JavaScript/Jquery Dynamic RegExp generation

Question

I've searched this place a lot, and I'm stuck at that my regular expression works, but not dynamically.

id_name is the string that is picked dynamically. Then, the regexp should replace the match with a single var, which is in "vals". For some reason, when I code the regexp without the variable, it works as intended. I think I might do something wrong with the conversion to a regexp object.

Original String:

obj = values.replace(/{name}(.*?){\/name}/, 'igm');

Regexp Object:

        re = '\/{' + id_name + '}(.*?){\\/' + id_name + '}\/';
        regexp = new RegExp(re, 'igm');
        obj = values.replace(regexp, vals);

Thanks in advance!

Didn't know it was that easy :), it worked perfectly! Thanks! — Laelfaert
– Laelfaert, Commented Jul 12, 2012 at 8:40

nhahtdh · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-12 08:40:43Z

1

You don't need / and you also don't need to escape the character if you are constructing the regex via constructor:

re = '{' + id_name + '}(.*?){/' + id_name + '}';

answered Jul 12, 2012 at 8:40

nhahtdh

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10 Comments

Laelfaert Over a year ago

Worked really well. What I do not understand, and I've tried to cross check the reference on it, but saw nothing about: (regexp is still in my eyes one of the most difficult things) When I replace the { } for % and /%... it works fine the first time it comes across it, but the second time, it stops replacing: ` re = '%' + id_name+ '%(.*?)%/' + id_name + '%'; regexp = new RegExp(re, 'igm'); values = values.replace(regexp, ''); `

nhahtdh Over a year ago

@user1520088: I don't know - it is possible that you have something strange in id_name that is recognized as regex.

Laelfaert Over a year ago

I'm not certain it's what's in there. Since it replaces everything else fine. It's just when I replace the {} for %% when it goes wrong for the second time. I forced the id_name into a string. Even hardcoded, it has a problem. I have to add, whatever it's replacing is a email footer. The first part is purely text based with a <br> here and there. The second one has a TABLE layout. like %name%<tr><td>{name}John Doughnut{/name}</td></tr>%/name%. Whenever when unchecked the option, it suppose to remove the %name% section. Works in the first part, not second (within table).

nhahtdh Over a year ago

Do you want to just remove %name% or do you want to remove everything inside including the %name?

Laelfaert Over a year ago

Everything in between the %name% --- %/name% really :)

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