Adding things inside while loop causes syntax error

Question

I'm trying to read and process lines from a file in Ruby.

I have a while loop that reads each line. If the all the while loop does is split the lines, it works fine. When I add a regex matching clause, I get a syntax error, unexpected kEND and syntax error, unexpected $end, expecting kEND

Specifically, here is the code which "compiles"

def validate
  invalid = 0
  f = File.open(ARGV[0], "r")
  while (line = f.gets)
    vals = line.split(",")
  end
end

if (ARGV[1] == "validate")
  validate
end

while this code

def validate
  invalid = 0
  f = File.open(ARGV[0], "r")
  while (line = f.gets)
    vals = line.split(",")

    match0 = Regexp.new(/0-9]{1,4}/)
    unless (match0.match(vals[0]))
      invalid ++
    end
  end
end

if (ARGV[1] == "validate")
  validate
end

throws the error

schedule.rb:10: syntax error, unexpected kEND
schedule.rb:18: syntax error, unexpected $end, expecting kEND

Peter · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-07 17:31:52Z

3

The syntax error is not due to the regex. It's due to the "++". Ruby doesn't have the "++" operator. Instead, you should use:

invalid += 1

answered Feb 7, 2011 at 17:31

Peter

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1 Comment

Rowhawn Over a year ago

thanks! it's pretty confusing, the kEND error made me think that there's a problem with mismatched 'end's

Reiner Gerecke · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-07 17:35:06Z

1

Besides, there is a bracket missing in your regexp (character class).

/0-9]{1,4}/

It should read

/[0-9]{1,4}/

answered Feb 7, 2011 at 17:35

Reiner Gerecke

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Comments

cfeduke · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-07 17:31:31Z

0

There is no C-style increment/decrement operator. Instead use

invalid = invalid + 1

or

invalid += 1

answered Feb 7, 2011 at 17:31

cfeduke

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