Python: Get text between two strings

Question

I have a question. I am trying to get a certain string between two substrings from a text file.

The text file is larger, but part of it contains this:

r\n[url=asitename][/url]\r\n[url=x]hello[/url]\r\n[url=x]a text[/url]\r\n[url=n]test[/url]\r\n\ttest
\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\twarn user\r\n\t\r\n\t2\r\n\t02-06-2017, 01:44 am
by cinccino. end: modcp_reports_report -->

Now, I am interested in the text next between 'asitename' and 'end:'

I would like to get the text between those strings.

I have tried this:

lookup = 'asitename'
myFileread = myFile.read()
re.search(lookup+'(.*)end', myFileread).group(1)

However, it returns the following error:

AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'group'

I am confused as to why this is not working. It works with more simple strings.

Can you share the output you want?

Shawn Tabrizi
– Shawn Tabrizi

2017-02-08 21:37:51 +00:00
Commented Feb 8, 2017 at 21:37 — Shawn Tabrizi
– Shawn Tabrizi, Commented Feb 8, 2017 at 21:37

Moses Koledoye · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-08 21:40:28Z

1

Use the re.S flag which will make . match the new line character(s) also:

>>> re.search(r'asitename(.*?)end', myFileread, re.S).group(1)
'][/url]\r\n[url=x]hello[/url]\r\n[url=x]a text[/url]\r\n[url=n]test[/url]\r\n\ttest\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\twarn user\r\n\t\r\n\t2\r\n\t02-06-2017, 01:44 am\nby cinccino.

answered Feb 8, 2017 at 21:40

Moses Koledoye

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Comments

igoldthwaite · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-08 21:38:07Z

0

Return None if no position in the string matches the pattern; note that this is different from finding a zero-length match at some point in the string.

It seems .search() is returning None. According to the python api this means there is no position that matches the pattern.

answered Feb 8, 2017 at 21:38

igoldthwaite

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