> I'd like to see this regex. And make sure it works correctly with this > format string: > > """%(key)s > %%(this is not a key)d > %%%(but this is)f > %%%%%%%(%(and so is this)%()%%)u > and don't forget the empty case %()c > but not %%%%%%()E > and remember to handle %(new > lines)X correctly > and %(percentages)%.""" > > It should list the keys as: > > 'key' > 'but this is' > '%(and so is this)%()%%' > '' > 'new\nlines' > 'percentages' > > > I love easy regexes :-)
>>> r = re.compile(r'(?<!%)(?:%%)*%\(([^)]*)\)') works on all but your pathological '%(and so is this)%()%%' and if any programmer working for me used that as their formatting variable, they'd either be out of a job, or I would be for hiring such a psychopath. :) >>> print r.sub(lambda x: '@@@%s@@@' % x.group(0), s) @@@%(key)@@@s %%(this is not a key)d @@@%%%(but this is)@@@f @@@%%%%%%%(%(and so is this)@@@@@@%()@@@%%)u and don't forget the empty case @@@%()@@@c but not %%%%%%()E and remember to handle @@@%(new lines)@@@X correctly and @@@%(percentages)@@@%. >>> keys = r.findall(s) >>> keys ['key', 'but this is', '%(and so is this', '', '', 'new\nlines', 'percentages'] The extra empty item (keys[3]) is from that pathological case. Otherwise, it seems to do the trick. -tkc ps: you're a cruel, cruel fellow for throwing out such a mind-bender this early in my morning. :) Thanks for the fun! -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
