Conditional regex with literal at the end, only match if some part of the conditional matches as well

Question

Here's my test code:

$strings=array(
'Low Minimum',
'Low 10 Piece Minimum',
'10 piece minimum',
'20 piece minimum',
'low 6 piece minimum',
'100 piece minimum',
'This item is offered with a 1000 piece minimum',
'Place your order now. This item has a 75 piece minimum',
'Place your order now. This item has a low 75 piece minimum',
);

foreach($strings as $string)
  {
     echo preg_replace('/(low)? ?(\b[0-9]{0,3}\b) (piece minimum)/i',' Low Minumum',$string);
     echo '<br>';
  }

Here's the output:

Low Minimum
Low Minumum
Low Minumum
Low Minumum
Low Minumum
Low Minumum
This item is offered with a 1000 Low Minumum
Place your order now. This item has a Low Minumum
Place your order now. This item has a Low Minumum

Here is my desired output:

Low Minimum
Low Minumum
Low Minumum
Low Minumum
Low Minumum
Low Minumum
This item is offered with a 1000 piece minimum
Place your order now. This item has a Low Minumum
Place your order now. This item has a Low Minumum

The one that messes me up is the 4 digit number. So, "piece minimum" should only match if some part of what's before it also matched. How do I write this?

For one thing remove the comma in your last array entry `'Place your order now. This item has a low 75 piece minimum',` — Funk Forty Niner, Oct 02 '13 at 18:15
@Fred-ii- having a comma after last specified array item is technically valid syntax in PHP. Though whether it is good coding practice is a different question altogether. — Mike Brant, Oct 02 '13 at 18:17
@JosephSilber From what I've seen so many times before, the last entry shouldn't contain a comma, or are there exceptions to the rule? — Funk Forty Niner, Oct 02 '13 at 18:17
Not only is it valid, but recommended. That way, when you subsequently add more lines, your commits won't affect that line. — Joseph Silber, Oct 02 '13 at 18:18
@JosephSilber Thanks for the info, I will definitely remember that. However, I don't why others with high rep points say that in the first place. If I had a nickel for everytime it's been said, I'd be on a Yacht somewhere. — Funk Forty Niner, Oct 02 '13 at 18:20
@Fred-ii- I think it's important to know that in some languages you are correct. In PHP, I do it because it is convenient when I am ready to add to the array. — TecBrat, Oct 02 '13 at 18:23
Back in the day, JavaScript didn't support trailing commas. [All modern browsers now support trailing commas](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7246618/trailing-commas-in-javascript#answer-7246662) (besides for..... wait for it....... IE8. Bet you didn't see that one coming). — Joseph Silber, Oct 02 '13 at 18:25
@TecBrat You're right. I think we should probably get rid of all these comments and stick to the matter at hand, good idea? Or keep them as a learning curve? — Funk Forty Niner, Oct 02 '13 at 18:26
I don't know how to do it, but I've heard of comments being moved to wiki. Maybe these could be. — TecBrat, Oct 02 '13 at 18:31

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 02 '13 at 18:25

1

For you desired output, you need to change a small mistake.

Instead of..

[0-9]{0,3}

It should be..

[0-9]{1,3}

answered Oct 02 '13 at 18:25

hwnd

69,796
4
95
132

I get the same output. – TecBrat Oct 02 '13 at 18:29
I verified this works! Edit: That said, I tested it in a regex editor – mewm Oct 02 '13 at 18:30
1

Works for me on both test sites. – hwnd Oct 02 '13 at 18:34

Conditional regex with literal at the end, only match if some part of the conditional matches as well

1 Answers1