regex split comma separated string

Question

How can I split by fields below (this is sql format)? Previously I use to just split by ', ' the problem it fails if that character sequence is within the quotes. Unfortunately I also can't split by quotes because the numbers don't have any.

mystring = "(1, 'data, ', 'data_two, ', 'Test 34', '', 'gb', 1, '1')"
mystring.split(', ')

I need to get

'1'
'data'
'data_two, '
'Test 34'
''
'gb'
'1'
'1'

check out the answer below... please approve if this works for you — Tilo
– Tilo, Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 21:39
Why don't you use CSV, since it is designed to handle strings like that? — the Tin Man
– the Tin Man, Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 21:40
Also, if you're trying to split apart a SQL response, use an ORM like Sequel, to talk to the DBM. It'll make your life easier. — the Tin Man
– the Tin Man, Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 21:52
Why do you want to strip the comma on the second item but not the third? — Mark Thomas
– Mark Thomas, Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 22:22

Mark Thomas · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-09 23:10:27Z

1

If you strip the parens, you can coerce it into being parseable using CSV with options.

CSV.parse_line(mystring[1..-2], {:col_sep=>", ", :quote_char=>"'"})

 => ["1", "data, ", "data_two, ", "Test 34", "", "gb", "1", "1"]

answered Nov 9, 2012 at 23:10

Mark Thomas

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Tilo · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-09 21:43:11Z

0

mystring.split(/,/).map{|x| x.gsub(/[()\']/,'').strip}
 => ["1", "data", "", "data_two", "", "Test 34", "", "gb", "1", "1"]

edited Nov 9, 2012 at 21:43

answered Nov 9, 2012 at 21:29

Tilo

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1 Comment

user391986 Over a year ago

Because there could be a comma in between quotes like there is in the second item

catpnosis · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-10 03:06:07Z

0

This may be helpful:

irb(main):001:0> mystring
=> "(1, 'data, ', 'data_two, ', 'Test 34', '', 'gb', 1, '1')"
irb(main):002:0> mystring.scan(/(?:'(?:\\.|[^'])*'|[^,' ])+/)
=> ["(1", "'data, '", "'data_two, '", "'Test 34'", "''", "'gb'", "1", "'1')"]

Or, if you need quotes and braces to be removed, then:

irb(main):003:0> mystring.scan(/([^', ()]+)|'([^']*)'/).flatten.compact
=> ["1", "data, ", "data_two, ", "Test 34", "", "gb", "1", "1"]

This will match any non quote/brace/comma/space characted word, or anything inside of single 'quotes'. (Note, that escape sequence (\x) is not accounted in second example unlike first one. But it may be that you don't need such complications.)

edited Nov 10, 2012 at 3:06

answered Nov 10, 2012 at 2:25

catpnosis

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