python regex splitting according to criteria

Question

A follow up on question Python Regex - replace a string not located between two specific words as the answers were incomplete.

Given a string str, split according to "::", while disregarding "::" that are between "<" and ">" brackets.

Expected inputs and outputs:

input  a :: <<a :: b> c>::<a < a < b:: b> :: b> :: b> ::      a
output [a , <<a :: b> c>,<a < a < b:: b> :: b> :: b> ,      a]

input a< b <c a>>
output [a< b <c a>>]

input a:<a b>
output [a:<a b>]

[i for i in regex.split(r'(<(?:(?R)|[^<>])*>)|\s?::\s?', s) if i] will work. — Avinash Raj
– Avinash Raj, Commented Apr 19, 2015 at 8:05
The answer is incomplete, as a< b <c a>> (no ":" )is being split into ['a', '< b <c a>>']. I'll remove the check sign from the accepted answer. — ErezO
– ErezO, Commented Apr 19, 2015 at 8:05
s = "a< b <c a>>", res = [i for i in regex.split(r'(<(?:(?R)|[^<>])*>)|\s?::\s?', s) if i], res = ['a', '< b <c a>>']. Basically, the 2nd input isn't working. — ErezO
– ErezO, Commented Apr 19, 2015 at 8:09

Avinash Raj · Accepted Answer · 2015-04-19 08:31:46Z

1

Just an if else condition is needed for this case. This would do splitting if there is any :: substring present inside the input string else it would return the actual input string.

>>> def csplit(s):
        if '::' in s:
            return [i for i in regex.split(r'(<(?:(?R)|[^<>])*>)|::', s) if i and i != ' ']
        else:
            return s


>>> csplit('a :: <<a :: b> c>::<a < a < b:: b> :: b> :: b> ::      a')
['a ', '<<a :: b> c>', '<a < a < b:: b> :: b> :: b>', '      a']
>>> csplit('a:<a b>')
'a:<a b>'
>>> csplit('a< b <c a>>')
'a< b <c a>>'

edited Apr 19, 2015 at 8:31

answered Apr 19, 2015 at 8:23

Avinash Raj

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