regex needed for dot delimited string

Anonymous Monk has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hello monks,

I'm trying to parse a string and capture chunks of data for every 4 dots like so:

data = 12d.9j7h.7tttt.125.ty.2.4.8.9f.y6.34gk.ll

after parse = 12d.9j7h.7tttt.125
              ty.2.4.8
              9f.y6.34gk.ll
[download]

I've tried splitting the string on the dot, pushing it onto an array, counting the dots until I reach 4, reassembling the chunk and then pushing it onto another array. This seems like it should be much easier, any suggestions?

Thanks

Comment on regex needed for dot delimited string Download Code

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Re: regex needed for dot delimited string by Abigail-II (Bishop) on Sep 10, 2003 at 10:58 UTC
Assuming there are no empty strings between the dots: `@chunks = $str =~ /[^.]+(?:[.][^.]+){0,3}/g;` [download] Abigail	[reply] [d/l]
Re: regex needed for dot delimited string by broquaint (Abbot) on Sep 10, 2003 at 11:04 UTC
`$_ = '12d.9j7h.7tttt.125.ty.2.4.8.9f.y6.34gk.ll'; print "split: ", map "[$_]", grep $_, split /((?:\w+.){3}\w+)\.?/; print "regex: ", map "[$_]", m< ( (?: \w+. ){3} \w+ ) \.? >xg; __output___ split: [12d.9j7h.7tttt.125][ty.2.4.8][9f.y6.34gk.ll] regex: [12d.9j7h.7tttt.125][ty.2.4.8][9f.y6.34gk.ll]` [download] Using `split` we use the capturing feature and `grep` out the extraneous data to get the desired output. With the regex we do something similar by capturing all the groups in the string. So it would seem, in this case the regex approach would be better. See. `perlre` and `split` for more info. HTH `_________ broquaint` update: fixed code (wasn't dealing with the last group correctly)	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Re: regex needed for dot delimited string by zby (Vicar) on Sep 10, 2003 at 11:20 UTC
The last character (an `"l"`) in last group in both output strings is missing. (Are you sure you can use the dot in the regexp without escaping it?)	[reply] [d/l]
Re: regex needed for dot delimited string by Anonymous Monk on Sep 10, 2003 at 11:35 UTC
Thanks, I always learn something new on this site...Thanks again	[reply]