asked on

Regex - Capture everything between two strings.

Hi

The code below does not work properly. I am using Microsoft Access VBA. When the code works properly, the variable
strAnswer = "Line 4:Line5" with the nonprinting characters preserved.

I am using the wrong pattern. Also, I am not sure how to assign the regex result to a string.

I would appreciate your help.

Public Sub ExtractString()
    Dim str As String
    str = "Line 1." & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 2 :" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 3 :" & vbCrLf
    
    str = str & "Line 4:" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 5:" & vbCrLf
    
    str = str & "Line 6:" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "The End"
    
    Dim reg As New regExp
    reg.Pattern = "Line 4:\r(.*?)\rLine 6:"
     
    reg.Global = True
    reg.IgnoreCase = True
    Dim Matches As MatchCollection
    Set Matches = reg.Execute(str)
    
    Dim strAnswer As String
    strAnswer = reg.Execute(str)
End Sub

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Thank you.

Rgonzo1971

Hi,

pls try

Public Sub ExtractString()
    Dim str As String
    str = "Line 1." & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 2 :" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 3 :" & vbCrLf
    
    str = str & "Line 4:" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 5:" & vbCrLf
    
    str = str & "Line 6:" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "The End"
    
    Dim reg As New regExp
    reg.Pattern = "Line 4:\r(.*?)\rLine 6:"
     
    reg.Global = True
    reg.IgnoreCase = True
    Dim Matches As MatchCollection
    Set Matches = reg.Execute(str)
    
    Dim strAnswer As String
    Dim Matches as Object
    set Matches = reg.Execute(str)
    strAnswer = Matches(0)
End Sub

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Regards

peispud

ASKER

Nope ... It did not work

Furthermore, strAnswer = Matches(0) generated the following error. "Runtime error 5. Invalid procedure call or argument."

Rgonzo1971

then try

Public Sub ExtractString()
    Dim str As String
    str = "Line 1." & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 2 :" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 3 :" & vbCrLf
    
    str = str & "Line 4:" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "Line 5:" & vbCrLf
    
    str = str & "Line 6:" & vbCrLf
    str = str & "The End"
    
    Dim reg As New RegExp
    reg.Pattern = "Line 4:\r\n(.*?)\r\nLine 6:"
     
    reg.Global = True
    reg.IgnoreCase = True
    Dim Matches As MatchCollection
    Set Matches = reg.Execute(str)
    Dim strAnswer
    strAnswer = Matches(0).SubMatches(0)
End Sub

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peispud

ASKER

That worked. But when I changed the pattern to

reg.Pattern = "Line 3:\r\n(.*?)\r\nLine 6:"

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an error code is generated. "Invalid procedure call or argument."

I would like to get all the text including non-printing characters.

Rgonzo1971

then try

Line 3 :\r\n([\w\s]*)\r\nLine 6:

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EDITED

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Rgonzo1971

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peispud

ASKER

I had to rem out the following line.

 reg.Multiline = True

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After that, it seems to work perfectly.

peispud

ASKER

Much appreciated. I get lots of data that is computer generated. The data is always in the same place, so now I can develop a tool to sift out the data that I need.

Thank you.