How can I properly match a private message on IRC?

Question

I'm making a irc lib and I can't seem to match just private messages, it also matches the version string.

REGEX

:(?P<from>.*?)!\S+\sPRIVMSG\s(?P<to>.*?)\s:(?P<msg>.+)

VERSION MATCH

VERSION_STRING: :AkaneSenri1!~AkaneSenr@72A6C9FC.264941B0.A6596FAF.IP PRIVMSG AkaneSenri1 :VERSION
MATCHED: AkaneSenri1', u'AkaneSenri1', u'\x01VERSION\x01
PRIVATE_MESSAGE_STRING: :AkaneSenri1!~AkaneSenr@72A6C9FC.264941B0.A6596FAF.IP PRIVMSG AkaneSenri1 :T
MATCHED: (u'AkaneSenri1', u'AkaneSenri1', u'T') # is what I want

What I'm getting is the version string that that the server sends when you connect. What I need is, when a user sends the bot a PM. (nick/msg)

Maybe [`:(?P.*?)!\S+\sPRIVMSG\s(?P.*?) :(?!VERSION$)(?P.+)`](https://regex101.com/r/bS4sN1/2)? (Note I used the `re.M` modifier for `$` to match the end of the line, not string) — Wiktor Stribiżew, Jun 21 '16 at 17:21
you have to use the 'm' (multiline match) - Wiktor's regex appears to be fine for your input. — Scott Weaver, Jun 21 '16 at 17:33
[`:(?P.*?)!\S+\sPRIVMSG\s(?P.*?) :(?!VERSION)(?P.+)`?](https://regex101.com/r/bS4sN1/3) Please define a version string. — Wiktor Stribiżew, Jun 21 '16 at 17:38
I did, but I split at the line ending `\r\n` so when the data passes it comes line by line. Therefore, adding re.M wouldn't do anything right? But I did add it just in case. — Michael Borgfield, Jun 21 '16 at 17:40
That is why you should post the code you are using. You don't need the `re.M`, but the former pattern should work fine if version strings end with `VERSION`. — Wiktor Stribiżew, Jun 21 '16 at 17:41
`AkaneSenri1', u'AkaneSenri1', u'\x01VERSION\x01` that is the version string sent when I connect. — Michael Borgfield, Jun 21 '16 at 17:42
Then add these \x01 to the lookahead: `:(?P.*?)!\S+\sPRIVMSG\s(?P.*?) :(?!\u0001VERSION\u0001)(?P.+)` or `:(?P.*?)!\S+\sPRIVMSG\s(?P.*?) :(?!\u0001VERSION\u0001$)(?P.+)` — Wiktor Stribiżew, Jun 21 '16 at 17:44
http://pastebin.com/raw/sb5SqVxJ just comment out `import errors` and all the raise statements, it will run. That is what I have, but won't the version string change depending on the server? — Michael Borgfield, Jun 21 '16 at 17:55
We cannot tell you what data you have. Only you can know that and let us know. Otherwise, your question is *unclear*. — Wiktor Stribiżew, Jun 21 '16 at 18:15

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 21 '16 at 17:42

0

:(?P<from>.*?)!\S+\sPRIVMSG\s(?P<to>.*?)\s+:(?!VERSION)(?P<msg>.*)$

It's looking for : not followed by VERSION with a negative lookahead (?!...)

See it here: https://regex101.com/r/sQ7eS6/2 (click on the unit tests bit on the left, then run both tests. Or paste your lines into the main bit)

answered Jun 21 '16 at 17:42

TessellatingHeckler

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http://pastebin.com/raw/sb5SqVxJ just comment out `import errors` and all the raise statements, it will run. It still does the version. – Michael Borgfield Jun 21 '16 at 17:53
@MichaelBorgfield You can't paste an example string which causes you a problem, but you can share your username and password with the world? Hmm. – TessellatingHeckler Jun 21 '16 at 19:11
I posted the exact message the server sends, I also gave the complete lib so you would see. Did you want a complete log? – Michael Borgfield Jun 21 '16 at 19:35
I have no idea why this isn't working, I did use a website similar to the one you used. I got a positive match, but for whatever reason it doesn't seem to work when applying to the lib. – Michael Borgfield Jun 21 '16 at 19:40

How can I properly match a private message on IRC?

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