Regex for valid filename in WindowsXP

Question

I've got a string of text that becomes part of the filename that gets saved out. I need to remove any illegal characters (ie non alpha numeric, only latin based characters)

This is what I have so far:

Figured it out, regex-fu levels back to normal!

function isValidFilename(fname)
{ 
  var rexp = new RegExp(/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/gim)
  return fname.replace(rexp, "")
}

var v = "my$filename"
alert(v + "\nis valid???\n\n" + isValidFilename(v))

v = "myfilename"
alert(v + "\nis valid???\n\n" + isValidFilename(v))

Let me give you my regex-fu : [here](http://www.myregextester.com/index.php) — Nick.T, Jan 30 '13 at 10:45
Valid for which OS? `lpt1` is an invalid filename on Windows, for example. — Tim Pietzcker, Jan 30 '13 at 11:47
@TimPietzcker How come? Is that because it has no extension? — inhan, Jan 30 '13 at 11:53
Why you're describing one task - "remove specific set of invalid symbols", but your solution is "remove everything but completely different set of another symbols"? — Oleg V. Volkov, Jan 30 '13 at 11:54
@inhan: No, it's a reserved name, like `NUL` and `COM2` and many others. — Tim Pietzcker, Jan 30 '13 at 11:57
Check this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/62771/how-check-if-given-string-is-legal-allowed-file-name-under-windows — nhahtdh, Jan 30 '13 at 17:20
@TimPietzcker Thanks for the information. I had no idea (I'm on a mac so I'm not very familiar with the Windows filesystem). — inhan, Jan 31 '13 at 10:56

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:16

2

found this in another question:

/^[0-9a-zA-Z\^\&\'\@\{\}\[\]\,\$\=\!\-\#\(\)\.\%\+\~\_ ]+$/

taken from: Javascript regex for validating filenames

Maybe you can use this one to get were you want?

edited May 23 '17 at 12:16

Community

1
1

answered Jan 30 '13 at 10:47

amaters

2,266
2
24
44

I had a look at that link earlier but it hasn't helped my regex-fu :( – Ghoul Fool Jan 30 '13 at 11:01
1

Yeah? And Отчёт.doc or Kaya - 火車.mp3 is suddenly invalid? No, really? – Oleg V. Volkov Jan 30 '13 at 11:52
I've figured it out and adjusted the code. It's not bullet proof (it fails on Отчёт.doc as all letters get replaced; but it was only every designed for English text and that'll do for now. – Ghoul Fool Jan 30 '13 at 12:05

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 30 '13 at 10:51

2

You should validate against valid characters instead of removing invalid characters

^ inside a [] group will negate that group.

you can use replace with /[^A-Za-z0-9.-]/ to eliminate all characters that do not belong in this group

answered Jan 30 '13 at 10:51

Master Yogurt

116
4

Regex for valid filename in WindowsXP

2 Answers2