Beginning Regular Expressions

Regular expressions help users and developers to find and manipulate text more effectively and efficiently. In addition, regular expressions are supported by many scripting languages, programming languages, and databases. This example–rich tutorial helps debunk the traditional reputation of regular expressions as being cryptic. It explains the various parts of a regular expression pattern, what those parts mean, how to use them, and common pitfalls to avoid when writing regular expressions.
With chapters on using regular expressions with popular Windows platform software including databases, cross platform scripting languages, and programming languages, you′ll learn to make effective use of the power provided by regular expressions once you fully comprehend their strengths and potential.
What you will learn from this bookFundamental concepts of regular expressions and how to write themHow to break down a text manipulation problem into component parts so you can then logically construct a regular expression patternHow to use regular expressions in several scripting and programming languages and software packagesThe variations that exist among regular expression dialectsReusable, real–world working code that can be used to solve everyday regular expression problems
Who this book is for
This book is for developers who need to manipulate text but are new to regular expressions. Some basic programming or scripting experience is useful but not required.

Spis treści:
Introduction.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Regular Expressions.
Chapter 2: Regular Expression Tools and an Approach to Using Them.
Chapter 3: Simple Regular Expressions.
Chapter 4: Metacharacters and Modifiers.
Chapter 5: Character Classes.
Chapter 6: String, Line, and Word Boundaries.
Chapter 7: Parentheses in Regular Expressions.
Chapter 8: Lookahead and Lookbehind.
Chapter 9: Sensitivity and Specificit y of Regular Expressions.
Chapter 10: Documenting and Debugging Regular Expressions.
Chapter 11: Regular Expressions in Microsoft Word.
Chapter 12: Regular Expressions in StarOffice/OpenOffice.org Writer.
Chapter 13: Regular Expressions Using findstr.
Chapter 14: PowerGREP.
Chapter 15: Wildcards in Microsoft Excel.
Chapter 16: Regular Expression Functionality in SQL Server 2000.
Chapter 17: Using Regular Expressions with MySQL.
Chapter 18: Regular Expressions and Microsoft Access.
Chapter 19: Regular Expressions in JScript and JavaScript.
Chapter 20: Regular Expressions and VBScript.
Chapter 21: Visual Basic .NET and Regular Expressions.
Chapter 22: C# and Regular Expressions.
Chapter 23: PHP and Regular Expressions.
Chapter 24: Regular Expressions in W3C XML Schema.
Chapter 25: Regular Expressions in Java.
Chapter 26: Regular Expressions in Perl.
Appendix A: Exercise Answers.
Index.

Nota biograficzna:
Andrew Watt is an independent consultant and experienced author with an interest and expertise in XML and Web technologies. He has written and coauthored more than 10 books on Web development and XML, including XPath Essentials and XML Schema Essentials. He has been programming since 1984, moving to Web development technologies in 1994. He’s a well–known voice in several influential online technical communities and is a frequent contributor to many Web development specifications.

Okładka tylna:
Regular expressions help users and developers to find and manipulate text more effectively and efficiently. In addition, regular expressions are supported by many scripting languages, programming languages, and databases. This example–rich tutorial helps debunk the traditional reputation of regular expressions as being cryptic. It explains the various parts of a regular expression pattern, what those parts mean, how to use them, and common pitf alls to avoid when writing regular expressions.
With chapters on using regular expressions with popular Windows platform software including databases, cross platform scripting languages, and programming languages, you′ll learn to make effective use of the power provided by regular expressions once you fully comprehend their strengths and potential.
What you will learn from this bookFundamental concepts of regular expressions and how to write themHow to break down a text manipulation problem into component parts so you can then logically construct a regular expression patternHow to use regular expressions in several scripting and programming languages and software packagesThe variations that exist among regular expression dialectsReusable, real–world working code that can be used to solve everyday regular expression problems
Who this book is for
This book is for developers who need to manipulate text but are new to regular expressions. Some basic programming or scripting experience is useful but not required.