I just can't seem to get these look-ahead/look-behind assertions down pat like some of you. I have this code...

$contents = "<p>no tabs here</p><p>column 1[tab]column 2</p><p>no tabs
+ here</p>";

if ($contents =~ /<p>(.*?\[tab\].*?)<\/p>/) {
  print "yes:  ${1}\n";
} else {
  print "no\n";
}

if ($contents =~ /<p>(?=\[tab\])<\/p/) {
  print "yes:  ${1}\n";
} else {
  print "no\n";
}

[download]

What I want here is to say only match the set of paragraph markers with the actual string [tab] inside.

Notice the first one DOES match, however, since I am using .*? the first para marker will match and then the .* will take over and match all the way to the close para marker. I want the first para marker to fail because there is no [tab] inside the paragraph markers.

The second one is a look-ahead, but notice the [tab] would have to be immediately after the para marker. I can't figure out how to tell it the possibility of some text, then the [tab], then the possibility of more text.

Thanks for any assistance you may provide...

In reply to Matching set of paragraph tags with string inside. by the_0ne

Title:
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