[RESOLVED] eregi - confusing results

[baffled_in_UK]

Hi,

Please bear with me on this one, it may be a long explanation...

I'm coding a WHOIS script and in it I scan for the result in the returned string.

An example of a result where I'm happy is this one from a .com lookup (I've put in bold the bit I'm scanning for) and it comes back TRUE

scan = 'No match for'
string = 'result= Whois Server Version 2.0 Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net for detailed information. No match for "DSVVBDEE.COM". >>> Last update of whois database: Sat, 23 May 2009 16:17:50 UTC <<< NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration. TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and Registrars."

Now the problem, this is with a .eu lookup and it comes back FALSE

scan = 'Status: Available'
string ='% The WHOIS service offered by EURid and the access to the records % in the EURid WHOIS database are provided for information purposes % only. It allows persons to check whether a specific domain name % is still available or not and to obtain information related to % the registration records of existing domain names. % % EURid cannot, under any circumstances, be held liable in case the % stored information would prove to be wrong, incomplete or not % accurate in any sense. % % By submitting a query you agree not to use the information made % available to: % % - allow, enable or otherwise support the transmission of unsolicited, % commercial advertising or other solicitations whether via email or % otherwise; % - target advertising in any possible way; % % - to cause nuisance in any possible way to the registrants by sending % (whether by automated, electronic processes capable of enabling % high volumes or other possible means) messages to them. % % Without prejudice to the above, it is explicitly forbidden to extract, % copy and/or use or re-utilise in any form and by any means % (electronically or not) the whole or a quantitatively or qualitatively % substantial part of the contents of the WHOIS database without prior % and explicit permission by EURid, nor in any attempt hereof, to apply % automated, electronic processes to EURid (or its systems). % % You agree that any reproduction and/or transmission of data for % commercial purposes will always be considered as the extraction of a % substantial part of the content of the WHOIS database. % % By submitting the query you agree to abide by this policy and accept % that EURid can take measures to limit the use of its WHOIS services % in order to protect the privacy of its registrants or the integrity % of the database. % % The EURid WHOIS service on port 43 (textual whois) never % discloses any information concerning the registrant. % Registrant information can be obtained through use of the % webbased whois service available from the EURid website www.eurid.eu % % WHOIS dsvvbdee Domain: dsvvbdee Status: AVAILABLE '

I would expect this to find the scanned for value in the string and yet it doesn't?
I've tried it both case sensitive and insensitive (eregi is supposed to be case insensitive anyway)

Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

[NogDog]

From the examples you've shown so far, there appears to be no need for a regular expression. If you do use regexps, though, you should use the PCRE functions (preg_match() as they are the preferred regexp tool (and I think the POSIX functions will be deprecated in future releases).

You could simply use [man]stripos/man:

if(stripos($text, 'Status: Available') !== false)
{
   // found it
}

If that doesn't work, maybe there is an issue with the number of spaces or the type of space (tab?). In that case, if you cannot be sure of the spacing, you could then use a regexp such as:

if(preg_match('/Status:\s+Available/i', $text))
{
   // found it
}

[bradgrafelman]

The part that I find interesting in the data you posted above is this (after it's been cleaned up):

...it is explicitly forbidden to ... apply automated, electronic processes to EURid (or its systems).

[baffled_in_UK]

Thanks for the response NogDog. Sorted.