PowerBuilder

Regular Expression with Multiple Matches and Named Capture Groups

See more Regular Expressions Examples

Demonstrates regular expressions with named capture groups and multiple matches. PowerBuilder

integer li_rc
integer li_Success
oleobject loo_Sb
integer li_Crlf
string ls_Pattern
oleobject loo_Json
integer li_TimeoutMs
integer li_NumMatches
integer li_Idx_first
integer li_Idx_last
integer i
integer li_MatchCount

li_Success = 0

loo_Sb = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_Sb.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.StringBuilder")
if li_rc < 0 then
    destroy loo_Sb
    MessageBox("Error","Connecting to COM object failed")
    return
end if
li_Crlf = 1
loo_Sb.AppendLine("Name: John Smith",li_Crlf)
loo_Sb.AppendLine("Name: Jack Johnson",li_Crlf)
loo_Sb.AppendLine("Name: Mary Adams",li_Crlf)

Write-Debug loo_Sb.GetAsString()

// We have the following string:
// Name: John Smith
// Name: Jack Johnson
// Name: Mary Adams

ls_Pattern = "Name:\s+(?<first>\w+)\s+(?<last>\w+)"
loo_Json = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_Json.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.JsonObject")

loo_Json.EmitCompact = 0

li_TimeoutMs = 2000
li_NumMatches = loo_Sb.RegexMatch(ls_Pattern,loo_Json,li_TimeoutMs)
if li_NumMatches < 0 then
    // Probably an error in the regular expression.
    // Suggestion: Use AI to help create and/or diagnose regular expressions.
    Write-Debug loo_Sb.LastErrorText
    destroy loo_Sb
    destroy loo_Json
    return
end if

// Examine the matches:
Write-Debug loo_Json.Emit()

// Here is the JSON showing the matches.
// Important:  Capture group 0 always contains the entire match — that is, the portion of the input string that matches the full regular expression.

// {
//   "named": {
//     "first": 1,
//     "last": 2
//   },
//   "match": [
//     {
//       "group": [
//         {
//           "cap": "Name: John Smith",
//           "idx": 0,
//           "len": 16
//         },
//         {
//           "cap": "John",
//           "idx": 6,
//           "len": 4
//         },
//         {
//           "cap": "Smith",
//           "idx": 11,
//           "len": 5
//         }
//       ]
//     },
//     {
//       "group": [
//         {
//           "cap": "Name: Jack Johnson",
//           "idx": 18,
//           "len": 18
//         },
//         {
//           "cap": "Jack",
//           "idx": 24,
//           "len": 4
//         },
//         {
//           "cap": "Johnson",
//           "idx": 29,
//           "len": 7
//         }
//       ]
//     },
//     {
//       "group": [
//         {
//           "cap": "Name: Mary Adams",
//           "idx": 38,
//           "len": 16
//         },
//         {
//           "cap": "Mary",
//           "idx": 44,
//           "len": 4
//         },
//         {
//           "cap": "Adams",
//           "idx": 49,
//           "len": 5
//         }
//       ]
//     }
//   ]
// }

// The capture group index is obtained by looking up the name in the JSON result.
// For example:

li_Idx_first = loo_Json.IntOf("named.first")
li_Idx_last = loo_Json.IntOf("named.last")

i = 0
li_MatchCount = loo_Json.SizeOfArray("match")
do while i < li_MatchCount
    Write-Debug "Match " + string(i + 1) + ":"
    loo_Json.I = i

    loo_Json.J = li_Idx_first
    Write-Debug "first: " + loo_Json.StringOf("match[i].group[j].cap")

    loo_Json.J = li_Idx_last
    Write-Debug "first: " + loo_Json.StringOf("match[i].group[j].cap")

    Write-Debug ""
    i = i + 1
loop

// Output is: 

// Match 1:
// first: John
// first: Smith
// 
// Match 2:
// first: Jack
// first: Johnson
// 
// Match 3:
// first: Mary
// first: Adams


destroy loo_Sb
destroy loo_Json