Extracting Data from a String Using Regular Expressions

Question

I need some help extracting the following bits of information using regular expressions.

Here is my input string "C:\Yes"

******** Missing character at start of string and in between but not at the end = a weird superscript looking L.***

I need to extract "C:\" into one string and "Yes" into another.

Thanks In Advance.

I have an idea but I have been working flat out for 3 hrs now so ... = ) — IbrarMumtaz
– IbrarMumtaz, Commented Aug 29, 2009 at 14:58

Alec · Accepted Answer · 2009-08-29 15:06:26Z

3

I wouldn't bother with regular expressions for that. Too much work, and I'd be too likely to screw it up.

var x = @"C:\Yes";

var root = Path.GetPathRoot(x);  // => @"C:\"
var file = Path.GetFileName(x);  // => "Yes"

answered Aug 29, 2009 at 15:06

Alec

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2 Comments

IbrarMumtaz Over a year ago

This ok but am not working with paths, yes is something else all together. Thanks anyways.

Alec Over a year ago

If it looks like "C:\Yes", even if it's not a path, I'd still use these methods, for exactly the reasons given. Whether it's a config file or not makes no difference to the computer.

Konrad Rudolph · Accepted Answer · 2009-08-29 15:04:48Z

1

The following regular expression returns C:\ in the first capture group and the rest in the second:

 ^(\w:\\)(.*)$

This is looking for: a full string (^…$) starting with a letter (\w, although [a-z] would probably more accurate for Windows drive letters), followed by :\. All the rest (.*) is captured in the second group.

Notice that this won’t work with UNC paths. If you’re working with paths, your best bet is not to use strings and regular expressions but rather the API found in System.IO. The classes found there already offer the functionality that you want.

answered Aug 29, 2009 at 15:04

Konrad Rudolph

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1 Comment

IbrarMumtaz Over a year ago

I am goiong to give this a shot, it looks like what I want and seems easy enough to read. I'll hit it up with an answer if it solves my problem. Thanks.

skalb · Accepted Answer · 2009-08-29 15:05:51Z

0

Regex r = new Regex("([A-Z]:\\)([A-Za-z]+)");
Match m = r.Match(@"C:\");

string val1 = m.Groups[0];
string val2 = m.Groups[1];

answered Aug 29, 2009 at 15:05

skalb

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