[SOLVED] extract various texts from a variable

[markjohnson]

Ok, so here it goes:

 

I have a variable:

 

$var = ":12:3{this is a test}:5:8{this is another test}:"

 

Everything between : : is a separate value, which I can easily extract in an array:

 

$value=explode(":",$var);

 

I then get:

 

$value[0]=12

$value[1]=3{this is a test}

$value[2]=5

$value[3]=8{this is another test}

 

RE values like $value[1] and $value[3] with brackets, I would like to extract the number before the bracket '{' in one variable, and then all the text between the brackets {} in another variable, which should result in something like this:

 

$key=3

$keytext=this is a test

 

How can I achieve this?

 

I am sure this one will be dead simple for PHP experts, so many thanks in advance!

[Daniel0]

You can use regular expressions:

 

$string = '3{this is a test}';

preg_match('#^(\d+){([^}]+)}$#', $string, $matches));
list(, $key, $keytext) = $matches;

[markjohnson]

Thanks, mate.

 

But this line: preg_match('#^(\d+){([^}]+)}$#', $string, $matches));

 

gives parsing error.

[Daniel0]

Oh sorry, an extra closing parenthesis slipped in. Just remove it, i.e. preg_match('#^(\d+){([^}]+)}$#', $string, $matches);

[markjohnson]

Cheers, mate!

 

Worked like a charm!