User Guide : Using Extract Editor : Other Features : Meta Characters supported in Regular Expression
 
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Meta Characters supported in Regular Expression
The following table provides the list of meta data characters that are supported in regular expressions.
Character
Description
Example
Example Meaning
^
Beginning of a line or string
Negation, inside a character class [ ]
/^ABC/
/[^ABC]D/
 
Matches ABC at the beginning of a line or string.
Matches any character before D except A or B or C.
$
End of a line or string
/ABC$/
Matches ABC at the end of a line or string.
.
Any single character
/^...$/
Matches any three letter word.
+
One or more
/AB+/
Matches one or more B characters after A (AB, ABB, ABBB, ...).
*
Zero or more
/AB*/
Matches zero or more B characters after A (A, AB, ABB, ABBB, ...).
?
Zero or one
/AB?/
Matches zero or one B character after A (A, AB).
|
Alternation
/ABC|DEF/
Matches ABC or DEF.
\
Literal character
/\$50\.00/
Literally matches the string $50.00, negates the effects of the meta characters, $ and .
/
Boundary of regular expression
/ABC/
Matches any line with ABC. Forward slash shows beginning and end of regular expression.
[ ]
Character class
/[0-9]/
Matches any digit.
-
Range
/[0-9][A-Z]/
Matches any digit followed by any capitol letter.
( )
Grouping
/(bob)*by/
Matches zero or more of the group ‘bob’ before b (by, bobby, bobbobby, bobbobbobby, ...).