Regular Expressions [resolved]

[blindlizard]

I am trying to learn regular expressions and I have the basics down, but it is a pain. I am trying to parse the code that forums like this use: ie [b ]bold stuff[/b ], but I am having trouble if they go over multiple lines.

Dim linksExpression As Regex
Dim strPattern As String = "\[B ](.+?)\[/B ]"
linksExpression = New Regex(strPattern, RegexOptions.Multiline Or RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)
strTemp = linksExpression.Replace(strTemp, "<b>$1</b>")

this works fine if I have it all on one line like [b ]bold stuff[/b ], but if I do
[b ]bold
stuff[/b ], it doesn't work.

[Edneeis]

Try removing the RegexOptions.Multiline option. That will process each line individually instead of all of the string as one.

[blindlizard]

Tried that, same thing happens.

[Edneeis]

Post some sample text to test on and i'll take a gander at it.

[blindlizard]

Dim linksExpression As Regex
Dim strPattern As String = "\[B ](.+?)\[/B ]"
strTemp = "[B ]bold" & vbCrLf & "this[/B ]"
linksExpression = New Regex(strPattern, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)
strTemp = linksExpression.Replace(strTemp, "<b>$1</b>")
'strTemp returns what was sent in

Dim linksExpression As Regex
Dim strPattern As String = "\[B ](.+?)\[/B ]"
strTemp = "[B ]bold" & vbCrLf & "this[/B ]"
linksExpression = New Regex(strPattern, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)
strTemp = linksExpression.Replace(strTemp, "<b>$1</b>")
'strTemp returns <b>bold this</b>

[blindlizard]

I am thinking that I may have to remove the vbCrlf and put in something like <br> and then put it back to VbCrlf at the end.

[Edneeis]

You have to use the SingleLine option:

Dim strPattern As String = "\[B ](.*)\[/B ]"
        Dim linksExpression As New Regex(strPattern, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase Or RegexOptions.Singleline)
        Dim strTemp As String = "[B ]bold" & vbCrLf & "this[/B ]"
        strTemp = linksExpression.Replace(strTemp, "<b>$1</b>")
        MsgBox(strTemp)

[blindlizard]

Thanks man! I would never have found that. Documentation on the web is crap for regular expressions in .Net