[SOLVED] preg_match() help

[ainoy31]

Hello-

 

I am trying to use preg_match() on a hidden input value, <input type = "hidden" name = "SESSIONID" value = "0000gecGfGKURryDNn4hgJ1nAFS:-1">  Keep in mind that the value will not be the same everytime. 

 

Here is the code I am having no luck with:

preg_match('/<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="SESSIONID" VALUE="([^"]*?)" \/>/', $data, $matches);

 

If I use print_r($matches), I receive an INVALID result.  Is this possible to do?  Basicly, I am trying to capture a hidden session id using the curl_setopt().  The session id value is auto generated.  Much appreciation.

[effigy]

You should use the /i modifier to make the pattern case insensitive. Since you've specified that you don't want to match a double quote, there's no need to make the character class match lazy: ([^"]*).

[ainoy31]

Thanks for the replay back.  What should I use if not ([^"]*?)?

[effigy]

([^"]*)

[ainoy31]

OK.  If the value I am trying to match up is 0000VzDZZt4xwA11b-6rngxzn6U:-1, why would ([A-Za-z0-9-:]+) not work since it will match letters, numbers, colon, and hyphens?  Much appreciation for any suggestions.  Thanks.

[effigy]

It does work. Just a note: Always place the hyphen first in a character class since it can be a metacharacter for ranges.

[ainoy31]

Here is what I have and I still get nothing in return when I echo it.

 

preg_match('/<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="SESSIONID" VALUE="([-A-Za-z0-9:]+)">/', $data, $matches);

 

The value is should something like 0000VzDZZt4xwA11b-6rngxzn6U:-1.  Could it be that I am searching through a big file?  The file has only one SESSIONID word.

 

[effigy]

You still need the /i modifier: /pattern/i

[ainoy31]

Added the /i modifier and still not luck.

 

preg_match('/<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="SESSIONID" VALUE="([-A-Za-z0-9:]+)">/i', $data, $matches);

 

Is my syntax wrong? 

[effigy]

If you want to match the exact data you posted, you need spaces around =:

 

<?php
preg_match('/<INPUT TYPE = "HIDDEN" NAME = "SESSIONID" VALUE = "([-A-Za-z0-9:]+)">/i', '<input type = "hidden" name = "SESSIONID" value = "0000gecGfGKURryDNn4hgJ1nAFS:-1">', $matches);
print_r($matches);
?>

[ainoy31]

Thanks for the advice but it is not working.  I am trying to capture the SESSIONID value since it changes everything you go to the webpage.  I am using the curl_setopt() method to accomplish this. 

 

$url = 'http://www.bullocks-express.com/Bullocks/entry';

$ch = curl_init();

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $url);

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_COOKIEJAR, dirname(__FILE__).'/cookie.txt');

$data = curl_exec($ch);

curl_close($ch);

//(0000VzDZZt4xwA11b-6rngxzn6U:-1) -> example of the sessionid value

 

preg_match('/<INPUT TYPE = "HIDDEN" NAME = "SESSIONID" VALUE = "([-A-Za-z0-9:]+)">/i', $data, $matches);

print_r($matches);

[ainoy31]

Thanks for all the help.  I am going to research more on this.  Will report a solution if I find one.

[effigy]

What does the actual HTML look like?

[ainoy31]

I believe I have narrow the issue down.  The problem is from the website's url.  If I use the http://www.bullocks-express.com/Bullocks/entry?nav=shipTrack or http://www.bullocks-express.com/Bullocks/entry? as my curl url, I do not always get the page where it has a form to fill out.  The form has all the hidden fields and the SESSIONID value is one of them.  That's why when I run this script, it comes up INVALID or an empty array. 

 

I found this out by replacing $data with '<input type = "hidden" name = "SESSIONID" value = "0000gecGfGKURryDNn4hgJ1nAFS:-1"> and running it.  The regular expression returns 0000gecGfGKURryDNn4hgJ1nAFS:-1 as requested.  I am going to contact their IT people.  Thanks.

[ainoy31]

The issue is from the website.  The regular expression syntax does work.  The site has a redirect on the .../Bullocks/entry page where the curl method can not follow.  Thus, the hidden sessionid value is not found.  Thank you for all the help.