CODEWITHSUNDEEP
regexvb.net
Lynchie
Lynchie

Reputation: 1149

VB.NET Select String Matching Pattern

I know how to test for a pattern using the 'like' operator in VB.NET but what I wish to do is test for the pattern that can appear at any point in the string and return it.

I.e

Dim _MyString As String = "Dave 01-LYJX01PC01 XXYZABC"
Dim _MyString2 As String = "Dave XXYZABC 01-LYJX01PC01"

If _MyString LIKE "##-????##??##" Then
 Console.WriteLine(_MyString )
End If

Now I know the above but what I wish to do is return the text that matches the pattern.

I could be missing something really basic here, but I've looked that long im struggling and need another opinion.

Cheers

Upvotes: 3

Views: 3345

Answers (2)

Wiktor Stribiżew
Wiktor Stribiżew

Reputation: 626845

You can use the following regex:

\d{2}-\p{L}{4}\d{2}\p{L}{2}\d{2}

See demo

If it is a substring that is always a whole word, enclose this pattern with word boundaries: \b\d{2}-\p{L}{4}\d{2}\p{L}{2}\d{2}\b.

VB.NET snippet:

Dim my_rx As Regex = New Regex("\d{2}-\p{L}{4}\d{2}\p{L}{2}\d{2}")
Dim my_matches As List(Of String) = my_rx.Matches("Dave 01-LYJX01PC01 XXYZABC").Cast(Of Match)().Select(Function(m) m.Value).ToList()
Dim my_matches2 As List(Of String) = my_rx.Matches("Dave XXYZABC 01-LYJX01PC01").Cast(Of Match)().Select(Function(m) m.Value).ToList()

UPDATE

Since you will always have 1 match in the input string, you can use simple code:

Dim my_result As Match = my_rx.Match("Dave XXYZABC 01-LYJX01PC01")
If my_result.Success Then
   Console.WriteLine(my_result)
End If

See IDEONE demo

Upvotes: 2

Adisak Anusornsrirung
Adisak Anusornsrirung

Reputation: 690

What you need is write string 'Matches' in console?

If right you must encap 'Matches' with double quote.

Console.WriteLine("Matches")

Upvotes: -1

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