Regex help

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

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Regex help by choroba (Cardinal) on May 20, 2012 at 12:47 UTC
You want the first square brackets. So tell Perl: `/^[^[]*(\[[^]]+])/` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Regex help by Kenosis (Priest) on May 20, 2012 at 14:58 UTC
"In general, if you know what you want to keep, use a regexp. If you know what you want to get rid of, use split." From a PerlMonks' posting Understanding Split and Join. Given that, here's another option: `use Modern::Perl; say map {(split)[1]} <DATA>; __DATA__ IF-abc/12 [Se/0/0] [Second data][third] IF-abc/1 [Gi/0/0] [Second data ]` [download] Output: `[Se/0/0][Gi/0/0]` [download] Hope this helps! Update: However, if you're set on a regex for capturing that data, try the following instead of the `split` above: `say /(\[.*?\])/ while <DATA>;` [download] Output: `[Se/0/0] [Gi/0/0]` [download]	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Regex help by CountZero (Bishop) on May 20, 2012 at 14:36 UTC
Your regex works OK on the data you provided: you will find the first field in `$2`. CountZero A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James My blog: Imperial Deltronics	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: Regex help by Kenosis (Priest) on May 20, 2012 at 15:06 UTC
The Perl that can be spoken of is not the Eternal Perl... (Update: An adaptation from the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 1.)	[reply]
Re^3: Regex help by CountZero (Bishop) on May 21, 2012 at 05:45 UTC
In the same vein: The variable that can be named Is not the Eternal variable Variable references? CountZero A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James My blog: Imperial Deltronics	[reply]
Re: Regex help by Anonymous Monk on May 20, 2012 at 08:43 UTC
However i noticed it tends to match the '[third]' field or '[second]'. How do I get it to match the first occurence of [] ?? Please write/run a 3 line program that demonstrates this	[reply]