Regex Consult

[Peter Fleck]

The regex that follows is working the way I want it too (at least in 
my tests). I'm looking for feedback on better ways to write it. In 
particular, is there a shortcut to repeating my 'basic component' 
listed below? And is there a way to make the regex more readable with 
line breaks that don't become part of the expression?

I'm trying to check some date input to a Web form. The formats I 
accept are 'mm/dd/yy, m/d/yy, mm/dd/yyyy, m/d/yyyy'.

Here's the regex I'm using to check:

( 
$date=~/^((\d\d?)\/(\d\d?)\/(((\d{2,2}))|(\d{4,4})))($|(,(\s*)((\d\d?)\/(\d\d?)\/(((\d{2,2}))|(\d{4,4}))))+$)/ 
)

Basic component is:

((\d\d?)\/(\d\d?)\/(((\d{2,2}))|(\d{4,4})))

then either end the line:

$

or go on with a comma, optional white space and repeat of the basic 
component and finally anchor to the final line end.

Thanks.

(Please copy [EMAIL PROTECTED] on responses as I digest. Thanks.)
--
Peter Fleck
University of Minnesota Cancer Center
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.cancer.umn.edu
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