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Simple PHP Regex Question!

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Join Date: Aug 2007

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jeffc418

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Simple PHP Regex Question!

Aug 18th, 2009

Hi! I have a question that probably has a really simple answer

. I have a regex that validates names:

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
elseif (!preg_match('#^[a-z0-9\' -]{1,35}$#i',$lastname
)) { include('includes/error.php'); }
elseif (!preg_match('#^[a-z0-9\' -]{1,35}$#i',$lastname
)) { include('includes/error.php'); }

Only if the name I enter has an apostrophe, it gives me my error message. Can someone please help me modify this regex so that it will allow a name like "O'Sullivan" or "Smith-Jacobs" to be entered? Thanks a ton!

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Join Date: Apr 2005

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Code Monkey

Re: Simple PHP Regex Question!

Aug 18th, 2009

Strange, I tested it and it works fine for me. O'Reilly matches, Smith matches, Smith-Jacobs matches. The only thing that doesn't match is stuff like @#$%@#

GCS d- s+ a-->? C++(++++) UL+++ P+>+++ L+++ E--- W+++
N+ o K w++(---) O? !M- V PS+>++ PE+ Y+ PGP !t- 5? X- R tv+
b+>++ DI+ D G++>+++ e+ h+>++ r y+
PMs asking for help will not be answered, post on the forums. That's what they're there for.

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Join Date: Aug 2007

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jeffc418

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Re: Simple PHP Regex Question!

Aug 18th, 2009

Thanks for the reply. I've tried it on two browsers now and can't get "O'Sullivan" to validate, while "Smith-Jacobs" does just fine!

Here's what I'm using:

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
<form action="" method="post">
<input type="text" name="text">
<input type="submit" name="submit">
</form>
 
<?php
if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
   $text = $_POST['text'];
   if (!preg_match('#^[a-z0-9\' -]{1,35}$#i',$text
   )) { echo "fail"; }
   else { echo "success"; }
}
?>
<form action="" method="post">
<input type="text" name="text">
<input type="submit" name="submit">
</form>

<?php
if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
   $text = $_POST['text'];
   if (!preg_match('#^[a-z0-9\' -]{1,35}$#i',$text
   )) { echo "fail"; }
   else { echo "success"; }
}
?>

Please help

. Much thanks!

•

Join Date: Apr 2005

Posts: 1,410

Reputation: ShawnCplus is a glorious beacon of light

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Code Monkey

Re: Simple PHP Regex Question!

Aug 18th, 2009

The place to start debugging is by echoing the variable to see if it is what you think it is. You may have magicquotes turned on and O'Reilly is actually O\'Reilly

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jeffc418

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Re: Simple PHP Regex Question!

Aug 18th, 2009

Thank you! And if it's echoing with an escaped apostrophe, how can I go about stopping that for validation? I made a work-around:

 Help with Code Tags 
 PHP Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
<form action="" method="post">
<input type="text" name="text">
<input type="submit" name="submit">
</form>
 
<?php
if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
   $text = $_POST['text'];
   $text = str_replace("\\","",$text);
   if (!preg_match('#^[a-z0-9\' -]{1,35}$#i',$text
   )) { echo "fail"; }
   else { echo "success"; }
}
?>
<form action="" method="post">
<input type="text" name="text">
<input type="submit" name="submit">
</form>

<?php
if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
   $text = $_POST['text'];
   $text = str_replace("\\","",$text);
   if (!preg_match('#^[a-z0-9\' -]{1,35}$#i',$text
   )) { echo "fail"; }
   else { echo "success"; }
}
?>