Re: This regexp made simpler

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Re^2: This regexp made simpler by AnomalousMonk (Archbishop) on Apr 25, 2010 at 11:23 UTC
But that doesn't match 'AZ', which the OP seems to require, and also doesn't match 'A Z' (single space between first and final characters), which also seems to be required.	[reply]
Re^3: This regexp made simpler by moritz (Cardinal) on Apr 25, 2010 at 12:23 UTC
A simple variation fixes that: `/A( [^Z])?Z/` [download] It surprises me how many monks in this thread seem to think that expressing the "no Z between ..." condition with `.?` is a good idea.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^4: This regexp made simpler by dsheroh (Monsignor) on Apr 25, 2010 at 12:40 UTC
Indeed. That was the main point I was going to contribute, but you've beat me to it. The OP even specifically says he wants to match "any number of characters not containing Z", which is properly written `[^Z]`. `.?Z` means "the shortest available sequence of any character at all (except, usually, newlines), followed by a Z", which is not quite the same thing.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^4: This regexp made simpler by AnomalousMonk (Archbishop) on Apr 25, 2010 at 12:42 UTC
But doesn't that still give you an undefined `$1` that needs to be 'fixed' sooner or later? `>perl -wMstrict -le "'AZ' =~ /A( [^Z]*)?Z/; print qq{'$1'}; " Use of uninitialized value $1 in concatenation (.) or string at ... ''` [download] 'Elegance', admittedly protean, would yet seem to require avoiding this extra step.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^4: This regexp made simpler by rovf (Priest) on Apr 25, 2010 at 13:55 UTC
It surprises me how many monks in this thread seem to think that expressing the "no Z between ..." condition with .? is a good idea.* Maybe because it saves you from writing Z twice, which can be a maintenance issue? This is true especially if Z happens not to be just a latter, but a more complicated pattern. -- Ronald Fischer <ynnor@mm.st>	[reply] [d/l]
Re^5: This regexp made simpler by moritz (Cardinal) on Apr 25, 2010 at 16:03 UTC
Re^6: This regexp made simpler by rovf (Priest) on Apr 26, 2010 at 11:16 UTC
Some notes below your chosen depth have not been shown here
Re^5: This regexp made simpler by AnomalousMonk (Archbishop) on Apr 26, 2010 at 00:46 UTC
Re^3: This regexp made simpler by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Apr 25, 2010 at 12:23 UTC
Ah yes, missed that. Maybe this improved version. `printf( "\n$_: " ), m[A( [^Z]*\|)Z] and print "'$1'" for 'AZ', 'A SOMETHING Z', 'ASOMETHINGZ', 'A Z', 'A Z';; AZ: '' A SOMETHING Z: ' SOMETHING ' ASOMETHINGZ: A Z: ' ' A Z: ' '` [download] Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error. "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice. RIP an inspiration; A true Folk's Guy	[reply] [d/l]