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     REGEX(S)                 XENIX System V                  REGEX(S)



     Name
          regex, regcmp - Compiles and executes regular expressions.

     Syntax
          char *regcmp(string1[,string2, ...],(char *)0);
          char *string1, *string2, ...;

          char *regex(re,subject[,ret0, ...]);
          char *re, *subject, *ret0, ...;
          extern char * __loc1;

     Description
          regcmp compiles a regular expression and returns a pointer
          to the compiled form.  malloc(S) is used to create space for
          the vector.  It is the user's responsibility to free
          unneeded space so allocated.  A zero return from regcmp
          indicates an incorrect argument.  regcmp(CP) has been
          written to generally preclude the need for this routine at
          execution time.

          regex executes a compiled pattern against the subject
          string.  Additional arguments are passed to receive values
          back.  regex returns zero on failure or a pointer to the
          next unmatched character on success.  A global character
          pointer __loc1 points to where the match began.  regcmp and
          regex were derived from the editor, ed(C) however, the
          syntax and semantics have been changed slightly.  The
          following are the valid symbols and their associated
          meanings.

          []*.^     These symbols retain their current meaning.

          $         Matches the end of the string, \n matches the
                    newline.

          -         Within brackets the minus means through.  For
                    example, [a-z] is equivalent to [abcd...xyz].  The
                    - can appear as itself only if used as the last or
                    first character.  For example, the character class
                    expression []-] matches the characters ] and -.

          +         A regular expression followed by + means "one or
                    more times".  For example, [0-9]+ is equivalent to
                    [0-9][0-9]*.

          {m} {m,} {m,u}
                    Integer values enclosed in {} indicate the number
                    of times the preceding regular expression is to be
                    applied.  m is the minimum number and u is a
                    number, less than 256, which is the maximum.  If
                    only m is present (e.g., {m}), it indicates the
                    exact number of times the regular expression is to



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     REGEX(S)                 XENIX System V                  REGEX(S)



                    be applied.  {m,} is analogous to {m,infinity}.
                    The plus (+) and star (*) operations are
                    equivalent to {1,} and {0,} respectively.

          ( ... )$n The value of the enclosed regular expression is to
                    be returned.  The value will be stored in the
                    (n+1)th argument following the subject argument.
                    At present, at most ten enclosed regular
                    expressions are allowed.  regex makes its
                    assignments unconditionally.

          ( ... )   Parentheses are used for grouping.  An operator,
                    e.g.  *, +, {}, can work on a single character or
                    a regular expression enclosed in parenthesis.  For
                    example, (a*(cb+)*)$0.

          By necessity, all the above defined symbols are special.
          They must, therefore, be escaped to be used as themselves.

     Examples
          Example 1:

               char *cursor, *newcursor, *ptr;
                    ...
               newcursor = regex((ptr=regcmp("^\n",0)),cursor);
               free(ptr);

          This example will match a leading newline in the subject
          string pointed at by cursor.

          Example 2:

               char ret0[9];
               char *newcursor, *name;
                    ...
               name = regcmp("([A-Za-z][A-za-z0-9]{0,7})$0",0);
               newcursor = regex(name,"123Testing321",ret0);

          This example will match through the string ``Testing3'' and
          will return the address of the character after the last
          matched character (cursor+11).  The string ``Testing3'' will
          be copied to the character array ret0.

          Example 3:
               #include "file.i"
               char *string, *newcursor;
                    ...
               newcursor = regex(name,string);

          This example applies a precompiled regular expression in
          file.i (see regcmp(CP)) against string.




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     REGEX(S)                 XENIX System V                  REGEX(S)



     See Also
          ed(C), regcmp(CP), free(S), malloc(S)

     Notes
          The user program may run out of memory if regcmp is called
          iteratively without freeing the vectors no longer required.
          The following user-supplied replacement for malloc(S) reuses
          the same vector saving time and space:

               /* user's program */
                    ...
               malloc(n)
               {
                    static int rebuf[256];
                    return &rebuf;
               }







































     Page 3                                           (printed 8/7/87)



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