PowerShell regex not working

Question

I have the following PowerShell script:

$SCRIPTNAME = "myfile.js"
$SUBJECT = Get-Content $SCRIPTNAME | Out-String
if ($SUBJECT -match ".*/// COMMENT.*?$(.*)")
{
    echo $matches[1];
}
$Host.UI.RawUI.ReadKey('NoEcho,IncludeKeyDown');

It is generating the following error (I'm trying to use regex capture groups, but its not working):

.* : The term '.*' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the
spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At C:\Users\User\Desktop\install.ps1:21 char:39
+ if ($SUBJECT -match ".*/// COMMENT.*?$(.*)")
+                                        ~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (.*:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

Why is it having issues with the .* part of the second capture group?

You have an end of line anchor $ in front of it which might be causing problems. Either escape it if you want a literal $ or move it to the end of the pattern. — arco444
– arco444, Commented Oct 20, 2014 at 13:45
@arco444 I've tried putting \$ instead, but this still produces the same error. — Alexandru
– Alexandru, Commented Oct 20, 2014 at 13:48
Another issue you might had is that PowerShell would evaluate this as a subexpression $(.*) which would also cause an error. Using single quotes on the entire string would fix that. If you are still having an issue showing us some sample data and desired output would help the Community address your issue. — Matt
– Matt, Commented Oct 20, 2014 at 14:13
Use powershell named matched which would be better. link Basically (?<Text>.*). Then you will have $matches.Text — Matt
– Matt, Commented Oct 20, 2014 at 15:00

Alexandru · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-20 14:59:57Z

3

Got it. I needed to escape the regular expression with single quotes ' ', and furthermore add single and multiline specifiers (?sm):

$SCRIPTNAME = "myfile.js"
$SUBJECT = Get-Content $SCRIPTNAME | Out-String
if ($SUBJECT -match '(?sm).*/// COMMENT.*?$(.*)' -and $matches.Count -ge 2)
{
    echo $matches[1];
}
$Host.UI.RawUI.ReadKey('NoEcho,IncludeKeyDown');

edited Oct 20, 2014 at 14:59

answered Oct 20, 2014 at 14:45

Alexandru

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1 Comment

Matt Over a year ago

Glad I was able to help

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