Java string split with repeating separator

Question

I have a string formated like this:

String str = "AA.BBB..CC.DDDD...EE....F.G..H";

And I want to split this string by a dot with this as output:

AA
BBB
.CC
DDDD
.
EE
..
F
G
.H

str.split("\\.") of course did not work.

Why is there two dots in between E and F, in sequence? Shouldn't be those on two separate lines? — Rohit Jain
– Rohit Jain, Commented Nov 24, 2012 at 15:29
I think he wants every substring that starts and ends with a dot. Something like ".*." and, in case of multiple dots at the beginning of the substring, he takes the first one as separator and includes the others in the string. — Daniela Mogini
– Daniela Mogini, Commented Nov 24, 2012 at 15:37
@DanielaMogini.. In that case the output for DDDD...EE....F does not follow. — Rohit Jain
– Rohit Jain, Commented Nov 24, 2012 at 15:39
@Enroy.. Please specify on what basis you want the split. It is not clear from the output you posted. — Rohit Jain
– Rohit Jain, Commented Nov 24, 2012 at 15:40
One dot : handle it like split("\\.") Two dots : take the first as separator, include 2nd dot in string 3+ dots : take outer dots as separator, and take everything between those as new string. — Enroy
– Enroy, Commented Nov 25, 2012 at 20:08

nhahtdh · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-24 15:36:07Z

3

This should work:

str.split("(?<!\\.)\\.|(?<=\\.\\.)\\.(?!\\.)")

The string should be split in these 2 cases:

answered Nov 24, 2012 at 15:27

nhahtdh

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1 Comment

+1 Was very near to it. But couldn't get the exact output. Was missing (?<=\\.\\.) in the 2nd part. :)