regular expression problem

[Karsten Hilbert]

Dear list members,

I cannot figure out why my regular expression does not work as I expect it to:

#---------------------------
#!/usr/bin/python

from __future__ import print_function
import re as regex

rx_works = '\$<[^<:]+?::.*?::\d*?>\$|\$<[^<:]+?::.*?::\d+-\d+>\$'
# it fails if switched around:
rx_fails = '\$<[^<:]+?::.*?::\d+-\d+>\$|\$<[^<:]+?::.*?::\d*?>\$'
line = 'junk  $<match_A::options A::4>$  junk  $<match_B::options B::4-5>$  junk'

print ('')
print ('line:', line)
print ('expected: $<match_A::options A::4>$')
print ('expected: $<match_B::options B::4-5>$')

print ('')
placeholders_in_line = regex.findall(rx_works, line, regex.IGNORECASE)
print('found (works):')
for ph in placeholders_in_line:
	print (ph)

print ('')
placeholders_in_line = regex.findall(rx_fails, line, regex.IGNORECASE)
print('found (fails):')
for ph in placeholders_in_line:
	print (ph)

#---------------------------

I am sure I simply don't see the problem ?

Thanks,
Karsten
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