RegEx: edit RegEx match object

[jeeswg]

- I was converting RegExMatch code from variable mode to object mode.
- It appears that you cannot edit this array in the normal way.
- Is there a way to edit it?
- Otherwise I'll probably clone the numeric keys to an array or to variables, because sometimes I want to edit some of the values after retrieving the matches.
- Also, does it say anywhere that it's not a standard AutoHotkey array? Thanks.
- Btw, I suppose this could have been made as a standard array, is there some special optimisation involved? Is this done with large strings in mind, where having things read-only is advantageous.

Code: Select all

q::
RegExMatch("abc", "O)(.)(.)(.)", o)
MsgBox, % o.1 " " o.2 " " o.3 ;a b c
o.1 := "d"
MsgBox, % o.1 ;a
return

[Helgef]

It is a match object, as per the documentation,

This object has the following properties: [...]

What you see is what you get, you cannot edit, clone(), enumerate...

---

I suppose this could have been made as a standard array, is there some special optimisation involved?

It is an interesting question.

Cheers.

[jeeswg]

- Haha cheers. Yes, when I read 'match object', that half looks like a special type of object, half looks like just a normal object with match info with a certain hierarchical structure. But then, if I were to say 'match variable', or 'match pseudo-array', it's clearer what that would mean.
- It would be potentially interesting to 'enumerate' everything (by using the info that is available). Although it might not be too hard, I haven't needed to do it yet, I'll try it shortly.
- Did it say anywhere that you can't enumerate or write to the object? It's quite the mysterious object. Btw I meant 'clone' in a generic sense, to just create a standard array, and copy across selected keys.

[Helgef]

I do not think it is explicitly stated that you cannot modify it. v2 docs says you cannot use for loop, v1 doesn't it seems.

[jeeswg]

Here's a function that approximately clones a RegEx match object. I did this more to understand how the match object works, than as something I would use day-to-day.

Code: Select all

JEE_RegExObjClone(oMatch)
{
	static vList := "Pos,Len,Value,Name,Count,Mark"
	oArray := {Pos:{},Len:{},Value:{},Name:{},Count:{},Mark:{}}
	oName := []
	oArray.Count := oMatch.Count()
	oArray.Mark := oMatch.Mark()
	Loop, % oMatch.Count()+1
	{
		vIndex := A_Index-1
		oArray[vIndex] := oMatch[vIndex]
		Loop, Parse, vList, % ","
			oArray[A_LoopField, vIndex] := oMatch[A_LoopField, vIndex]
		if ((vName := oMatch.Name(vIndex)) = "")
			continue
		oArray[vName] := oMatch[vName]
		Loop, Parse, vList, % ","
			oArray[A_LoopField, vName] := oMatch[A_LoopField, vName]
	}
	return oArray
}

[jeeswg]

Here is a more practical example re. partially cloning a match object. Re. converting a date from one format to another. You split the date into parts, and want to convert the month text to a number.

Code: Select all

q:: ;convert dates (partially clone match objects)
vList := "Jan,Feb,Mar,Apr,May,Jun,Jul,Aug,Sep,Oct,Nov,Dec"
oMonths := {}
Loop, Parse, vList, % ","
	oMonths[A_LoopField] := A_Index

RegExMatch("25 Dec 2017", "O)(?P<Day>\d+) (?P<Month>[A-Za-z]+) (?P<Year>\d+)", oMatch)
MsgBox, % oMatch.3 " " oMatch.2 " " oMatch.1
MsgBox, % oMatch.Year " " oMatch.Month " " oMatch.Day

;create an array that clones some of the match object keys
oArray := {}
Loop, % oMatch.Count()
{
	oArray[A_Index] := oMatch[A_Index]
	oArray[oMatch.Name(A_Index)] := oMatch[oMatch.Name(A_Index)]
	MsgBox, % oMatch.Name(A_Index) ": " oMatch[oMatch.Name(A_Index)]
}
oArray.2 := oMonths[oArray.2]
oArray.Month := oMonths[oArray.Month]
MsgBox, % oArray.3 " " oArray.2 " " oArray.1
MsgBox, % oArray.Year " " oArray.Month " " oArray.Day

;create a pseudo-array that clones some of the match object keys
Loop, % oMatch.Count()
{
	vTemp := oMatch.Name(A_Index)
	v%A_Index% := oMatch[A_Index]
	v%vTemp% := oMatch[oMatch.Name(A_Index)]
}
v2 := oMonths[oMatch.2]
vMonth := oMonths[oMatch.Month]
MsgBox, % v3 " " v2 " " v1
MsgBox, % vYear " " vMonth " " vDay
return

Link:
RegExMatch
https://autohotkey.com/docs/commands/Re ... atchObject