Search or regex question

[sedawk]

I have these few lines as an example:

03#
1#
3#

The goal is to pull the first character each line given the rest of the line as a search key. For example, if given $search_key=3# in line 1, search result shows 0. If given $search_key=#, search results should show only the 2nd and 3rd lines. Using

if (/$search_key/) ...

doesn't work 'cause it won't differentiate # and 3# when $search_key=# so all 3 lines appear. On the other hand, $search_key=3# only shows the first line, which is correct.

Before I try to use substr, I want to make sure if there are other ways to do it.

Thanks.

 

[dmazzini]

Instead of "==" you could use "eq".

Regex could be used as well.
































dmazzini
GSM/UMTS System and Telecomm Consultant

 

[Kirsle]

if (/^(.)\Q$search_key\E$/) {

That regexp will allow for only one character to appear at the very beginning of the string followed by the quoted search key (so $search_key can contain regexp special characters and they're automatically escaped so ya don't get syntax errors) and then that has to be at the very end of the string.

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