regexp help

pyro

I need some help with a regexp. I am trying to make a code parser (parses code similar to UBB code) but am having a bit of trouble with it.

Here is the code:

<?PHP

$message = "Doesn't work: [b][i][u]text[/u][/i][/b] Works: [b]text[/b]";

# bold
$message = preg_replace("/\[b\]([^\[]*)\[\/b\]/","<b>\\1</b>",$message);
# italics
$message = preg_replace("/\[i\]([^\[]*)\[\/i\]/","<i>\\1</i>",$message);
# underline
$message = preg_replace("/\[u\]([^\[]*)\[\/u\]/","<u>\\1</u>",$message);

echo $message;

?>

Ok, the forums really butchered that, but if you hit quote, you should get my original...

Anyway, what the problem is, is when I try to nest code. Take this example: (I am using { for [ and } for ] throughout this post due to the formatting of these forums)

{b}{i}{u}text{u}{i}{b} should print text but due to the way my code is written, it only parses the inner tags. I needed to write it that way, as if I just replace {b} with and {/b} with there will be issues if the user doesn't enter equal numbers of closing tags and if I don't check for ['s (the negative charater set...) it would parse code like this wrong:

{b}text{/b} more {b}text{/b}

You'll see what I mean by all this if you run the code with the above examples...

I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me, or if you know of a better way to parse UBB code, that would be great, as well...

Thanks!

Moonglobe

Originally posted by pyro

<?PHP

$message = "Doesn't work: \b]\i]text[/i][/b] Works: text";

bold

$message = preg_replace("/[b]([^{[]*)[\/b]/","\1",$message);}

italics

$message = preg_replace("/[i]([^{[]*)[\/i]/","\1",$message);}

underline

$message = preg_replace("/[u]([^{[]*)[\/u]/","\1",$message);}

echo $message;

?>

Moonglobe

Originally posted by pyro

<?PHP

$message = "Doesn't work: [b][i][u]text[/u][/i][/b] Works: [b]text[/b]";

bold

$message = preg_replace("/\[b]([^{[]*)\[\/b]/","\1",$message);}

italics

$message = preg_replace("/\[i]([^{[]*)\[\/i]/","\1",$message);}

underline

$message = preg_replace("/\[u]([^{[]*)\[\/u]/","\1",$message);}

echo $message;

?>

hmmm maybe try changing [^[] to [^]]? just a thought i think your logic might be a bit skewed

hth
moon

pyro

Thanks for the try, but that doesn't work. That will just take up until you close the opening [i] tag...

Moonglobe

o i c now. sorry, my brainwas down a bit yesterday.

no new ideas though, sorry 🙁

pyro

Turns out that I needed this:

$message = preg_replace("/\[b\](.*?)\[\/b\]/","\1",$message);
etc...

Moonglobe

ok that's cool. i might need to use that sometime. glad you got it,

moon

pyro

Yeah, maybe I should write up a function that will parse all UBB/VB code. It should't be hard, now that I got that figured out.