Freeze problem with Regular Expression

[Reedick, Andrew]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: python-list-bounces+jr9445=att.com at python.org [mailto:python-
> list-bounces+jr9445=att.com at python.org] On Behalf Of Kirk
> Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:20 AM
> To: python-list at python.org
> Subject: Freeze problem with Regular Expression
> 
> Hi All,
> the following regular expression matching seems to enter in a infinite
> loop:
> 
> ################
> import re
> text = ' MSX INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS ITALIA srl (di seguito MSX ITALIA)
> una '
> re.findall('[^A-Z|0-9]*((?:[0-9]*[A-Z]+[0-9|a-z|\-]*)+\s*[a-
> z]*\s*(?:[0-9]
> *[A-Z]+[0-9|a-z|\-]*\s*)*)([^A-Z]*)$', text)
> #################
> 
> No problem with perl with the same expression:
> 
> #################
> $s = ' MSX INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS ITALIA srl (di seguito MSX ITALIA)
> una
> ';
> $s =~ /[^A-Z|0-9]*((?:[0-9]*[A-Z]+[0-9|a-z|\-]*)+\s*[a-z]*\s*(?:[0-
> 9]*[A-
> Z]+[0-9|a-z|\-]*\s*)*)([^A-Z]*)$/;
> print $1;
> #################
> 
> I've python 2.5.2 on Ubuntu 8.04.
> any idea?
> Thanks!
> 


It locks up on 2.5.2 on windows also.  Probably too much recursion going
on.


What's with the |'s in [0-9|a-z|\-]?  The '|' is a character not an 'or'
operator.  I think you meant to say either '[0-9a-z\-]' or '[0-9a-z\-|]'



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