Quick fix for splitting a string using regexp

Question

I used the following

Regex RE = new Regex(@"'?([(\.\//\s\;\,\:\.\)]+)'?");

to split the expression which is stored in an xml file.

"NIGHT.set('/xs:Service/xs:Location[2]/xs:Res/protocol','HOPR','SP')";

It craps out when reading it, because of the single quotes. I want to get rid of the single quotes in the xml file, changing the expression to,

"NIGHT.set(/xs:Service/xs:Location[2]/xs:Res/protocol,HOPR,SP)";

but when I try the regexp again, it mostly works, but has a entry in split block after applying the regexp of "(\"

So its not doing it right. I'm pretty crap at regexp, so can anybody quickly show me how to change it for the better.

Thanks. scope_creep

Answer 1

Have you tried regex coach? It's a really handy tool for solving these sort of problems.

Answer 2

This is one way you could do it:

    string s = "NIGHT.set('/xs:Service/xs:Location[2]/xs:Res/protocol','HOPR','SP')";
    s = s.Replace("'", "");
    Regex re = new Regex(@"^(.*)\((.*)\)$");
    Match match = re.Match(s);
    if (match.Success)
    {
        string function = match.Groups[1].Value;
        string[] parameters = match.Groups[2].Value.Split(',');
        // ...
    }