#317 XML Tools plug-in rejects valid RegEx

[James Clark]

We have an XML schema that includes a RegEx to validate valid decimal / hex numeric input. This works with other RegEx enabled tools. It is designed to pass valid decimal numbers (e.g. 1234) and valid hex numbers with 0x prefix (e.g. 0x12AB):

<xs:simpletype name="hexdec">
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="\b(0x&lt;span&gt;[0-9a-zA-Z]&lt;/span&gt;+|&lt;span&gt;[0-9]&lt;/span&gt;+)\b">
</xs:pattern></xs:restriction>
</xs:simpletype>

When this schema is loaded into the XML Tools plug-in it reports that the RegEx is "not a valid regular expression).

[Vyacheslav Nikolaev]

XML Tools version: 2.4.9.2. Unicode
libXML 2.9.3
libXSTL 1.1.28

Same problem. Have in xsd:

<xs:simpletype name="ttime">
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="^(?:(?:(&lt;span&gt;[01]&lt;/span&gt;?\d|2&lt;span&gt;[0-3]&lt;/span&gt;):)?(&lt;span&gt;[0-5]&lt;/span&gt;?\d):)?(&lt;span&gt;[0-5]&lt;/span&gt;?\d)$">
</xs:pattern></xs:restriction>
</xs:simpletype>

When validate XML:

---

XML Tools plugin

Unable to parse schema file.

Parsing error at line 6634:

Element '{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}pattern': The value '^(?:(?:([01]?\d|2[0-3]):)?([0-5]?\d):)?([0-5]?\d)$' of the facet 'pattern' is not a valid regular expression.

[Nicolas Crittin]

Are you sure you reged is valid ? The regex of your first post looks quite strange... it contains <span> strings which has nothing to do with decimal parsing. Same with the regex of your second post. I guess it was transformed when posting.

Now if I focus on the regex ^(?:(?:([01]?\d|2[0-3]):)?([0-5]?\d):)?([0-5]?\d)$ which is given in xmltools validation error: this regex is already wrong. I've tried to use it in a xsd file and even XMLSpy indicates it's wrong:

File U:\Documents\Progs\Visual C++\XMLToolsPlugin 64bit\tests\hexdec.xsd is not valid.
    Value '^(?:(?:([01]?\d|2[0-3]):)?([0-5]?\d):)?([0-5]?\d)$' is not a valid XML regular expression.
        Error location: xs:schema / xs:simpleType / xs:restriction / xs:pattern / @value
        Details
            Value '^(?:(?:([01]?\d|2[0-3]):)?([0-5]?\d):)?([0-5]?\d)$' is not a valid XML regular expression.

[Vyacheslav Nikolaev]

Regexp valid, see examlpe:
http://regexr.com/3eq39
We use this regexp more 3 years

i thing intenal editor add 'span' in my exmaple.
normal code:

  <xs:simpleType name="ttime">
    <xs:restriction base="xs:string">
      <xs:pattern value="^(?:(?:([01]?\d|2[0-3]):)?([0-5]?\d):)?([0-5]?\d)$" />
    </xs:restriction>

[Nicolas Crittin]

The "?:" pattern is a noncapturing group (http://speakingjs.com/es5/ch19.html). I don't think it exists in XSD (you only define pattern to match an expression, not to replace elements). "^" and "$" are not useful too.
Therefore, following pattern should do the same and should work:

<xs:pattern value="((([01]?\d|2[0-3]):)?([0-5]?\d):)?([0-5]?\d)"/>

[Vyacheslav Nikolaev]

yes, apply simple regex and error gone.
but, we need ?: to greate capture-group.
New regexp create 5 group, we need only 3.
I think the validator does not produce an error.

[greensweater]

Same issue, following valid regex fails:

(?![cC][rR][mM]_)([A-Za-z0-9])+([_])+([A-Za-z0-9_])*

[greensweater]

another: (\$webresource:|/)(.)+

[Tomas Lionikas]

I have also come across the same with:

<xsd:simpleType name="groupPathType">
    <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
      <xsd:pattern value="((\s\/\s)([\w\s-_])+(\w))+"/>
    </xsd:restriction>
  </xsd:simpleType>