Let's consider the scenario where we need to find files that meet specific criteria such as
FIND files where file2=29 AND file32="12" OR file623134="file23"
To explain this process, let's break it down into steps.
An obvious approach is to create a regex pattern that directly matches the given string.
FIND files where file2=29 AND file32="12" OR file623134="file23"
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Firstly, let's identify the parts of the string that are important and make them accessible.
FIND (files) where file(2)=(29) AND file(32)=("12") OR file(623134)=("file23")
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We can define these parts as "capture groups" by enclosing them in brackets, which allows us to refer to them later. Additionally, we can generalize the regex to match various examples by using numeric ranges for keys.
FIND (files) where file([0-9]+)=(29) AND file([0-9]+)=("12") OR file([0-9]+)=("file23")
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Next, we focus on handling values - some are strings, so we need to account for that in our regex.
Incorporating the possibility of integer values as well, we adjust our regex accordingly.
FIND (files) where file([0-9]+)=([0-9]+) AND file([0-9]+)=("[^"]+") OR file([0-9]+)=("[^"]+")
https://i.sstatic.net/NH8Rp.png
To handle different value types like numbers or strings and allow for multiple key-value pairs, we introduce an option matcher.
FIND (files) where file([0-9]+)=("[^"]+"|[0-9]+) AND file([0-9]+)=("[^"]+"|[0-9]+) OR file([0-9]+)=("[^"]+"|[0-9]+)
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Reducing redundancy in the regex, we address the operator being used between key-value pairs to refine our matching criteria.
FIND (files) where file([0-9]+)=("[^"]+"|[0-9]+) (AND) file([0-9]+)=("[^"]+"|[0-9]+) (OR) file([0-9]+)=("[^"]+"|[0-9]+)
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By allowing for repetition of the last part and considering the possibility of various value types, we enhance the flexibility of our regex pattern.
https://i.sstatic.net/qRV8v.png
Handling complex value scenarios like strings with spaces or escaped characters requires careful consideration in crafting the regex pattern.
Making use of named capturing groups in C# further enhances the readability and usability of our regex.
For more information on named capturing groups in .NET Regex, you can refer to this helpful resource.