regex and string

Question

Consider the following:

string keywords = "(load|save|close)";
Regex x = new Regex(@"\b"+keywords+"\b");

I get no matches. However, if I do this:

Regex x = new Regex(@"\b(load|save|close)\b");

I get matches. How come the former doesn't work, and how can I fix this? Basically, I want the keywords to be configurable so I placed them in a string.

I see. I missed out something very obvious.

dnclem
– dnclem

2011-10-28 14:02:52 +00:00
Commented Oct 28, 2011 at 14:02 — dnclem
– dnclem, Commented Oct 28, 2011 at 14:02

samjudson · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-28 14:06:39Z

8

The last \b in the first code snippet needs a verbatim string specifier (@) in front of it as well as it is a seperate string instance.

string keywords = "(load|save|close)"; 
Regex x = new Regex(@"\b"+keywords+@"\b");

edited Oct 28, 2011 at 14:06

answered Oct 28, 2011 at 13:59

samjudson

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Comments

Grant Thomas · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-28 14:00:21Z

3

You're missing another verbatim string specifier (@ prefixed to the last \b):

Regex x = new Regex(@"\b" + keywords + @"\b");

answered Oct 28, 2011 at 14:00

Grant Thomas

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Comments

Łukasz Wiatrak · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-28 16:47:01Z

2

Regex x = new Regex(@"\b"+keywords+@"\b");

You forgot additional @ before second "\b"

edited Oct 28, 2011 at 16:47

answered Oct 28, 2011 at 14:00

Łukasz Wiatrak

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