Javascript Examples :: View topic

batfink · 25 Jan 2003

Hi,

I have code that used to extract words using indexOf and substring. I have found that unreliable (due to the variable contents being read not having a consistent format). Therefore I now use a regular Expression which is accurate everytime.
Now where x="dog" and y="dog"
x==y is TRUE.

Now that I use a regular expression and save that retrieved info in an array, x does not equal y. Even though an alert() shows they contain the SAME info.

I have found that the info from the regExp, which is passed to an array is NOT a string which is why it does not equal true.

I have done myarray[0].toString and the now x and y are true when compared.

Finally to my question, why is the info in the regexp/array not a string, and which of these two is the culprit?

Thanks.

mike · 30 Apr 2000

I'm trying to understand more about the context of the question.
Here is some sample code - is this even on the right topic? Smile

Code:

<html>
<head>
<script>
function compare()
{
var _f=document.f;
var _v1=_f.v1;
var _v2=_f.v2;
var _r=_f.result;
var REG=new RegExp(_v2.value);

var _s=""; /* contain the result string */

if(_v1.value==_v2.value)
_s+="String Compare=TRUE\n";
else
_s+="String Compare=FALSE\n";

if(_v1.value.match(_v2.value))
_s+="RegExp Compare=TRUE\n";
else
_s+="RegExp Compare=FALSE\n";

_r.value=_s; /* show us the result */
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form name=f>
Value 1:<input type=text name=v1 value="dog"><BR>
Value 2:<input type=text name=v2 value="dog"><BR>
<input type=button value="Compare" onclick="compare()">
<HR>
Result:<textarea name=result>-run to see result</textarea>
</form>
</body>
</html>

batfink · 25 Jan 2003

What I have is a text file read in to a variable (using JAVA) called probs.
So for example:
probs="dog[cat<frog";
When the code worked I used:
To find cat I did

Code:

pos=probs.indexOf("[");
animal=prob.substring(pos+1,pos+3);

Then this code would be TRUE

Code:

if(animal=="cat"){do some code}

When the code did not work I used:
To find cat I did

Code:

var reggy = /\Da\D/;
myArray[0]=probs.match(reggy);

Then this code would be FALSE

Code:

if(myArray[0]=="cat"){do some code}

Does that make it any clearer?

mike · 30 Apr 2000

I took what your last post and built this example a bit further.
When I run it the all pass back TRUE.
Any ideas on what you were doing differently?

Code:

<html>
<head>
<script>
function compare()
{
var _f=document.f;
var probs=_f.probs.value;
var _r=_f.result;

var _s=""; /* contain the result string */

/* do indexOf */
var pos=probs.indexOf("[");
var animal=probs.substring(pos+1,pos+4);
if(animal=="cat")
_s+="INDEXOF Compare == cat\n";
else
_s+="INDEXOF Compare == ["+animal+"]\n";

/* do regexp - no array */
var reggy=new RegExp(/\Da\D/);
var blah=probs.match(reggy);
if(blah=="cat")
_s+="RegExp Compare == cat\n";
else
_s+="RegExp Compare != cat\n";

/* do regexp - with array */
var blah2=new Array();
blah2[0]=probs.match(reggy);
if(blah2[0]=="cat")
_s+="RegExp Array Compare == cat\n";
else
_s+="RegExp Array Compare != cat\n";

for(var i=0;i<blah2.length;i++)
_s+="blah2["+i+"]='"+blah2[i]+"'\n";

_r.value=_s; /* show us the result */
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form name=f>
Value 1:<input type=text name=probs value="dog[cat<frog"><BR>
<input type=button value="Compare" onclick="compare()">
<HR>
Result:<textarea rows=10 cols=50 name=result>-run to see result</textarea>
</form>
</body>
</html>

batfink · 25 Jan 2003

Thanks for your time on this Mike.

Hmm this time I test I get true like you do ........ but now it's lead me to the cookie function. Confused

Ok I'll give the real code this time.

Code:

the variable thepost is the original variable that's come via Java, through to the variable probs into the array theinfo[i] across to the variable dpostname. Shocked

The cookie function is then called:

Code:

smref=getcookie(dpostname);

Code:

Without my full code (which is huge) I guess you cannot test it. But a cookie is already set with the value THHAZ02 in it with the data l123456.
Cookie contents:

Code:

THHAZ02
l123456
~~local~~
1088
1289713408
29702627
2368217440
29702610
*

Sorry to have wasted time rambling about regexp and arrays but that what I thought was the problem. So basically the cookie is not read properly unless thepost is converted to a string.