Preg_Replace example for postcodes?

[haywardgb]

I've been trying to get a function that simply recognises postcode patterns within a page of text, then put

<postcode>N19 3QN</postcode>

tags around it. I've tried all the examples online, including string replace functions and ereg etc, but can't seem to get it working..

Alternatively does anyone know a good plain English tutorial on this type of thing.

Many thanks in advance.

[laserlight]

At its dumbest, you would do something like this:

<?php
$text = 'This is some text with the post code N19 3QN embedded in it.';
$result = preg_replace('/(N19 3QN)/', '<postcode>$1</postcode>', $text);
echo htmlspecialchars($result);

[Desdinova]

laserlight;10973922 wrote:

At its dumbest, you would do something like this:

<?php
$text = 'This is some text with the post code N19 3QN embedded in it.';
$result = preg_replace('/(N19 3QN)/', '<postcode>$1</postcode>', $text);
echo htmlspecialchars($result);

if the format is always the same (with letters and numbers) try something like this for catching all postcodes:

<?php
$text = 'This is some text with the post code N19 3QN embedded in it.';
$result = preg_replace('/([A-Za-z]{1}\d{2} \d{1}[A-Za-z]{2})/', '<postcode>$1</postcode>', $text);
echo htmlspecialchars($result);

[haywardgb]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Desdinova: That's roughly where I'd got up to, but I'm finding that postcodes can either be N21 , NW21 and so on.. I'm getting confused with the string codes to be honest. When I look at

'/([A-Za-z]{1}\d{2} \d{1}[A-Za-z]{2})/

my head spins a little.. Don't know why, I can do pretty much everything else with php 🙁

[laserlight]

Note that Desdinova's suggested regex pattern can be simplified to /([A-Za-z]\d{2} \d[A-Za-z]{2})/

Anyway, you need to know what is the pattern you are looking for, and be aware that there may be false positives.

[haywardgb]

Thanks Laserlight. I've been keeping a close eye on false positives, as this would cause major issues with my current site. The pattern I need is almost identical to this:

code=html|(TDCU1ZZ)|((([A-PR-UWYZ][0-9][0-9]?)|"
."(([A-PR-UWYZ][A-HK-Y]][0-9][0-9]?)|"
."(([A-PR-UWYZ][0-9][A-HJKSTUW])|"
."([A-PR-UWYZ][A-HK-Y][0-9][ABEHMNPRVWXY]))))"
."[0-9][ABD-HJLNP-UW-Z]{2})[/code]

Which I found on another website, but didn't really solve my problem as it simply checks a form input for valid postcode, not text in a website.

Appreciate your help btw.

[laserlight]

haywardgb wrote:

The pattern I need is almost identical to this: (...) Which I found on another website, but didn't really solve my problem as it simply checks a form input for valid postcode, not text in a website.

Show us the code that incorporates the pattern that you tried to use. Show also the sample input, expected output and actual output.

[Desdinova]

Just pasted the regex you found in the preg_replace. How's that working for you?

<?php
$text = 'This is some text with the post code N19 3QN embedded in it.';
$result = preg_replace("/(GIR0AA)|(TDCU1ZZ)|((([A-PR-UWYZ][0-9][0-9]?)|"
."(([A-PR-UWYZ][A-HK-Y]][0-9][0-9]?)|"
."(([A-PR-UWYZ][0-9][A-HJKSTUW])|"
."([A-PR-UWYZ][A-HK-Y][0-9][ABEHMNPRVWXY]))))"
."[0-9][ABD-HJLNP-UW-Z]{2})/", '<postcode>$1</postcode>', $text);

echo htmlspecialchars($result);

[martyr]

thank you. sohbet