iOS Split NSString with Regular Expression

Question

I am using this code to parse NSString:

    NSString *string = @"{{nat fs g player|no=1|pos=GK|name=[[Hugo Lloris]]|age={{Birth date and age|1986|12|26|df=y}}|caps=73|goals=0|club=[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]|clubnat=ENG}}";
NSError *error = NULL;
NSRegularExpression *regex = [NSRegularExpression regularExpressionWithPattern:@"\\{\\{nat fs g player\\|no=(.*)\\|pos=(.*?)\\|name=\\[\\[(.*?)\\]\\]\\|age=\\{\\{Birth date and age\\|(.*?)\\|(.*?)\\|(.*?)\\|df=y\\}\\}\\|caps=(.*?)\\|goals=(.*?)\\|club=\\[\\[(.*?)\\|(.*)"
                                                                       options:NSRegularExpressionCaseInsensitive
                                                                         error:&error];

NSArray *matches = [regex matchesInString:string
                                  options:0
                                    range:NSMakeRange(0, [string length])];
for (NSTextCheckingResult *match in matches) {
    NSString *a = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:0]];
    NSString *b = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:1]];
    NSString *c = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:2]];
    NSString *d = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:3]];
    NSString *e = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:4]];
    NSString *f = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:5]];
    NSString *g = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:6]];
    NSString *h = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:7]];
    NSString *i = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:8]];
    NSString *j = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:9]];
    NSString *k = [string substringWithRange:[match rangeAtIndex:10]];
}

With this code i really get the data, but when i am trying to split 2 strings with the same pattern:

NSString *string = @"{{nat fs g player|no=1|pos=GK|name=[[Hugo Lloris]]|age={{Birth date and age|1986|12|26|df=y}}|caps=73|goals=0|club=[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]|clubnat=ENG}}{{nat fs g player|no=16|pos=GK|name=[[Steve Mandanda]]|age={{Birth date and age|1985|3|28|df=y}}|caps=21|goals=0|club=[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]|clubnat=FRA}}";

I am getting only one match,any idea why?

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 04 '15 at 15:37

1

You need to fix your regex to allow partial matches.

Since the record ends with }}, use lazy (.*?\}\}) in the last capturing group.

The regex declaration will be:

NSString *pattern = @"\\{\\{nat fs g player\\|no=([^|]*)\\|pos=([^|]*)\\|name=\\[\\[([^|]*)\\]\\]\\|age=\\{\\{Birth date and age\\|([^|]*)\\|([^|]*)\\|([^|]*)\\|df=y\\}\\}\\|caps=([^|]*)\\|goals=([^|]*)\\|club=\\[\\[([^|]*)\\|(.*?\\}\\})";

See IDEONE demo

answered Nov 04 '15 at 15:37

Wiktor Stribiżew

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@Priya That is another question, and in my opinion, it is too broad a topic. Feel free to post a question, but do not forget to provide *exact pattern requirements*. There is no unique address validation regex. – Wiktor Stribiżew Nov 09 '17 at 10:23
@WiktorStribiżew...I am not able to validating Below address: // NSString *strAddress =@"No. 9, Arulambal Street, T. Nagar, Chennai - 600017"; //Not Valid // NSString *strAddress =@"No. 12, channiah corner, Singaiyanapalya, Next to VR Mall, Mahadevpura, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560048";//Not Valid How Can i validate above address – Priya Nov 09 '17 at 11:19
@Priya I doubt *anyone* can. – Wiktor Stribiżew Nov 09 '17 at 11:26
@Priya Since there is no requirements, match any string - `(?s)^.*$` – Wiktor Stribiżew Nov 10 '17 at 08:26

iOS Split NSString with Regular Expression

1 Answers1