The m and s modifiers are the everlasting objects of confusion for regexes. What the s modifier does is nothing but making . match *everything*, including newline. You're right that he probably wants to use s in his pattern, but in your pattern you've change the dot to [^\n] and now the s has no effect.

Though, I'm one of those that propagate a wide use of s, simply because it's so often forgotten. So ++ for you for pointing it out. :)

ihb