Java split by dash character

Question

I'm trying to split a string by a hyphen and a character but unsure of how to use split with Regex. The string is this:

–u tom –p 12345 –h google.com

The hyphen and character are interchangeable in position and how many of them may appear. I'd like them back in an array. Here is what I have so far:

Scanner reader = new Scanner(System.in);
String entireLine = reader.nextLine();
String[] array = entireLine.split("–", -1);

The result I'd like is:

–u tom

–p 12345

–h google.com

Thanks.

this is not the best way to parse command line parameters; look into some library like jargs — guido, Feb 01 '15 at 22:21
I just wanted some a quick thing, HW related. Not concerned with polishing it. Just getting the result. — AzzamAziz, Feb 01 '15 at 22:23
what if user input has hyphens: -u peter-p -p pass-word -h my-domain.com http://stackoverflow.com/questions/367706/is-there-a-good-command-line-argument-parser-for-java — Nikita Ignatov, Feb 01 '15 at 22:30
@NikitaIgnatov You would need to incorporate the `space` character in addition to the `dash` character (or `hyphen`). — mrres1, Feb 01 '15 at 22:47
possible duplicate of [how to split string with some separator but without removing that separator in Java?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4416425/how-to-split-string-with-some-separator-but-without-removing-that-separator-in-j) — Javier, Mar 02 '15 at 23:17
This question is more regarding the Reggix and less about the Java Split method. — AzzamAziz, Mar 03 '15 at 00:27

Bohemian · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-02T02:12:15.450

6

Try this:

String[] array = entireLine.split("(?<!^)(?=-)");

The negative look behind will prevent splitting at the start of line.

edited Feb 02 '15 at 02:12

answered Feb 01 '15 at 22:44

Bohemian

Exactly what I was looking for to ignore the first one. Thank you! – AzzamAziz Feb 01 '15 at 22:46

mrres1 · Answer 2 · 2015-02-01T22:43:22.277

2

I would use the following:

String[] array = entireLine.split("\\-", -1);
// or
String[] array = entireLine.split("\\–", -1);

It would give you

u tom

p 12345

h google.com

edited Feb 01 '15 at 22:43

answered Feb 01 '15 at 22:35

mrres1

@AzzamAziz How about a +1 for solving your problem ? – mrres1 Feb 07 '15 at 01:53
@mrres1 I actually just got the ability of +1 :) – AzzamAziz Feb 07 '15 at 01:54

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

1

The split method takes a regular expression in its parameter, so you can use positive lookahead like this

String[] array = entireLine.split("(?=-)");

edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

Community

answered Feb 01 '15 at 22:31

Hugo Sousa

@AzzamAziz Why not? I have tried the input `-a b -c d` and it returns `-a b` and `-c d`. Isn't that what you want? – Hugo Sousa Feb 01 '15 at 22:42
This worked after I changed my - character. I was using the wrong one. – AzzamAziz Feb 01 '15 at 22:45

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 02 '15 at 22:15

0

You can try this:

String[] array = entireLine.split("-*(\\s+)");

edited Mar 02 '15 at 22:15

Undo

answered Feb 01 '15 at 23:04

Mithun

4 Answers4