/[pcre]/code/trunk/doc/pcretest.txt
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revision 92 by nigel, Sat Feb 24 21:41:34 2007 UTC revision 93 by nigel, Sat Feb 24 21:41:42 2007 UTC
# Line 19  SYNOPSIS Line 19  SYNOPSIS
19    
20  OPTIONS  OPTIONS
21    
22           -b        Behave as if each regex has the /B (show bytecode)  modifier;
23                     the internal form is output after compilation.
24    
25         -C        Output the version number of the PCRE library, and all avail-         -C        Output the version number of the PCRE library, and all avail-
26                   able   information  about  the  optional  features  that  are                   able  information  about  the  optional  features  that   are
27                   included, and then exit.                   included, and then exit.
28    
29         -d        Behave as if each regex has  the  /D  (debug)  modifier;  the         -d        Behave  as  if  each  regex  has the /D (debug) modifier; the
30                   internal form is output after compilation.                   internal form and information about the compiled  pattern  is
31                     output after compilation; -d is equivalent to -b -i.
32    
33         -dfa      Behave  as if each data line contains the \D escape sequence;         -dfa      Behave  as if each data line contains the \D escape sequence;
34                   this    causes    the    alternative    matching    function,                   this    causes    the    alternative    matching    function,
35                   pcre_dfa_exec(),   to   be   used  instead  of  the  standard                   pcre_dfa_exec(),   to   be   used  instead  of  the  standard
36                   pcre_exec() function (more detail is given below).                   pcre_exec() function (more detail is given below).
37    
38           -help     Output a brief summary these options and then exit.
39    
40         -i        Behave as if each regex  has  the  /I  modifier;  information         -i        Behave as if each regex  has  the  /I  modifier;  information
41                   about the compiled pattern is given after compilation.                   about the compiled pattern is given after compilation.
42    
# Line 40  OPTIONS Line 46  OPTIONS
46                   pcretest, -s is a synonym for -m.                   pcretest, -s is a synonym for -m.
47    
48         -o osize  Set the number of elements in the output vector that is  used         -o osize  Set the number of elements in the output vector that is  used
49                   when  calling  pcre_exec()  to be osize. The default value is                   when  calling pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec() to be osize. The
50                   45, which is enough for 14 capturing subexpressions. The vec-                   default value is 45, which is enough for 14 capturing  subex-
51                   tor  size  can  be  changed  for individual matching calls by                   pressions   for  pcre_exec()  or  22  different  matches  for
52                   including \O in the data line (see below).                   pcre_dfa_exec(). The vector size can be changed for  individ-
53                     ual  matching  calls  by  including  \O in the data line (see
54                     below).
55    
56         -p        Behave as if each regex has the /P modifier; the POSIX  wrap-         -p        Behave as if each regex has the /P modifier; the POSIX  wrap-
57                   per  API  is used to call PCRE. None of the other options has                   per  API  is used to call PCRE. None of the other options has
# Line 59  OPTIONS Line 67  OPTIONS
67                   and  output resulting time per compile or match (in millisec-                   and  output resulting time per compile or match (in millisec-
68                   onds). Do not set -m with -t, because you will then  get  the                   onds). Do not set -m with -t, because you will then  get  the
69                   size  output  a  zillion  times,  and the timing will be dis-                   size  output  a  zillion  times,  and the timing will be dis-
70                   torted.                   torted. You can control the number  of  iterations  that  are
71                     used  for timing by following -t with a number (as a separate
72                     item on the command line). For example, "-t 1000" would iter-
73                     ate 1000 times. The default is to iterate 500000 times.
74    
75           -tm       This is like -t except that it times only the matching phase,
76                     not the compile or study phases.
77    
78    
79  DESCRIPTION  DESCRIPTION
# Line 77  DESCRIPTION Line 91  DESCRIPTION
91    
92         Each  data line is matched separately and independently. If you want to         Each  data line is matched separately and independently. If you want to
93         do multi-line matches, you have to use the \n escape sequence (or \r or         do multi-line matches, you have to use the \n escape sequence (or \r or
94         \r\n,  depending  on  the newline setting) in a single line of input to         \r\n, etc., depending on the newline setting) in a single line of input
95         encode the newline characters. There is no limit on the length of  data         to encode the newline sequences. There is no limit  on  the  length  of
96         lines; the input buffer is automatically extended if it is too small.         data  lines;  the  input  buffer is automatically extended if it is too
97           small.
98    
99         An  empty  line signals the end of the data lines, at which point a new         An empty line signals the end of the data lines, at which point  a  new
100         regular expression is read. The regular expressions are given  enclosed         regular  expression is read. The regular expressions are given enclosed
101         in any non-alphanumeric delimiters other than backslash, for example:         in any non-alphanumeric delimiters other than backslash, for example:
102    
103           /(a|bc)x+yz/           /(a|bc)x+yz/
104    
105         White  space before the initial delimiter is ignored. A regular expres-         White space before the initial delimiter is ignored. A regular  expres-
106         sion may be continued over several input lines, in which case the  new-         sion  may be continued over several input lines, in which case the new-
107         line  characters  are included within it. It is possible to include the         line characters are included within it. It is possible to  include  the
108         delimiter within the pattern by escaping it, for example         delimiter within the pattern by escaping it, for example
109    
110           /abc\/def/           /abc\/def/
111    
112         If you do so, the escape and the delimiter form part  of  the  pattern,         If  you  do  so, the escape and the delimiter form part of the pattern,
113         but  since delimiters are always non-alphanumeric, this does not affect         but since delimiters are always non-alphanumeric, this does not  affect
114         its interpretation.  If the terminating delimiter is  immediately  fol-         its  interpretation.   If the terminating delimiter is immediately fol-
115         lowed by a backslash, for example,         lowed by a backslash, for example,
116    
117           /abc/\           /abc/\
118    
119         then  a  backslash  is added to the end of the pattern. This is done to         then a backslash is added to the end of the pattern. This  is  done  to
120         provide a way of testing the error condition that arises if  a  pattern         provide  a  way of testing the error condition that arises if a pattern
121         finishes with a backslash, because         finishes with a backslash, because
122    
123           /abc\/           /abc\/
124    
125         is  interpreted as the first line of a pattern that starts with "abc/",         is interpreted as the first line of a pattern that starts with  "abc/",
126         causing pcretest to read the next line as a continuation of the regular         causing pcretest to read the next line as a continuation of the regular
127         expression.         expression.
128    
129    
130  PATTERN MODIFIERS  PATTERN MODIFIERS
131    
132         A  pattern may be followed by any number of modifiers, which are mostly         A pattern may be followed by any number of modifiers, which are  mostly
133         single characters. Following Perl usage, these are  referred  to  below         single  characters.  Following  Perl usage, these are referred to below
134         as,  for  example,  "the /i modifier", even though the delimiter of the         as, for example, "the /i modifier", even though the  delimiter  of  the
135         pattern need not always be a slash, and no slash is used  when  writing         pattern  need  not always be a slash, and no slash is used when writing
136         modifiers.  Whitespace  may  appear between the final pattern delimiter         modifiers. Whitespace may appear between the  final  pattern  delimiter
137         and the first modifier, and between the modifiers themselves.         and the first modifier, and between the modifiers themselves.
138    
139         The /i, /m, /s, and /x modifiers set the PCRE_CASELESS, PCRE_MULTILINE,         The /i, /m, /s, and /x modifiers set the PCRE_CASELESS, PCRE_MULTILINE,
140         PCRE_DOTALL,  or  PCRE_EXTENDED  options,  respectively, when pcre_com-         PCRE_DOTALL, or PCRE_EXTENDED  options,  respectively,  when  pcre_com-
141         pile() is called. These four modifier letters have the same  effect  as         pile()  is  called. These four modifier letters have the same effect as
142         they do in Perl. For example:         they do in Perl. For example:
143    
144           /caseless/i           /caseless/i
# Line 142  PATTERN MODIFIERS Line 157  PATTERN MODIFIERS
157           /<cr>    PCRE_NEWLINE_CR           /<cr>    PCRE_NEWLINE_CR
158           /<lf>    PCRE_NEWLINE_LF           /<lf>    PCRE_NEWLINE_LF
159           /<crlf>  PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF           /<crlf>  PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF
160             /<any>   PCRE_NEWLINE_ANY
161    
162           Those  specifying  line ending sequencess are literal strings as shown.
163           This example sets multiline matching  with  CRLF  as  the  line  ending
164           sequence:
165    
166         Those specifying line endings are literal strings as shown. Details  of           /^abc/m<crlf>
167         the  meanings of these PCRE options are given in the pcreapi documenta-  
168         tion.         Details  of the meanings of these PCRE options are given in the pcreapi
169           documentation.
170    
171     Finding all matches in a string     Finding all matches in a string
172    
# Line 175  PATTERN MODIFIERS Line 196  PATTERN MODIFIERS
196         remainder of the subject string. This is useful  for  tests  where  the         remainder of the subject string. This is useful  for  tests  where  the
197         subject contains multiple copies of the same substring.         subject contains multiple copies of the same substring.
198    
199         The  /L modifier must be followed directly by the name of a locale, for         The  /B modifier is a debugging feature. It requests that pcretest out-
200           put a representation of the compiled byte code after compilation.
201    
202           The /L modifier must be followed directly by the name of a locale,  for
203         example,         example,
204    
205           /pattern/Lfr_FR           /pattern/Lfr_FR
206    
207         For this reason, it must be the last modifier. The given locale is set,         For this reason, it must be the last modifier. The given locale is set,
208         pcre_maketables()  is called to build a set of character tables for the         pcre_maketables() is called to build a set of character tables for  the
209         locale, and this is then passed to pcre_compile()  when  compiling  the         locale,  and  this  is then passed to pcre_compile() when compiling the
210         regular  expression.  Without  an  /L  modifier,  NULL is passed as the         regular expression. Without an /L  modifier,  NULL  is  passed  as  the
211         tables pointer; that is, /L applies only to the expression on which  it         tables  pointer; that is, /L applies only to the expression on which it
212         appears.         appears.
213    
214         The  /I  modifier  requests  that pcretest output information about the         The /I modifier requests that pcretest  output  information  about  the
215         compiled pattern (whether it is anchored, has a fixed first  character,         compiled  pattern (whether it is anchored, has a fixed first character,
216         and  so  on). It does this by calling pcre_fullinfo() after compiling a         and so on). It does this by calling pcre_fullinfo() after  compiling  a
217         pattern. If the pattern is studied, the results of that are  also  out-         pattern.  If  the pattern is studied, the results of that are also out-
218         put.         put.
219    
220         The /D modifier is a PCRE debugging feature, which also assumes /I.  It         The /D modifier is a PCRE debugging feature, and is equivalent to  /BI,
221         causes the internal form of compiled regular expressions to  be  output         that is, both the /B and the /I modifiers.
        after compilation. If the pattern was studied, the information returned  
        is also output.  
222    
223         The /F modifier causes pcretest to flip the byte order of the fields in         The /F modifier causes pcretest to flip the byte order of the fields in
224         the  compiled  pattern  that  contain  2-byte  and 4-byte numbers. This         the compiled pattern that  contain  2-byte  and  4-byte  numbers.  This
225         facility is for testing the feature in PCRE that allows it  to  execute         facility  is  for testing the feature in PCRE that allows it to execute
226         patterns that were compiled on a host with a different endianness. This         patterns that were compiled on a host with a different endianness. This
227         feature is not available when the POSIX  interface  to  PCRE  is  being         feature  is  not  available  when  the POSIX interface to PCRE is being
228         used,  that is, when the /P pattern modifier is specified. See also the         used, that is, when the /P pattern modifier is specified. See also  the
229         section about saving and reloading compiled patterns below.         section about saving and reloading compiled patterns below.
230    
231         The /S modifier causes pcre_study() to be called after  the  expression         The  /S  modifier causes pcre_study() to be called after the expression
232         has been compiled, and the results used when the expression is matched.         has been compiled, and the results used when the expression is matched.
233    
234         The /M modifier causes the size of memory block used to hold  the  com-         The  /M  modifier causes the size of memory block used to hold the com-
235         piled pattern to be output.         piled pattern to be output.
236    
237         The  /P modifier causes pcretest to call PCRE via the POSIX wrapper API         The /P modifier causes pcretest to call PCRE via the POSIX wrapper  API
238         rather than its native API. When this  is  done,  all  other  modifiers         rather  than  its  native  API.  When this is done, all other modifiers
239         except  /i,  /m, and /+ are ignored. REG_ICASE is set if /i is present,         except /i, /m, and /+ are ignored. REG_ICASE is set if /i  is  present,
240         and REG_NEWLINE is set if /m is present. The  wrapper  functions  force         and  REG_NEWLINE  is  set if /m is present. The wrapper functions force
241         PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY  always, and PCRE_DOTALL unless REG_NEWLINE is set.         PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY always, and PCRE_DOTALL unless REG_NEWLINE is  set.
242    
243         The /8 modifier causes pcretest to call PCRE with the PCRE_UTF8  option         The  /8 modifier causes pcretest to call PCRE with the PCRE_UTF8 option
244         set.  This  turns on support for UTF-8 character handling in PCRE, pro-         set. This turns on support for UTF-8 character handling in  PCRE,  pro-
245         vided that it was compiled with this  support  enabled.  This  modifier         vided  that  it  was  compiled with this support enabled. This modifier
246         also causes any non-printing characters in output strings to be printed         also causes any non-printing characters in output strings to be printed
247         using the \x{hh...} notation if they are valid UTF-8 sequences.         using the \x{hh...} notation if they are valid UTF-8 sequences.
248    
249         If the /? modifier  is  used  with  /8,  it  causes  pcretest  to  call         If  the  /?  modifier  is  used  with  /8,  it  causes pcretest to call
250         pcre_compile()  with  the  PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK  option,  to suppress the         pcre_compile() with the  PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK  option,  to  suppress  the
251         checking of the string for UTF-8 validity.         checking of the string for UTF-8 validity.
252    
253    
254  DATA LINES  DATA LINES
255    
256         Before each data line is passed to pcre_exec(),  leading  and  trailing         Before  each  data  line is passed to pcre_exec(), leading and trailing
257         whitespace  is  removed,  and it is then scanned for \ escapes. Some of         whitespace is removed, and it is then scanned for \  escapes.  Some  of
258         these are pretty esoteric features, intended for checking out  some  of         these  are  pretty esoteric features, intended for checking out some of
259         the  more  complicated features of PCRE. If you are just testing "ordi-         the more complicated features of PCRE. If you are just  testing  "ordi-
260         nary" regular expressions, you probably don't need any  of  these.  The         nary"  regular  expressions,  you probably don't need any of these. The
261         following escapes are recognized:         following escapes are recognized:
262    
263           \a         alarm (= BEL)           \a         alarm (BEL, \x07)
264           \b         backspace           \b         backspace (\x08)
265           \e         escape           \e         escape (\x27)
266           \f         formfeed           \f         formfeed (\x0c)
267           \n         newline           \n         newline (\x0a)
268           \qdd       set the PCRE_MATCH_LIMIT limit to dd           \qdd       set the PCRE_MATCH_LIMIT limit to dd
269                        (any number of digits)                        (any number of digits)
270           \r         carriage return           \r         carriage return (\x0d)
271           \t         tab           \t         tab (\x09)
272           \v         vertical tab           \v         vertical tab (\x0b)
273           \nnn       octal character (up to 3 octal digits)           \nnn       octal character (up to 3 octal digits)
274           \xhh       hexadecimal character (up to 2 hex digits)           \xhh       hexadecimal character (up to 2 hex digits)
275           \x{hh...}  hexadecimal character, any number of digits           \x{hh...}  hexadecimal character, any number of digits
# Line 304  DATA LINES Line 326  DATA LINES
326                        or pcre_dfa_exec()                        or pcre_dfa_exec()
327           \<crlf>    pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF option to pcre_exec()           \<crlf>    pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF option to pcre_exec()
328                        or pcre_dfa_exec()                        or pcre_dfa_exec()
329             \<any>     pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_ANY option to pcre_exec()
330                          or pcre_dfa_exec()
331    
332         The  escapes  that specify line endings are literal strings, exactly as         The escapes that specify line ending  sequences  are  literal  strings,
333         shown.  A backslash followed by anything else just escapes the anything         exactly as shown. No more than one newline setting should be present in
334         else.  If  the  very last character is a backslash, it is ignored. This         any data line.
335         gives a way of passing an empty line as data, since a real  empty  line  
336         terminates the data input.         A backslash followed by anything else just escapes the  anything  else.
337           If  the very last character is a backslash, it is ignored. This gives a
338           way of passing an empty line as data, since a real  empty  line  termi-
339           nates the data input.
340    
341         If  \M  is present, pcretest calls pcre_exec() several times, with dif-         If  \M  is present, pcretest calls pcre_exec() several times, with dif-
342         ferent values in the match_limit and  match_limit_recursion  fields  of         ferent values in the match_limit and  match_limit_recursion  fields  of
# Line 366  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST Line 393  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST
393         is an example of an interactive pcretest run.         is an example of an interactive pcretest run.
394    
395           $ pcretest           $ pcretest
396           PCRE version 5.00 07-Sep-2004           PCRE version 7.0 30-Nov-2006
397    
398             re> /^abc(\d+)/             re> /^abc(\d+)/
399           data> abc123           data> abc123
# Line 377  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST Line 404  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST
404    
405         If the strings contain any non-printing characters, they are output  as         If the strings contain any non-printing characters, they are output  as
406         \0x  escapes,  or  as \x{...} escapes if the /8 modifier was present on         \0x  escapes,  or  as \x{...} escapes if the /8 modifier was present on
407         the pattern. If the pattern has the /+ modifier, the  output  for  sub-         the pattern. See below for the definition of  non-printing  characters.
408         string  0 is followed by the the rest of the subject string, identified         If  the pattern has the /+ modifier, the output for substring 0 is fol-
409         by "0+" like this:         lowed by the the rest of the subject string, identified  by  "0+"  like
410           this:
411    
412             re> /cat/+             re> /cat/+
413           data> cataract           data> cataract
414            0: cat            0: cat
415            0+ aract            0+ aract
416    
417         If the pattern has the /g or /G modifier,  the  results  of  successive         If  the  pattern  has  the /g or /G modifier, the results of successive
418         matching attempts are output in sequence, like this:         matching attempts are output in sequence, like this:
419    
420             re> /\Bi(\w\w)/g             re> /\Bi(\w\w)/g
# Line 400  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST Line 428  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST
428    
429         "No match" is output only if the first match attempt fails.         "No match" is output only if the first match attempt fails.
430    
431         If  any  of the sequences \C, \G, or \L are present in a data line that         If any of the sequences \C, \G, or \L are present in a data  line  that
432         is successfully matched, the substrings extracted  by  the  convenience         is  successfully  matched,  the substrings extracted by the convenience
433         functions are output with C, G, or L after the string number instead of         functions are output with C, G, or L after the string number instead of
434         a colon. This is in addition to the normal full list. The string length         a colon. This is in addition to the normal full list. The string length
435         (that  is,  the return from the extraction function) is given in paren-         (that is, the return from the extraction function) is given  in  paren-
436         theses after each string for \C and \G.         theses after each string for \C and \G.
437    
438         Note that while patterns can be continued over several lines  (a  plain         Note that whereas patterns can be continued over several lines (a plain
439         ">" prompt is used for continuations), data lines may not. However new-         ">" prompt is used for continuations), data lines may not. However new-
440         lines can be included in data by means of the \n escape (or \r or  \r\n         lines  can  be included in data by means of the \n escape (or \r, \r\n,
441         for those newline settings).         etc., depending on the newline sequence setting).
442    
443    
444  OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUNCTION  OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUNCTION
445    
446         When  the  alternative  matching function, pcre_dfa_exec(), is used (by         When the alternative matching function, pcre_dfa_exec(),  is  used  (by
447         means of the \D escape sequence or the -dfa command line  option),  the         means  of  the \D escape sequence or the -dfa command line option), the
448         output  consists  of  a list of all the matches that start at the first         output consists of a list of all the matches that start  at  the  first
449         point in the subject where there is at least one match. For example:         point in the subject where there is at least one match. For example:
450    
451             re> /(tang|tangerine|tan)/             re> /(tang|tangerine|tan)/
# Line 426  OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUN Line 454  OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUN
454            1: tang            1: tang
455            2: tan            2: tan
456    
457         (Using the normal matching function on this data  finds  only  "tang".)         (Using  the  normal  matching function on this data finds only "tang".)
458         The  longest matching string is always given first (and numbered zero).         The longest matching string is always given first (and numbered  zero).
459    
460         If /gP is present on  the  pattern,  the  search  for  further  matches         If /g is present on the pattern, the search for further matches resumes
461         resumes at the end of the longest match. For example:         at the end of the longest match. For example:
462    
463             re> /(tang|tangerine|tan)/g             re> /(tang|tangerine|tan)/g
464           data> yellow tangerine and tangy sultana\D           data> yellow tangerine and tangy sultana\D
# Line 441  OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUN Line 469  OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUN
469            1: tan            1: tan
470            0: tan            0: tan
471    
472         Since  the  matching  function  does not support substring capture, the         Since the matching function does not  support  substring  capture,  the
473         escape sequences that are concerned with captured  substrings  are  not         escape  sequences  that  are concerned with captured substrings are not
474         relevant.         relevant.
475    
476    
477  RESTARTING AFTER A PARTIAL MATCH  RESTARTING AFTER A PARTIAL MATCH
478    
479         When the alternative matching function has given the PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL         When the alternative matching function has given the PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL
480         return, indicating that the subject partially matched the pattern,  you         return,  indicating that the subject partially matched the pattern, you
481         can  restart  the match with additional subject data by means of the \R         can restart the match with additional subject data by means of  the  \R
482         escape sequence. For example:         escape sequence. For example:
483    
484             re> /^?(jan|feb|mar|apr|may|jun|jul|aug|sep|oct|nov|dec)$/             re> /^?(jan|feb|mar|apr|may|jun|jul|aug|sep|oct|nov|dec)$/
# Line 459  RESTARTING AFTER A PARTIAL MATCH Line 487  RESTARTING AFTER A PARTIAL MATCH
487           data> n05\R\D           data> n05\R\D
488            0: n05            0: n05
489    
490         For further information about partial  matching,  see  the  pcrepartial         For  further  information  about  partial matching, see the pcrepartial
491         documentation.         documentation.
492    
493    
494  CALLOUTS  CALLOUTS
495    
496         If  the pattern contains any callout requests, pcretest's callout func-         If the pattern contains any callout requests, pcretest's callout  func-
497         tion is called during matching. This works  with  both  matching  func-         tion  is  called  during  matching. This works with both matching func-
498         tions. By default, the called function displays the callout number, the         tions. By default, the called function displays the callout number, the
499         start and current positions in the text at the callout  time,  and  the         start  and  current  positions in the text at the callout time, and the
500         next pattern item to be tested. For example, the output         next pattern item to be tested. For example, the output
501    
502           --->pqrabcdef           --->pqrabcdef
503             0    ^  ^     \d             0    ^  ^     \d
504    
505         indicates  that  callout number 0 occurred for a match attempt starting         indicates that callout number 0 occurred for a match  attempt  starting
506         at the fourth character of the subject string, when the pointer was  at         at  the fourth character of the subject string, when the pointer was at
507         the  seventh  character of the data, and when the next pattern item was         the seventh character of the data, and when the next pattern  item  was
508         \d. Just one circumflex is output if the start  and  current  positions         \d.  Just  one  circumflex is output if the start and current positions
509         are the same.         are the same.
510    
511         Callouts numbered 255 are assumed to be automatic callouts, inserted as         Callouts numbered 255 are assumed to be automatic callouts, inserted as
512         a result of the /C pattern modifier. In this case, instead  of  showing         a  result  of the /C pattern modifier. In this case, instead of showing
513         the  callout  number, the offset in the pattern, preceded by a plus, is         the callout number, the offset in the pattern, preceded by a  plus,  is
514         output. For example:         output. For example:
515    
516             re> /\d?[A-E]\*/C             re> /\d?[A-E]\*/C
# Line 494  CALLOUTS Line 522  CALLOUTS
522           +10 ^ ^           +10 ^ ^
523            0: E*            0: E*
524    
525         The callout function in pcretest returns zero (carry  on  matching)  by         The  callout  function  in pcretest returns zero (carry on matching) by
526         default,  but you can use a \C item in a data line (as described above)         default, but you can use a \C item in a data line (as described  above)
527         to change this.         to change this.
528    
529         Inserting callouts can be helpful when using pcretest to check  compli-         Inserting  callouts can be helpful when using pcretest to check compli-
530         cated  regular expressions. For further information about callouts, see         cated regular expressions. For further information about callouts,  see
531         the pcrecallout documentation.         the pcrecallout documentation.
532    
533    
534    NON-PRINTING CHARACTERS
535    
536           When  pcretest is outputting text in the compiled version of a pattern,
537           bytes other than 32-126 are always treated as  non-printing  characters
538           are are therefore shown as hex escapes.
539    
540           When  pcretest  is  outputting text that is a matched part of a subject
541           string, it behaves in the same way, unless a different locale has  been
542           set  for  the  pattern  (using  the  /L  modifier).  In  this case, the
543           isprint() function to distinguish printing and non-printing characters.
544    
545    
546  SAVING AND RELOADING COMPILED PATTERNS  SAVING AND RELOADING COMPILED PATTERNS
547    
548         The facilities described in this section are  not  available  when  the         The  facilities  described  in  this section are not available when the
549         POSIX inteface to PCRE is being used, that is, when the /P pattern mod-         POSIX inteface to PCRE is being used, that is, when the /P pattern mod-
550         ifier is specified.         ifier is specified.
551    
552         When the POSIX interface is not in use, you can cause pcretest to write         When the POSIX interface is not in use, you can cause pcretest to write
553         a  compiled  pattern to a file, by following the modifiers with > and a         a compiled pattern to a file, by following the modifiers with >  and  a
554         file name.  For example:         file name.  For example:
555    
556           /pattern/im >/some/file           /pattern/im >/some/file
557    
558         See the pcreprecompile documentation for a discussion about saving  and         See  the pcreprecompile documentation for a discussion about saving and
559         re-using compiled patterns.         re-using compiled patterns.
560    
561         The  data  that  is  written  is  binary. The first eight bytes are the         The data that is written is binary.  The  first  eight  bytes  are  the
562         length of the compiled pattern data  followed  by  the  length  of  the         length  of  the  compiled  pattern  data  followed by the length of the
563         optional  study  data,  each  written as four bytes in big-endian order         optional study data, each written as four  bytes  in  big-endian  order
564         (most significant byte first). If there is no study  data  (either  the         (most  significant  byte  first). If there is no study data (either the
565         pattern was not studied, or studying did not return any data), the sec-         pattern was not studied, or studying did not return any data), the sec-
566         ond length is zero. The lengths are followed by an exact  copy  of  the         ond  length  is  zero. The lengths are followed by an exact copy of the
567         compiled pattern. If there is additional study data, this follows imme-         compiled pattern. If there is additional study data, this follows imme-
568         diately after the compiled pattern. After writing  the  file,  pcretest         diately  after  the  compiled pattern. After writing the file, pcretest
569         expects to read a new pattern.         expects to read a new pattern.
570    
571         A saved pattern can be reloaded into pcretest by specifing < and a file         A saved pattern can be reloaded into pcretest by specifing < and a file
572         name instead of a pattern. The name of the file must not  contain  a  <         name  instead  of  a pattern. The name of the file must not contain a <
573         character,  as  otherwise pcretest will interpret the line as a pattern         character, as otherwise pcretest will interpret the line as  a  pattern
574         delimited by < characters.  For example:         delimited by < characters.  For example:
575    
576            re> </some/file            re> </some/file
577           Compiled regex loaded from /some/file           Compiled regex loaded from /some/file
578           No study data           No study data
579    
580         When the pattern has been loaded, pcretest proceeds to read data  lines         When  the pattern has been loaded, pcretest proceeds to read data lines
581         in the usual way.         in the usual way.
582    
583         You  can copy a file written by pcretest to a different host and reload         You can copy a file written by pcretest to a different host and  reload
584         it there, even if the new host has opposite endianness to  the  one  on         it  there,  even  if the new host has opposite endianness to the one on
585         which  the pattern was compiled. For example, you can compile on an i86         which the pattern was compiled. For example, you can compile on an  i86
586         machine and run on a SPARC machine.         machine and run on a SPARC machine.
587    
588         File names for saving and reloading can be absolute  or  relative,  but         File  names  for  saving and reloading can be absolute or relative, but
589         note  that the shell facility of expanding a file name that starts with         note that the shell facility of expanding a file name that starts  with
590         a tilde (~) is not available.         a tilde (~) is not available.
591    
592         The ability to save and reload files in pcretest is intended for  test-         The  ability to save and reload files in pcretest is intended for test-
593         ing  and experimentation. It is not intended for production use because         ing and experimentation. It is not intended for production use  because
594         only a single pattern can be written to a file. Furthermore,  there  is         only  a  single pattern can be written to a file. Furthermore, there is
595         no  facility  for  supplying  custom  character  tables  for use with a         no facility for supplying  custom  character  tables  for  use  with  a
596         reloaded pattern. If the original  pattern  was  compiled  with  custom         reloaded  pattern.  If  the  original  pattern was compiled with custom
597         tables,  an  attempt to match a subject string using a reloaded pattern         tables, an attempt to match a subject string using a  reloaded  pattern
598         is likely to cause pcretest to crash.  Finally, if you attempt to  load         is  likely to cause pcretest to crash.  Finally, if you attempt to load
599         a file that is not in the correct format, the result is undefined.         a file that is not in the correct format, the result is undefined.
600    
601    
602    SEE ALSO
603    
604           pcre(3), pcreapi(3), pcrecallout(3),  pcrematching(3),  pcrepartial(d),
605           pcrepattern(3), pcreprecompile(3).
606    
607    
608  AUTHOR  AUTHOR
609    
610         Philip Hazel         Philip Hazel
611         University Computing Service,         University Computing Service,
612         Cambridge CB2 3QG, England.         Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
613    
614  Last updated: 29 June 2006  Last updated: 30 November 2006
615  Copyright (c) 1997-2006 University of Cambridge.  Copyright (c) 1997-2006 University of Cambridge.
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