotmai l.com> wrote in message
news:eneIdvonFH A.3540@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
>I have the following System.Text.Reg ularExpressions .Regex that is supposed
>to remove this predefined list of garbage characters from contact names
>that come in on import files :
>
> Dim _dropContactGar bage As New Regex( _
> "([" & Chr(0) & "-" & Chr(31) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(33) & "-" & Chr(38) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(40) & "-" & Chr(44) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(47) & "-" & Chr(47) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(58) & "-" & Chr(64) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(91) & "-" & Chr(96) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(123) & "-" & Chr(127) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(152) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(155) & "-" & Chr(159) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(166) & "-" & Chr(224) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(226) & "-" & Chr(255) & "]+)")
>
> We use it like this:
>
> value = _dropContactGar bage.Replace(va lue, "")
>
> But the Regex constructor is throwing an ArgumentExcepti on whose Message
> property says only "Parse ([". There is no inner exception. Normally, if
> I have a string expression that's wrong, I would Console.WriteLi ne() it.
> But in this case, it doesn't WriteLine correctly, because some of the
> characters in the expression are control characters, so what it displays
> is not visually correct.
>
> I have slaved over this issue for hours and hours and I can only guess
> that one of the items must be escaped with a "\" or something, but I
> cannot figure it out. I have already been all over the MSDN help topics
> for the Regex Class.
>
> Help?
>
> --
> Peace & happy computing,
>
> Mike Labosh, MCSD
> "After very careful consideration, I have come
> to the conclusion that this new system SUCKS"
> -- General Barringer, from WARGAMES
>[/color]

**Mike Labosh** · Nov 21 '05, 08:49 PM

Re: Regex Issues

>> Dim _dropContactGar bage As New Regex( _[color=blue][color=green]
>> "([" & Chr(0) & "-" & Chr(31) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(33) & "-" & Chr(38) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(40) & "-" & Chr(44) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(47) & "-" & Chr(47) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(58) & "-" & Chr(64) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(91) & "-" & Chr(96) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(123) & "-" & Chr(127) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(152) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(155) & "-" & Chr(159) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(166) & "-" & Chr(224) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(226) & "-" & Chr(255) & "]+)")[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
>I think you're having problems with all those &'s between the brakets.
>Maybe?
>
> "([Chr(0) & "-" & Chr(31) ]+)|"[/color]

No. It's not the concatenation. The dumb thing *used to work*, but they
want me to change a couple of the character ranges. So all I have done is
changed a couple of the character codes passed to the Chr() function. Now
it's b0rken.

What I am currently attempting is to create a Regex from each single line of
my OP so I can find which one is causing the issue, then perhaps I can
determine a workaround.
--
Peace & happy computing,

Mike Labosh, MCSD
"Musha ring dum a doo dum a da!" -- James Hetfield

jg · Nov 21 '05, 08:50 PM

Re: Regex Issues

make sure the new character code does not special meaning in regex. IF they
do, use the escape prefix before the " & chr...

Sorry, I don't know the details, but I am sure you can look it up in msdn
under regex

"Mike Labosh" <mlabosh@hotmai l.com> wrote in message
news:e3NQsDqnFH A.3760@TK2MSFTN GP15.phx.gbl...[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> Dim _dropContactGar bage As New Regex( _
>>> "([" & Chr(0) & "-" & Chr(31) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(33) & "-" & Chr(38) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(40) & "-" & Chr(44) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(47) & "-" & Chr(47) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(58) & "-" & Chr(64) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(91) & "-" & Chr(96) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(123) & "-" & Chr(127) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(152) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(155) & "-" & Chr(159) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(166) & "-" & Chr(224) & "]+)|" & _
>>> "([" & Chr(226) & "-" & Chr(255) & "]+)")[/color][/color]
>[color=green]
>>I think you're having problems with all those &'s between the brakets.
>>Maybe?
>>
>> "([Chr(0) & "-" & Chr(31) ]+)|"[/color]
>
> No. It's not the concatenation. The dumb thing *used to work*, but they
> want me to change a couple of the character ranges. So all I have done is
> changed a couple of the character codes passed to the Chr() function. Now
> it's b0rken.
>
> What I am currently attempting is to create a Regex from each single line
> of my OP so I can find which one is causing the issue, then perhaps I can
> determine a workaround.
> --
> Peace & happy computing,
>
> Mike Labosh, MCSD
> "Musha ring dum a doo dum a da!" -- James Hetfield
>[/color]

**Mike Labosh** · Nov 21 '05, 08:50 PM

Re: Regex Issues

> make sure the new character code does not special meaning in regex. IF[color=blue]
> they do, use the escape prefix before the " & chr...[/color]

That's what I'm trying to do. Each line of the expression seems to work by
itself. So I am now trying varying combinations.
[color=blue]
> Sorry, I don't know the details, but I am sure you can look it up in msdn
> under regex[/color]

heh. If you saw all the MSDN printouts on my desk, you would hurt me for
killing trees :)

--
Peace & happy computing,

Mike Labosh, MCSD
"Musha ring dum a doo dum a da!" -- James Hetfield

**Chris Burgess** · Nov 21 '05, 08:50 PM

Re: Regex Issues

It barks at me until I remove this line:
"([" & Chr(155) & "-" & Chr(159) & "]+)|" & _

I'm not sure why.

"Mike Labosh" <mlabosh@hotmai l.com> wrote in message
news:eneIdvonFH A.3540@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
>I have the following System.Text.Reg ularExpressions .Regex that is supposed
>to remove this predefined list of garbage characters from contact names
>that come in on import files :
>
> Dim _dropContactGar bage As New Regex( _
> "([" & Chr(0) & "-" & Chr(31) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(33) & "-" & Chr(38) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(40) & "-" & Chr(44) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(47) & "-" & Chr(47) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(58) & "-" & Chr(64) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(91) & "-" & Chr(96) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(123) & "-" & Chr(127) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(152) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(155) & "-" & Chr(159) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(166) & "-" & Chr(224) & "]+)|" & _
> "([" & Chr(226) & "-" & Chr(255) & "]+)")
>
> We use it like this:
>
> value = _dropContactGar bage.Replace(va lue, "")
>
> But the Regex constructor is throwing an ArgumentExcepti on whose Message
> property says only "Parse ([". There is no inner exception. Normally, if
> I have a string expression that's wrong, I would Console.WriteLi ne() it.
> But in this case, it doesn't WriteLine correctly, because some of the
> characters in the expression are control characters, so what it displays
> is not visually correct.
>
> I have slaved over this issue for hours and hours and I can only guess
> that one of the items must be escaped with a "\" or something, but I
> cannot figure it out. I have already been all over the MSDN help topics
> for the Regex Class.
>
> Help?
>
> --
> Peace & happy computing,
>
> Mike Labosh, MCSD
> "After very careful consideration, I have come
> to the conclusion that this new system SUCKS"
> -- General Barringer, from WARGAMES
>[/color]

**Chris Burgess** · Nov 21 '05, 08:50 PM

Re: Regex Issues

parsing "([>-Y]+)|" - [x-y] range in reverse order.

"Chris Burgess" <cburgess@conve rse.com> wrote in message
news:%23GoQWArn FHA.3540@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..[color=blue]
> It barks at me until I remove this line:
> "([" & Chr(155) & "-" & Chr(159) & "]+)|" & _
>
> I'm not sure why.
>
> "Mike Labosh" <mlabosh@hotmai l.com> wrote in message
> news:eneIdvonFH A.3540@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...[color=green]
>>I have the following System.Text.Reg ularExpressions .Regex that is supposed
>>to remove this predefined list of garbage characters from contact names
>>that come in on import files :
>>
>> Dim _dropContactGar bage As New Regex( _
>> "([" & Chr(0) & "-" & Chr(31) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(33) & "-" & Chr(38) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(40) & "-" & Chr(44) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(47) & "-" & Chr(47) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(58) & "-" & Chr(64) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(91) & "-" & Chr(96) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(123) & "-" & Chr(127) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(152) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(155) & "-" & Chr(159) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(166) & "-" & Chr(224) & "]+)|" & _
>> "([" & Chr(226) & "-" & Chr(255) & "]+)")
>>
>> We use it like this:
>>
>> value = _dropContactGar bage.Replace(va lue, "")
>>
>> But the Regex constructor is throwing an ArgumentExcepti on whose Message
>> property says only "Parse ([". There is no inner exception. Normally,
>> if I have a string expression that's wrong, I would Console.WriteLi ne()
>> it. But in this case, it doesn't WriteLine correctly, because some of the
>> characters in the expression are control characters, so what it displays
>> is not visually correct.
>>
>> I have slaved over this issue for hours and hours and I can only guess
>> that one of the items must be escaped with a "\" or something, but I
>> cannot figure it out. I have already been all over the MSDN help topics
>> for the Regex Class.
>>
>> Help?
>>
>> --
>> Peace & happy computing,
>>
>> Mike Labosh, MCSD
>> "After very careful consideration, I have come
>> to the conclusion that this new system SUCKS"
>> -- General Barringer, from WARGAMES
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

**Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]** · Nov 21 '05, 08:50 PM

Re: Regex Issues

Mike,
Rather then literally using Chr(0), Chr(31), Chr(33), ..., I would recommend
the RegEx Character Escape sequences.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...terescapes.asp

Something like:

' With ASCII character escapes
Dim _dropContactGar bage As New Regex( _
"([\x00-\x1F]+)|" & _
"([\x21-\x26]+)|" & _
"([\x28-\x2C]+)|" & _
...

Of course you may have problems with Chr(128) & above, as Chr(128) is an
ANSI char code, while Regex expects ASCII and/or Unicode. As you know ASCII
is 7 bit (0 to 127) & Unicode in RegEx needs 4 digits (\u0000).

' with Unicode character escapes
Dim _dropContactGar bage As New Regex( _
"([\u0000-\u001F]+)|" & _
"([\u0021-\u0026]+)|" & _
"([\u0028-\u002C]+)|" & _

It might be "easier" if you used a the predefined character classes (\s \w
\W \s ...) instead:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...terclasses.asp

Something like:
Dim _dropContactGar bage As New Regex("\W")

Which says match any nonword character...

Expresso & RegEx Workbench both have wizards of varying degrees to help you
build your expression, plus they allow you to test your expressions, also
the analyzer/interpreter in each is rather handy.

Expresso:

Expresso Regular Expression Tool

http://www.ultrapico.com/Expresso.htm

RegEx Workbench:

http://www.gotdotnet.com/Community/UserSamples/Details.aspx?SampleGuid=c712f2df-b026-4d58-8961-4ee2729d7322A

tutorial & reference on using regular expressions:

Regular-Expressions.info - Regex Tutorial, Examples and Reference - Regexp Patterns

http://www.regular-expressions.info/

At Regular-Expressions.info you will find a wide range of in-depth information about a powerful search pattern language called regular expressions.