Javascript Help: what does this line do

[sinfuldips]

Hi

I am new to JS and wanted some help. I have a script which accepts values in the format of username.number and returns the details of username.number from a database. Now the script only works for username that is alphabetical and not alphanumeric. Thus when the username is alphanumeric the search doesn't return any values. I have identified with my limited Javascript skills that the following line is the one because of which the alphanumeric value is not recognized. Is that a correct assumption? So if I add 0-9 next to A-Z will that solve the issue? If only I knew what this line did, it will be great. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

if( $entry ne "" && $entry !~ /\;/ && $entry !~ / / && $entry =~ /[a-zA-Z]+\.[0-9]+/ )

[HanneSThEGreaT]

Welcome to the forums

What you are having issues with, is called Regular Expressions.

I am including some links here which you may find useful.

http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/re.shtml

http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/redev2.shtml

http://www.evolt.org/article/Regular...ript/17/36435/

http://www.webreference.com/js/column5/

http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/JavaS...in-JavaScript/

http://www.learn-javascript-tutorial...xpressions.cfm

http://articles.sitepoint.com/articl...ons-javascript

http://lawrence.ecorp.net/inet/samples/regexp-intro.php

http://www.ehow.com/how_6557774_regu...-tutorial.html

http://www.trans4mind.com/personal_d...le%20Usage.htm

http://javascript.about.com/od/regul...xpressions.htm

http://eloquentjavascript.net/chapter10.html

http://www.zytrax.com/tech/web/regex.htm

http://www.captain.at/howto-javascri...expression.php

http://richardbowles.tripod.com/java...1/lesson11.htm

http://www.greggriffiths.org/webdev/...gex/index.html

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-1049625.html

http://www.9lessons.info/2009/03/per...alidation.html

http://www.devsource.com/c/a/Using-V...in-JavaScript/

http://www.thespanner.co.uk/2008/02/...r-expressions/

http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/ala...d/tutregex.htm

http://www.hunlock.com/blogs/An_Intr..._in_Javascript

http://www.go4expert.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2262

http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/ja...r-expressions/

http://articles.sitepoint.com/print/...ons-javascript

http://www.explainth.at/en/re/specat.shtml

http://haacked.com/archive/2004/10/2...matchhtml.aspx

http://www.sislands.com/coin70/week5/regexp.htm

http://www.roseindia.net/javascript/...ressions.shtml

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...6-801d71245363

http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/regexp.htm

http://fyneworks.blogspot.com/2007/0...ssions-in.html

http://www.alperguc.com/en/regular-e...avascript.html

http://javascript.internet.com/snipp...ns-taster.html

http://javascriptweblog.wordpress.co...ipt-regex-api/

http://www.dailycoding.com/Posts/usi...avascript.aspx

http://newsourcemedia.com/blog/javas...racters-regex/

http://websitetips.com/regex/

http://networking.mydesigntool.com/v...?tid=411&id=31

http://www.scottklarr.com/topic/103/...-cheat-sheets/

http://ntt.cc/2008/05/10/over-10-use...fficiency.html

http://www.regextester.com/jssyntax.html

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/200...pressions.html

http://www.webreference.com/js/column5/define.html

http://freewebdesigntutorials.com/ja...xpressions.htm

http://www.builderau.com.au/program/...9271245,00.htm

http://3dmdesign.com/development/int...-in-javascript

http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorial...ar-expressions

http://www.codetoad.com/asp_email_reg_exp.asp

http://www.regexbuddy.com/create.html

http://simonwillison.net/2010/Jul/4/escaping/

http://lawrence.ecorp.net/inet/sampl...exp-format.php

http://4umi.com/web/javascript/regex.php

http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=73975

http://www.dustindiaz.com/regular-ex...back-matching/

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/JavaScr...ar_Expressions

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009...r-expressions/

http://www.prototypejs.org/api/string

http://www.breakingpar.com/bkp/home....256C0C0062AC78

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_expression

http://javascript.about.com/library/blre.htm

http://www.diveintojavascript.com/ar...-in-javascript

http://gabrieljones.com/working-with...in-javascript/

http://blog.strictly-software.com/20...pressions.html

http://www.xul.fr/javascript/tutoria...expression.php

http://www.helium.com/items/1365463-...ion-javascript

http://www.peterbe.com/plog/regular-...-in-javascript

http://www.devx.com/tips/Tip/35130

http://www.skill-guru.com/test/53/Re...ascript-Part-1

http://www.webmasterworld.com/javascript/3410705.htm

http://www.deitel.com/ResourceCenter...9/Default.aspx

http://www.java2s.com/Tutorial/JavaS...datetheURL.htm

http://snippets.dzone.com/posts/show/597

http://www.tipstrs.com/tip/4645/Matc...lar-expression

http://it.toolbox.com/wiki/index.php...ing_JavaScript

http://www.visualbasicscript.com/Com...pt-m68589.aspx

http://www.newthinktank.com/2010/04/...torial-part-3/

http://www.kbcafe.com/csharp/?guid=20060628101231

http://osix.net/modules/article/?id=635

http://www.mobilefish.com/tutorials/...ide_regex.html

http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_obj_regexp.asp

http://home.cogeco.ca/~ve3ll/jstutorf.htm

http://www.marketingtechblog.com/pro...word-strength/

http://snipplr.com/view/26466/extrac...cript--jquery/

http://stevenbenner.com/2010/03/java...nto-an-object/

http://james.padolsey.com/javascript...script-part-2/

http://blogs.adobe.com/formfeed/2009...xpression.html

http://www.xploredotnet.com/2007/08/...ing-using.html

http://phplens.com/lens/ex/ex301.php

http://p2p.wrox.com/book-beginning-r...new-regex.html

http://joeyjavas.com/category/progra...r-expressions/

http://hungred.com/useful-informatio...ar-expression/

http://www.regexguru.com/

http://help.dottoro.com/ljarccdp.php

http://www.yaldex.com/javascript_tut...2/LiB0055.html

http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2006/01/18...ssion-toolkit/

http://www.zdnetasia.com/data-valida...s-61956945.htm

http://www.seeingwithc.org/topic7html.html

http://www.tutorialspoint.com/javasc...exp_object.htm

http://crynobone.com/3-javascript-re...-for-malaysia/

http://www.codehouse.com/javascript/articles/substring/

http://www.jibbering.com/faq/notes/type-conversion/

http://www.dotnetspider.com/resource...avaScript.aspx

http://regexadvice.com/tags/javascri...s/default.aspx

http://www.acqal.com/blog/a/article/...ching-strings/

http://www.tizag.com/javascriptT/jav...ing-search.php

http://www.klauskomenda.com/code/reg...ical-examples/

http://www.cyber-reality.com/regexy.html

http://www.bennadel.com/blog/1917-Ja...urns-In-IE.htm

http://www.the-art-of-web.com/javascript/validate/1/

http://www.odesk.com/jobs/JavaScript...214047bac53150

http://www.greggriffiths.org/webdev/...ylooklike.html

Hannes

[PeejAvery]

Welcome to the forums, sinfuldips!

I have not doubt that you are new to JavaScript...especially since the code you posted is not even JavaScript. Can you please confirm with what language you are actually working?

[haythamali]

Welcome to the forums

What you are having issues with, is called Regular Expressions.

I am including some links here which you may find useful.

http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/re.shtml

http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/redev2.shtml

http://www.evolt.org/article/Regular...ript/17/36435/

http://www.webreference.com/js/column5/

http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/JavaS...in-JavaScript/

http://www.learn-javascript-tutorial...xpressions.cfm

http://articles.sitepoint.com/articl...ons-javascript

http://lawrence.ecorp.net/inet/samples/regexp-intro.php

http://www.ehow.com/how_6557774_regu...-tutorial.html

http://www.trans4mind.com/personal_d...le%20Usage.htm

http://javascript.about.com/od/regul...xpressions.htm

http://eloquentjavascript.net/chapter10.html

http://www.zytrax.com/tech/web/regex.htm

http://www.captain.at/howto-javascri...expression.php

http://richardbowles.tripod.com/java...1/lesson11.htm

http://www.greggriffiths.org/webdev/...gex/index.html

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-1049625.html

http://www.9lessons.info/2009/03/per...alidation.html

http://www.devsource.com/c/a/Using-V...in-JavaScript/

http://www.thespanner.co.uk/2008/02/...r-expressions/

http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/ala...d/tutregex.htm

http://www.hunlock.com/blogs/An_Intr..._in_Javascript

http://www.go4expert.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2262

http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/ja...r-expressions/

http://articles.sitepoint.com/print/...ons-javascript

http://www.explainth.at/en/re/specat.shtml

http://haacked.com/archive/2004/10/2...matchhtml.aspx

http://www.sislands.com/coin70/week5/regexp.htm

http://www.roseindia.net/javascript/...ressions.shtml

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...6-801d71245363

http://docs.sun.com/source/816-6408-10/regexp.htm

http://fyneworks.blogspot.com/2007/0...ssions-in.html

http://www.alperguc.com/en/regular-e...avascript.html

http://javascript.internet.com/snipp...ns-taster.html

http://javascriptweblog.wordpress.co...ipt-regex-api/

http://www.dailycoding.com/Posts/usi...avascript.aspx

http://newsourcemedia.com/blog/javas...racters-regex/

http://websitetips.com/regex/

http://networking.mydesigntool.com/v...?tid=411&id=31

http://www.scottklarr.com/topic/103/...-cheat-sheets/

http://ntt.cc/2008/05/10/over-10-use...fficiency.html

http://www.regextester.com/jssyntax.html

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/200...pressions.html

http://www.webreference.com/js/column5/define.html

http://freewebdesigntutorials.com/ja...xpressions.htm

http://www.builderau.com.au/program/...9271245,00.htm

http://3dmdesign.com/development/int...-in-javascript

http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorial...ar-expressions

http://www.codetoad.com/asp_email_reg_exp.asp

http://www.regexbuddy.com/create.html

http://simonwillison.net/2010/Jul/4/escaping/

http://lawrence.ecorp.net/inet/sampl...exp-format.php

http://4umi.com/web/javascript/regex.php

http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=73975

http://www.dustindiaz.com/regular-ex...back-matching/

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/JavaScr...ar_Expressions

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009...r-expressions/

http://www.prototypejs.org/api/string

http://www.breakingpar.com/bkp/home....256C0C0062AC78

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_expression

http://javascript.about.com/library/blre.htm

http://www.diveintojavascript.com/ar...-in-javascript

http://gabrieljones.com/working-with...in-javascript/

http://blog.strictly-software.com/20...pressions.html

http://www.xul.fr/javascript/tutoria...expression.php

http://www.helium.com/items/1365463-...ion-javascript

http://www.peterbe.com/plog/regular-...-in-javascript

http://www.devx.com/tips/Tip/35130

http://www.skill-guru.com/test/53/Re...ascript-Part-1

http://www.webmasterworld.com/javascript/3410705.htm

http://www.deitel.com/ResourceCenter...9/Default.aspx

http://www.java2s.com/Tutorial/JavaS...datetheURL.htm

http://snippets.dzone.com/posts/show/597

http://www.tipstrs.com/tip/4645/Matc...lar-expression

http://it.toolbox.com/wiki/index.php...ing_JavaScript

http://www.visualbasicscript.com/Com...pt-m68589.aspx

http://www.newthinktank.com/2010/04/...torial-part-3/

http://www.kbcafe.com/csharp/?guid=20060628101231

http://osix.net/modules/article/?id=635

http://www.mobilefish.com/tutorials/...ide_regex.html

http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_obj_regexp.asp

http://home.cogeco.ca/~ve3ll/jstutorf.htm

http://www.marketingtechblog.com/pro...word-strength/

http://snipplr.com/view/26466/extrac...cript--jquery/

http://stevenbenner.com/2010/03/java...nto-an-object/

http://james.padolsey.com/javascript...script-part-2/

http://blogs.adobe.com/formfeed/2009...xpression.html

http://www.xploredotnet.com/2007/08/...ing-using.html

http://phplens.com/lens/ex/ex301.php

http://p2p.wrox.com/book-beginning-r...new-regex.html

http://joeyjavas.com/category/progra...r-expressions/

http://hungred.com/useful-informatio...ar-expression/

http://www.regexguru.com/
https://sauditourguide.com

http://help.dottoro.com/ljarccdp.php

http://www.yaldex.com/javascript_tut...2/LiB0055.html

http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2006/01/18...ssion-toolkit/

http://www.zdnetasia.com/data-valida...s-61956945.htm

http://www.seeingwithc.org/topic7html.html

http://www.tutorialspoint.com/javasc...exp_object.htm

http://crynobone.com/3-javascript-re...-for-malaysia/
https://morjanah.com/nasayih/

https://morjanah.com
https://sauditourguide.com
https://al-jazirah.org
http://uacc-ksa.com

http://www.codehouse.com/javascript/articles/substring/

http://www.jibbering.com/faq/notes/type-conversion/

http://www.dotnetspider.com/resource...avaScript.aspx

http://regexadvice.com/tags/javascri...s/default.aspx

http://www.acqal.com/blog/a/article/...ching-strings/

http://www.tizag.com/javascriptT/jav...ing-search.php

http://www.klauskomenda.com/code/reg...ical-examples/

http://www.cyber-reality.com/regexy.html

http://www.bennadel.com/blog/1917-Ja...urns-In-IE.htm

http://www.the-art-of-web.com/javascript/validate/1/

http://www.odesk.com/jobs/JavaScript...214047bac53150

http://www.greggriffiths.org/webdev/...ylooklike.html

Hannes

sir i want to tell u
big thank u