How to specify a regular expression in a property checkpoint in a keyword test

Question

I need to check the following text displayed in a textbox.

08/30/2016 16:31:48 - Attempting to connect to DMM.

I need to express the date/time stamp in a regular expression so that it accounts for the new date/time stamp (i.e., if the test is run tomorrow).

I am having issues with the syntax. As of now, this is what I have but not working. Again, I need to express this in a keyword test.

\d\d/\d\d/\d\d/\d\d \d\d:\d\d:\d\d - Attempting to connect to DMM.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Miguel

joseph_michaud · Answer

Read the help topic that Marsha_R referenced: Regular Expressions Syntax
Keep in mind that the Property Checkpoint is using the section titled "Tokens Used in Non-Native Regular Expressions"
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In it you'll see that we don't support the repetition syntax '{n}'.&nbsp; Also, note that JScript (but not VBScript) will want to have backslashes escaped.&nbsp; So if I were doing a script test for JScript I would use '\d' for matching a digit.&nbsp; To make this more confusing, if I were doing a keyword test for JScript I would enter '\d' in the wizard.&nbsp; (The wizard will internally escape the backslash.&nbsp; If you look closely at the 'Value' field for the Property Checkpoint operation in an existing JScript keyword test, you'll see evidence of the escaped backslash...)
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&nbsp;
I find getting regular expressions to work to be quite frustrating.&nbsp; I usually go through a round of trial and error.&nbsp; If given this string
&nbsp;
08/30/2016 16:31:48 - Attempting to connect to DMM.
&nbsp;
Let's assume JScript.&nbsp; I would first try this regular expression:&nbsp; 08/30/2016.*
That worked.&nbsp; Next try:&nbsp; \d\d/30/2016.*
That worked too.&nbsp; How about:&nbsp; \d{2}/30/2016.*
Nope, that didn't work.
&nbsp;
Let's jump ahead.&nbsp; How about:&nbsp; \d\d/\d\d/\d\d\d\d\b*\d\d:\d\d:\d\d\b*-\b*Attempting to connect to DMM\.
Dang it!&nbsp; That didn't work (and that's what I get for trying to jump ahead...)&nbsp; What did I do wrong?&nbsp; Oh, I forgot to escape the backslashes for \b:
\d\d/\d\d/\d\d\d\d\b*\d\d:\d\d:\d\d\b*-\b*Attempting to connect to DMM\.
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OK.&nbsp; That worked.&nbsp; Note that whitespace is matched with \b and not \s.
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I like baxatob idea of grouping.&nbsp; Let's try this
(\d\d/\d\d/\d\d\d\d)\b*(\d\d:\d\d:\d\d)\b*-\b*(Attempting to connect to DMM\.)
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Good.&nbsp; That worked too.
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If you're not using JScript, then the specification would look like this:
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(\d\d/\d\d/\d\d\d\d)\b*(\d\d:\d\d:\d\d)\b*-\b*(Attempting to connect to DMM\.)
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marsha_r · Answer

https://support.smartbear.com/viewarticle/81060/&nbsp;Look at the table for the section regarding backslash. &nbsp;I think that will help you.

mcastellanos · Answer

Thank you for your reply.&nbsp;I looked at that table initially and that is how I came up with the posted expression; however, something is wrong obviously. I was in the hopes that someone here could identify the issue with it. Again, thank you for any light someone can shed on it.

nishera · Answer

your regex not not working since1)you have broken YYYY in to two(like this 08/30/20/1616:31:48)2) haven't specify the space between year and hours pat of time&nbsp;try following &nbsp;....haven't tested &nbsp; but hope no syntax errors........&nbsp;\d\d/\d\d/\d\d\d\d\s\d\d:\d\d:\d\d( - Attempting to connect to DMM.)&nbsp;ps. not sure : is a special character or not if so hav to use \:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

baxatob · Answer

This regex will match your string:
&nbsp;
(\d{2}\/\d{2}\/\d{4}) (\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}) - (Attempting to connect to DMM\.)
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Please&nbsp;remember that &nbsp;/ delimiter (as well as another delimiters) always should be escaped by backslash \
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Also it is better to escape the dot character:&nbsp;\. Otherwise it will match any character.
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And if you group different logical members of your string inside parentheses, it makes your regex more readable.
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Great online tool to check your regex:&nbsp;https://regex101.com/

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