Java Regex: Parsing Problem

[zeny]

Hi everyone!

How to split a string with parenthesis, since the parenthesis are characters used in regular expressions for grouping?

For example, how to split the string "by Gregor Hohpe and Bobby Woolf (2003)" in a way that the result gives 2 strings: "by Gregor Hohpe and Bobby Woolf " and "(2003)"?

I´ve tried unsuccessfully with several regular expressions like "(([0-9]))", and i´m really out of ideas. I would be much appreciated for any ideas for a regular expression.

Best Regards

[JosAH]

Hi everyone!

How to split a string with parenthesis, since the parenthesis are characters used in regular expressions for grouping?

For example, how to split the string "by Gregor Hohpe and Bobby Woolf (2003)" in a way that the result gives 2 strings: "by Gregor Hohpe and Bobby Woolf " and "(2003)"?

I´ve tried unsuccessfully with several regular expressions like "(([0-9]))", and i´m really out of ideas. I would be much appreciated for any ideas for a regular expression.

Best Regards

You can escape these special characters: \( and \). Note that the backslash is
a special character for the javac compiler as well, so it you want to pass these
characters to the regexp compiler in a String literal you have to use \\( and \\)

Note that you can't 'count' matching parentheses using regular expressions, i.e.
if you want to check whether or not parentheses are balanced you can't use
regular expressions for that.

kind regards,

Jos

[prometheuzz]

You can escape these special characters: \( and \). Note that the backslash is
a special character for the javac compiler as well, so it you want to pass these
characters to the regexp compiler in a String literal you have to use \\( and \\)

@OP:
And if the you want to keep the parenthesis in tact, you will have to use some sort of look around-voodoo:

String[] array = s.split("(?=\\()|(?<=\\))");

Note that you can't 'count' matching parentheses using regular expressions, i.e.
if you want to check whether or not parentheses are balanced you can't use
regular expressions for that.

kind regards,

Jos

I believe some regex engines can do such recursive things (Perl's if I'm not mistaken?). But you're right, Java's regex certainly can't.

[JosAH]

I believe some regex engines can do such recursive things (Perl's if I'm not mistaken?). But you're right, Java's regex certainly can't.

Perl is a write only atrocity ;-)

kind regards,

Jos (I didn't write any of the above, honest! ;-)

[zeny]

Thanks to you all, now i´ve made it! Very much apreciated for the help!

Best regards