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version 1.1.1.1, 2012/02/21 23:05:52
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version 1.1.1.4, 2014/06/15 19:46:05
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| 
 Line 13  from the original man page. If there is any nonsense i
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 Line 13  from the original man page. If there is any nonsense i
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 |  man page, in case the conversion went wrong. | 
  man page, in case the conversion went wrong. | 
 |  <br> | 
  <br> | 
 |  <ul> | 
  <ul> | 
| <li><a name="TOC1" href="#SEC1">PCRE CALLOUTS</a> | <li><a name="TOC1" href="#SEC1">SYNOPSIS</a> | 
| <li><a name="TOC2" href="#SEC2">MISSING CALLOUTS</a> | <li><a name="TOC2" href="#SEC2">DESCRIPTION</a> | 
| <li><a name="TOC3" href="#SEC3">THE CALLOUT INTERFACE</a> | <li><a name="TOC3" href="#SEC3">MISSING CALLOUTS</a> | 
| <li><a name="TOC4" href="#SEC4">RETURN VALUES</a> | <li><a name="TOC4" href="#SEC4">THE CALLOUT INTERFACE</a> | 
| <li><a name="TOC5" href="#SEC5">AUTHOR</a> | <li><a name="TOC5" href="#SEC5">RETURN VALUES</a> | 
| <li><a name="TOC6" href="#SEC6">REVISION</a> | <li><a name="TOC6" href="#SEC6">AUTHOR</a> | 
|   | <li><a name="TOC7" href="#SEC7">REVISION</a> | 
 |  </ul> | 
  </ul> | 
| <br><a name="SEC1" href="#TOC1">PCRE CALLOUTS</a><br> | <br><a name="SEC1" href="#TOC1">SYNOPSIS</a><br> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |   | 
  <b>#include <pcre.h></b> | 
 |   | 
  </P> | 
 |   | 
  <P> | 
 |  <b>int (*pcre_callout)(pcre_callout_block *);</b> | 
  <b>int (*pcre_callout)(pcre_callout_block *);</b> | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |   | 
  <b>int (*pcre16_callout)(pcre16_callout_block *);</b> | 
 |   | 
  </P> | 
 |   | 
  <P> | 
 |   | 
  <b>int (*pcre32_callout)(pcre32_callout_block *);</b> | 
 |   | 
  </P> | 
 |   | 
  <br><a name="SEC2" href="#TOC1">DESCRIPTION</a><br> | 
 |   | 
  <P> | 
 |  PCRE provides a feature called "callout", which is a means of temporarily | 
  PCRE provides a feature called "callout", which is a means of temporarily | 
 |  passing control to the caller of PCRE in the middle of pattern matching. The | 
  passing control to the caller of PCRE in the middle of pattern matching. The | 
 |  caller of PCRE provides an external function by putting its entry point in the | 
  caller of PCRE provides an external function by putting its entry point in the | 
| global variable <i>pcre_callout</i>. By default, this variable contains NULL, | global variable <i>pcre_callout</i> (<i>pcre16_callout</i> for the 16-bit | 
| which disables all calling out. | library, <i>pcre32_callout</i> for the 32-bit library). By default, this | 
|   | variable contains NULL, which disables all calling out. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  Within a regular expression, (?C) indicates the points at which the external | 
  Within a regular expression, (?C) indicates the points at which the external | 
| 
 Line 39  For example, this pattern has two callout points:
 | 
 Line 51  For example, this pattern has two callout points:
 | 
 |  <pre> | 
  <pre> | 
 |    (?C1)abc(?C2)def | 
    (?C1)abc(?C2)def | 
 |  </pre> | 
  </pre> | 
| If the PCRE_AUTO_CALLOUT option bit is set when <b>pcre_compile()</b> or | If the PCRE_AUTO_CALLOUT option bit is set when a pattern is compiled, PCRE | 
| <b>pcre_compile2()</b> is called, PCRE automatically inserts callouts, all with | automatically inserts callouts, all with number 255, before each item in the | 
| number 255, before each item in the pattern. For example, if PCRE_AUTO_CALLOUT | pattern. For example, if PCRE_AUTO_CALLOUT is used with the pattern | 
| is used with the pattern |   | 
 |  <pre> | 
  <pre> | 
 |    A(\d{2}|--) | 
    A(\d{2}|--) | 
 |  </pre> | 
  </pre> | 
| 
 Line 53  it is processed as if it were
 | 
 Line 64  it is processed as if it were
 | 
 |  <br> | 
  <br> | 
 |  <br> | 
  <br> | 
 |  Notice that there is a callout before and after each parenthesis and | 
  Notice that there is a callout before and after each parenthesis and | 
| alternation bar. Automatic callouts can be used for tracking the progress of | alternation bar. If the pattern contains a conditional group whose condition is | 
| pattern matching. The | an assertion, an automatic callout is inserted immediately before the | 
|   | condition. Such a callout may also be inserted explicitly, for example: | 
|   | <pre> | 
|   |   (?(?C9)(?=a)ab|de) | 
|   | </pre> | 
|   | This applies only to assertion conditions (because they are themselves | 
|   | independent groups). | 
|   | </P> | 
|   | <P> | 
|   | Automatic callouts can be used for tracking the progress of pattern matching. | 
|   | The | 
 |  <a href="pcretest.html"><b>pcretest</b></a> | 
  <a href="pcretest.html"><b>pcretest</b></a> | 
| command has an option that sets automatic callouts; when it is used, the output | program has a pattern qualifier (/C) that sets automatic callouts; when it is | 
| indicates how the pattern is matched. This is useful information when you are | used, the output indicates how the pattern is being matched. This is useful | 
| trying to optimize the performance of a particular pattern. | information when you are trying to optimize the performance of a particular | 
|   | pattern. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |   | 
  <br><a name="SEC3" href="#TOC1">MISSING CALLOUTS</a><br> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
| The use of callouts in a pattern makes it ineligible for optimization by the | You should be aware that, because of optimizations in the way PCRE compiles and | 
| just-in-time compiler. Studying such a pattern with the PCRE_STUDY_JIT_COMPILE | matches patterns, callouts sometimes do not happen exactly as you might expect. | 
| option always fails. |   | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <br><a name="SEC2" href="#TOC1">MISSING CALLOUTS</a><br> | 
   | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
| You should be aware that, because of optimizations in the way PCRE matches | At compile time, PCRE "auto-possessifies" repeated items when it knows that | 
| patterns by default, callouts sometimes do not happen. For example, if the | what follows cannot be part of the repeat. For example, a+[bc] is compiled as | 
| pattern is | if it were a++[bc]. The <b>pcretest</b> output when this pattern is anchored and | 
|   | then applied with automatic callouts to the string "aaaa" is: | 
 |  <pre> | 
  <pre> | 
 |   | 
    --->aaaa | 
 |   | 
     +0 ^        ^ | 
 |   | 
     +1 ^        a+ | 
 |   | 
     +3 ^   ^    [bc] | 
 |   | 
    No match | 
 |   | 
  </pre> | 
 |   | 
  This indicates that when matching [bc] fails, there is no backtracking into a+ | 
 |   | 
  and therefore the callouts that would be taken for the backtracks do not occur. | 
 |   | 
  You can disable the auto-possessify feature by passing PCRE_NO_AUTO_POSSESS | 
 |   | 
  to <b>pcre_compile()</b>, or starting the pattern with (*NO_AUTO_POSSESS). If | 
 |   | 
  this is done in <b>pcretest</b> (using the /O qualifier), the output changes to | 
 |   | 
  this: | 
 |   | 
  <pre> | 
 |   | 
    --->aaaa | 
 |   | 
     +0 ^        ^ | 
 |   | 
     +1 ^        a+ | 
 |   | 
     +3 ^   ^    [bc] | 
 |   | 
     +3 ^  ^     [bc] | 
 |   | 
     +3 ^ ^      [bc] | 
 |   | 
     +3 ^^       [bc] | 
 |   | 
    No match | 
 |   | 
  </pre> | 
 |   | 
  This time, when matching [bc] fails, the matcher backtracks into a+ and tries | 
 |   | 
  again, repeatedly, until a+ itself fails. | 
 |   | 
  </P> | 
 |   | 
  <P> | 
 |   | 
  Other optimizations that provide fast "no match" results also affect callouts. | 
 |   | 
  For example, if the pattern is | 
 |   | 
  <pre> | 
 |    ab(?C4)cd | 
    ab(?C4)cd | 
 |  </pre> | 
  </pre> | 
 |  PCRE knows that any matching string must contain the letter "d". If the subject | 
  PCRE knows that any matching string must contain the letter "d". If the subject | 
| 
 Line 86  been scanned far enough.
 | 
 Line 137  been scanned far enough.
 | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  You can disable these optimizations by passing the PCRE_NO_START_OPTIMIZE | 
  You can disable these optimizations by passing the PCRE_NO_START_OPTIMIZE | 
| option to <b>pcre_compile()</b>, <b>pcre_exec()</b>, or <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b>, | option to the matching function, or by starting the pattern with | 
| or by starting the pattern with (*NO_START_OPT). This slows down the matching | (*NO_START_OPT). This slows down the matching process, but does ensure that | 
| process, but does ensure that callouts such as the example above are obeyed. | callouts such as the example above are obeyed. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
| <br><a name="SEC3" href="#TOC1">THE CALLOUT INTERFACE</a><br> | <br><a name="SEC4" href="#TOC1">THE CALLOUT INTERFACE</a><br> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  During matching, when PCRE reaches a callout point, the external function | 
  During matching, when PCRE reaches a callout point, the external function | 
| defined by <i>pcre_callout</i> is called (if it is set). This applies to both | defined by <i>pcre_callout</i> or <i>pcre[16|32]_callout</i> is called (if it is | 
| the <b>pcre_exec()</b> and the <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b> matching functions. The | set). This applies to both normal and DFA matching. The only argument to the | 
| only argument to the callout function is a pointer to a <b>pcre_callout</b> | callout function is a pointer to a <b>pcre_callout</b> or | 
| block. This structure contains the following fields: | <b>pcre[16|32]_callout</b> block. These structures contains the following | 
|   | fields: | 
 |  <pre> | 
  <pre> | 
|   int         <i>version</i>; |   int           <i>version</i>; | 
|   int         <i>callout_number</i>; |   int           <i>callout_number</i>; | 
|   int        *<i>offset_vector</i>; |   int          *<i>offset_vector</i>; | 
|   const char *<i>subject</i>; |   const char   *<i>subject</i>;           (8-bit version) | 
|   int         <i>subject_length</i>; |   PCRE_SPTR16   <i>subject</i>;           (16-bit version) | 
|   int         <i>start_match</i>; |   PCRE_SPTR32   <i>subject</i>;           (32-bit version) | 
|   int         <i>current_position</i>; |   int           <i>subject_length</i>; | 
|   int         <i>capture_top</i>; |   int           <i>start_match</i>; | 
|   int         <i>capture_last</i>; |   int           <i>current_position</i>; | 
|   void       *<i>callout_data</i>; |   int           <i>capture_top</i>; | 
|   int         <i>pattern_position</i>; |   int           <i>capture_last</i>; | 
|   int         <i>next_item_length</i>; |  </pre> | 
|   const unsigned char *<i>mark</i>; |   int           <i>pattern_position</i>; | 
|   |   int           <i>next_item_length</i>; | 
|   |   const unsigned char *<i>mark</i>;       (8-bit version) | 
|   |   const PCRE_UCHAR16  *<i>mark</i>;       (16-bit version) | 
|   |   const PCRE_UCHAR32  *<i>mark</i>;       (32-bit version) | 
 |  </pre> | 
  </pre> | 
 |  The <i>version</i> field is an integer containing the version number of the | 
  The <i>version</i> field is an integer containing the version number of the | 
 |  block format. The initial version was 0; the current version is 2. The version | 
  block format. The initial version was 0; the current version is 2. The version | 
| 
 Line 124  automatically generated callouts).
 | 
 Line 180  automatically generated callouts).
 | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  The <i>offset_vector</i> field is a pointer to the vector of offsets that was | 
  The <i>offset_vector</i> field is a pointer to the vector of offsets that was | 
| passed by the caller to <b>pcre_exec()</b> or <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b>. When | passed by the caller to the matching function. When <b>pcre_exec()</b> or | 
| <b>pcre_exec()</b> is used, the contents can be inspected in order to extract | <b>pcre[16|32]_exec()</b> is used, the contents can be inspected, in order to | 
| substrings that have been matched so far, in the same way as for extracting | extract substrings that have been matched so far, in the same way as for | 
| substrings after a match has completed. For <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b> this field is | extracting substrings after a match has completed. For the DFA matching | 
| not useful. | functions, this field is not useful. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  The <i>subject</i> and <i>subject_length</i> fields contain copies of the values | 
  The <i>subject</i> and <i>subject_length</i> fields contain copies of the values | 
| that were passed to <b>pcre_exec()</b>. | that were passed to the matching function. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  The <i>start_match</i> field normally contains the offset within the subject at | 
  The <i>start_match</i> field normally contains the offset within the subject at | 
| 
 Line 147  The <i>current_position</i> field contains the offset 
 | 
 Line 203  The <i>current_position</i> field contains the offset 
 | 
 |  current match pointer. | 
  current match pointer. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
| When the <b>pcre_exec()</b> function is used, the <i>capture_top</i> field | When the <b>pcre_exec()</b> or <b>pcre[16|32]_exec()</b> is used, the | 
| contains one more than the number of the highest numbered captured substring so | <i>capture_top</i> field contains one more than the number of the highest | 
| far. If no substrings have been captured, the value of <i>capture_top</i> is | numbered captured substring so far. If no substrings have been captured, the | 
| one. This is always the case when <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b> is used, because it | value of <i>capture_top</i> is one. This is always the case when the DFA | 
| does not support captured substrings. | functions are used, because they do not support captured substrings. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  The <i>capture_last</i> field contains the number of the most recently captured | 
  The <i>capture_last</i> field contains the number of the most recently captured | 
| substring. If no substrings have been captured, its value is -1. This is always | substring. However, when a recursion exits, the value reverts to what it was | 
| the case when <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b> is used. | outside the recursion, as do the values of all captured substrings. If no | 
|   | substrings have been captured, the value of <i>capture_last</i> is -1. This is | 
|   | always the case for the DFA matching functions. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
| The <i>callout_data</i> field contains a value that is passed to | The <i>callout_data</i> field contains a value that is passed to a matching | 
| <b>pcre_exec()</b> or <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b> specifically so that it can be | function specifically so that it can be passed back in callouts. It is passed | 
| passed back in callouts. It is passed in the <i>pcre_callout</i> field of the | in the <i>callout_data</i> field of a <b>pcre_extra</b> or <b>pcre[16|32]_extra</b> | 
| <b>pcre_extra</b> data structure. If no such data was passed, the value of | data structure. If no such data was passed, the value of <i>callout_data</i> in | 
| <i>callout_data</i> in a <b>pcre_callout</b> block is NULL. There is a | a callout block is NULL. There is a description of the <b>pcre_extra</b> | 
| description of the <b>pcre_extra</b> structure in the | structure in the | 
 |  <a href="pcreapi.html"><b>pcreapi</b></a> | 
  <a href="pcreapi.html"><b>pcreapi</b></a> | 
 |  documentation. | 
  documentation. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
| The <i>pattern_position</i> field is present from version 1 of the | The <i>pattern_position</i> field is present from version 1 of the callout | 
| <i>pcre_callout</i> structure. It contains the offset to the next item to be | structure. It contains the offset to the next item to be matched in the pattern | 
| matched in the pattern string. | string. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
| The <i>next_item_length</i> field is present from version 1 of the | The <i>next_item_length</i> field is present from version 1 of the callout | 
| <i>pcre_callout</i> structure. It contains the length of the next item to be | structure. It contains the length of the next item to be matched in the pattern | 
| matched in the pattern string. When the callout immediately precedes an | string. When the callout immediately precedes an alternation bar, a closing | 
| alternation bar, a closing parenthesis, or the end of the pattern, the length | parenthesis, or the end of the pattern, the length is zero. When the callout | 
| is zero. When the callout precedes an opening parenthesis, the length is that | precedes an opening parenthesis, the length is that of the entire subpattern. | 
| of the entire subpattern. |   | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  The <i>pattern_position</i> and <i>next_item_length</i> fields are intended to | 
  The <i>pattern_position</i> and <i>next_item_length</i> fields are intended to | 
| 
 Line 187  help in distinguishing between different automatic cal
 | 
 Line 244  help in distinguishing between different automatic cal
 | 
 |  same callout number. However, they are set for all callouts. | 
  same callout number. However, they are set for all callouts. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
| The <i>mark</i> field is present from version 2 of the <i>pcre_callout</i> | The <i>mark</i> field is present from version 2 of the callout structure. In | 
| structure. In callouts from <b>pcre_exec()</b> it contains a pointer to the | callouts from <b>pcre_exec()</b> or <b>pcre[16|32]_exec()</b> it contains a | 
| zero-terminated name of the most recently passed (*MARK), (*PRUNE), or (*THEN) | pointer to the zero-terminated name of the most recently passed (*MARK), | 
| item in the match, or NULL if no such items have been passed. Instances of | (*PRUNE), or (*THEN) item in the match, or NULL if no such items have been | 
| (*PRUNE) or (*THEN) without a name do not obliterate a previous (*MARK). In | passed. Instances of (*PRUNE) or (*THEN) without a name do not obliterate a | 
| callouts from <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b> this field always contains NULL. | previous (*MARK). In callouts from the DFA matching functions this field always | 
|   | contains NULL. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
| <br><a name="SEC4" href="#TOC1">RETURN VALUES</a><br> | <br><a name="SEC5" href="#TOC1">RETURN VALUES</a><br> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  The external callout function returns an integer to PCRE. If the value is zero, | 
  The external callout function returns an integer to PCRE. If the value is zero, | 
 |  matching proceeds as normal. If the value is greater than zero, matching fails | 
  matching proceeds as normal. If the value is greater than zero, matching fails | 
 |  at the current point, but the testing of other matching possibilities goes | 
  at the current point, but the testing of other matching possibilities goes | 
 |  ahead, just as if a lookahead assertion had failed. If the value is less than | 
  ahead, just as if a lookahead assertion had failed. If the value is less than | 
| zero, the match is abandoned, and <b>pcre_exec()</b> or <b>pcre_dfa_exec()</b> | zero, the match is abandoned, the matching function returns the negative value. | 
| returns the negative value. |   | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  Negative values should normally be chosen from the set of PCRE_ERROR_xxx | 
  Negative values should normally be chosen from the set of PCRE_ERROR_xxx | 
| 
 Line 209  values. In particular, PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH forces a sta
 | 
 Line 266  values. In particular, PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH forces a sta
 | 
 |  The error number PCRE_ERROR_CALLOUT is reserved for use by callout functions; | 
  The error number PCRE_ERROR_CALLOUT is reserved for use by callout functions; | 
 |  it will never be used by PCRE itself. | 
  it will never be used by PCRE itself. | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
| <br><a name="SEC5" href="#TOC1">AUTHOR</a><br> | <br><a name="SEC6" href="#TOC1">AUTHOR</a><br> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
 |  Philip Hazel | 
  Philip Hazel | 
 |  <br> | 
  <br> | 
| 
 Line 218  University Computing Service
 | 
 Line 275  University Computing Service
 | 
 |  Cambridge CB2 3QH, England. | 
  Cambridge CB2 3QH, England. | 
 |  <br> | 
  <br> | 
 |  </P> | 
  </P> | 
| <br><a name="SEC6" href="#TOC1">REVISION</a><br> | <br><a name="SEC7" href="#TOC1">REVISION</a><br> | 
 |  <P> | 
  <P> | 
| Last updated: 30 November 2011 | Last updated: 12 November 2013 | 
 |  <br> | 
  <br> | 
| Copyright © 1997-2011 University of Cambridge. | Copyright © 1997-2013 University of Cambridge. | 
 |  <br> | 
  <br> | 
 |  <p> | 
  <p> | 
 |  Return to the <a href="index.html">PCRE index page</a>. | 
  Return to the <a href="index.html">PCRE index page</a>. |