| version 1.1, 2012/02/21 23:05:52 | version 1.1.1.5, 2014/06/15 19:46:04 | 
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| PCRETEST(1)                                                        PCRETEST(1) | PCRETEST(1)                 General Commands Manual                PCRETEST(1) | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 | NAME | NAME | 
 | pcretest - a program for testing Perl-compatible regular expressions. | pcretest - a program for testing Perl-compatible regular expressions. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 | SYNOPSIS | SYNOPSIS | 
 |  |  | 
 | pcretest [options] [input file [output file]] | pcretest [options] [input file [output file]] | 
| Line 14  SYNOPSIS | Line 14  SYNOPSIS | 
 | expressions.  This document describes the features of the test program; | expressions.  This document describes the features of the test program; | 
 | for details of the regular expressions themselves, see the  pcrepattern | for details of the regular expressions themselves, see the  pcrepattern | 
 | documentation. For details of the PCRE library function calls and their | documentation. For details of the PCRE library function calls and their | 
| options, see the pcreapi documentation. The input  for  pcretest  is  a | options, see the pcreapi , pcre16 and pcre32 documentation. | 
| sequence  of  regular expression patterns and strings to be matched, as |  | 
| described below. The output shows the result of each match. Options  on |  | 
| the command line and the patterns control PCRE options and exactly what |  | 
| is output. |  | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | The input for pcretest is a sequence of regular expression patterns and | 
 |  | strings  to be matched, as described below. The output shows the result | 
 |  | of each match. Options on the command line  and  the  patterns  control | 
 |  | PCRE options and exactly what is output. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | As  PCRE has evolved, it has acquired many different features, and as a | 
 |  | result, pcretest now has rather a lot of obscure  options  for  testing | 
 |  | every possible feature. Some of these options are specifically designed | 
 |  | for use in conjunction with the test script and  data  files  that  are | 
 |  | distributed  as  part of PCRE, and are unlikely to be of use otherwise. | 
 |  | They are all documented here, but without much justification. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | INPUT DATA FORMAT | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | Input to pcretest is processed line by line, either by  calling  the  C | 
 |  | library's fgets() function, or via the libreadline library (see below). | 
 |  | In Unix-like environments, fgets() treats any bytes other than  newline | 
 |  | as  data characters. However, in some Windows environments character 26 | 
 |  | (hex 1A) causes an immediate end of file, and no further data is  read. | 
 |  | For  maximum  portability,  therefore,  it  is safest to use only ASCII | 
 |  | characters in pcretest input files. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | PCRE's 8-BIT, 16-BIT AND 32-BIT LIBRARIES | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | From release 8.30, two separate PCRE libraries can be built. The origi- | 
 |  | nal  one  supports  8-bit  character  strings, whereas the newer 16-bit | 
 |  | library supports  character  strings  encoded  in  16-bit  units.  From | 
 |  | release  8.32,  a  third  library  can  be  built, supporting character | 
 |  | strings encoded in 32-bit units. The pcretest program can  be  used  to | 
 |  | test all three libraries. However, it is itself still an 8-bit program, | 
 |  | reading 8-bit input and writing 8-bit output.  When testing the  16-bit | 
 |  | or  32-bit  library, the patterns and data strings are converted to 16- | 
 |  | or 32-bit format before being passed to  the  PCRE  library  functions. | 
 |  | Results are converted to 8-bit for output. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | References to functions and structures of the form pcre[16|32]_xx below | 
 |  | mean "pcre_xx when using the 8-bit library, pcre16_xx  when  using  the | 
 |  | 16-bit library, or pcre32_xx when using the 32-bit library". | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 | COMMAND LINE OPTIONS | COMMAND LINE OPTIONS | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | -8        If  both the 8-bit library has been built, this option causes | 
 |  | the 8-bit library to be used (which is the default);  if  the | 
 |  | 8-bit  library  has  not  been  built,  this option causes an | 
 |  | error. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | -16       If both the 8-bit or the 32-bit,  and  the  16-bit  libraries | 
 |  | have  been built, this option causes the 16-bit library to be | 
 |  | used. If only the 16-bit library has been built, this is  the | 
 |  | default  (so  has no effect). If only the 8-bit or the 32-bit | 
 |  | library has been built, this option causes an error. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | -32       If both the 8-bit or the 16-bit,  and  the  32-bit  libraries | 
 |  | have  been built, this option causes the 32-bit library to be | 
 |  | used. If only the 32-bit library has been built, this is  the | 
 |  | default  (so  has no effect). If only the 8-bit or the 16-bit | 
 |  | library has been built, this option causes an error. | 
 |  |  | 
 | -b        Behave as if each pattern has the /B (show byte  code)  modi- | -b        Behave as if each pattern has the /B (show byte  code)  modi- | 
 | fier; the internal form is output after compilation. | fier; the internal form is output after compilation. | 
 |  |  | 
 | -C        Output the version number of the PCRE library, and all avail- | -C        Output the version number of the PCRE library, and all avail- | 
 | able  information  about  the  optional  features  that   are | able  information  about  the  optional  features  that   are | 
| included, and then exit. | included,  and  then  exit  with  zero  exit  code. All other | 
|  | options are ignored. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | -C option Output information about a specific build-time  option,  then | 
 |  | exit.  This functionality is intended for use in scripts such | 
 |  | as RunTest. The following options output the  value  and  set | 
 |  | the exit code as indicated: | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | ebcdic-nl  the code for LF (= NL) in an EBCDIC environment: | 
 |  | 0x15 or 0x25 | 
 |  | 0 if used in an ASCII environment | 
 |  | exit code is always 0 | 
 |  | linksize   the configured internal link size (2, 3, or 4) | 
 |  | exit code is set to the link size | 
 |  | newline    the default newline setting: | 
 |  | CR, LF, CRLF, ANYCRLF, or ANY | 
 |  | exit code is always 0 | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | The  following  options output 1 for true or 0 for false, and | 
 |  | set the exit code to the same value: | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | ebcdic     compiled for an EBCDIC environment | 
 |  | jit        just-in-time support is available | 
 |  | pcre16     the 16-bit library was built | 
 |  | pcre32     the 32-bit library was built | 
 |  | pcre8      the 8-bit library was built | 
 |  | ucp        Unicode property support is available | 
 |  | utf        UTF-8 and/or UTF-16 and/or UTF-32 support | 
 |  | is available | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | If an unknown option is given, an error  message  is  output; | 
 |  | the exit code is 0. | 
 |  |  | 
 | -d        Behave  as  if  each pattern has the /D (debug) modifier; the | -d        Behave  as  if  each pattern has the /D (debug) modifier; the | 
 | internal form and information about the compiled  pattern  is | internal form and information about the compiled  pattern  is | 
 | output after compilation; -d is equivalent to -b -i. | output after compilation; -d is equivalent to -b -i. | 
 |  |  | 
 | -dfa      Behave  as if each data line contains the \D escape sequence; | -dfa      Behave  as if each data line contains the \D escape sequence; | 
 | this    causes    the    alternative    matching    function, | this    causes    the    alternative    matching    function, | 
| pcre_dfa_exec(),   to   be   used  instead  of  the  standard | pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec(),  to  be  used instead of the standard | 
| pcre_exec() function (more detail is given below). | pcre[16|32]_exec() function (more detail is given below). | 
 |  |  | 
 | -help     Output a brief summary these options and then exit. | -help     Output a brief summary these options and then exit. | 
 |  |  | 
| Line 46  COMMAND LINE OPTIONS | Line 131  COMMAND LINE OPTIONS | 
 |  |  | 
 | -M        Behave  as if each data line contains the \M escape sequence; | -M        Behave  as if each data line contains the \M escape sequence; | 
 | this causes PCRE to  discover  the  minimum  MATCH_LIMIT  and | this causes PCRE to  discover  the  minimum  MATCH_LIMIT  and | 
| MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION settings by calling pcre_exec() repeat- | MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION  settings by calling pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| edly with different limits. | repeatedly with different limits. | 
 |  |  | 
 | -m        Output the size of each compiled pattern after  it  has  been | -m        Output the size of each compiled pattern after  it  has  been | 
 | compiled.  This  is  equivalent  to adding /M to each regular | compiled.  This  is  equivalent  to adding /M to each regular | 
| expression. | expression. The size is given in bytes for both libraries. | 
 |  |  | 
| -o osize  Set the number of elements in the output vector that is  used | -O        Behave as if each pattern has the /O modifier, that  is  dis- | 
| when  calling pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec() to be osize. The | able auto-possessification for all patterns. | 
| default value is 45, which is enough for 14 capturing  subex- |  | 
| pressions   for  pcre_exec()  or  22  different  matches  for |  | 
| pcre_dfa_exec(). The vector size can be changed for  individ- |  | 
| ual  matching  calls  by  including  \O in the data line (see |  | 
| below). |  | 
 |  |  | 
| -p        Behave as if each pattern has  the  /P  modifier;  the  POSIX | -o osize  Set  the number of elements in the output vector that is used | 
| wrapper  API  is used to call PCRE. None of the other options | when calling pcre[16|32]_exec() or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec()  to | 
| has any effect when -p is set. | be  osize.  The  default  value is 45, which is enough for 14 | 
|  | capturing subexpressions for pcre[16|32]_exec() or 22 differ- | 
|  | ent  matches for pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec().  The vector size can | 
|  | be changed for individual matching calls by including  \O  in | 
|  | the data line (see below). | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | -p        Behave  as  if  each  pattern  has the /P modifier; the POSIX | 
 |  | wrapper API is used to call PCRE. None of the  other  options | 
 |  | has  any  effect when -p is set. This option can be used only | 
 |  | with the 8-bit library. | 
 |  |  | 
 | -q        Do not output the version number of pcretest at the start  of | -q        Do not output the version number of pcretest at the start  of | 
 | execution. | execution. | 
 |  |  | 
| Line 72  COMMAND LINE OPTIONS | Line 161  COMMAND LINE OPTIONS | 
 | size megabytes. | size megabytes. | 
 |  |  | 
 | -s or -s+ Behave as if each pattern  has  the  /S  modifier;  in  other | -s or -s+ Behave as if each pattern  has  the  /S  modifier;  in  other | 
| words,  force each pattern to be studied. If -s+ is used, the | words,  force each pattern to be studied. If -s+ is used, all | 
| PCRE_STUDY_JIT_COMPILE flag is passed to pcre_study(),  caus- | the JIT compile options are  passed  to  pcre[16|32]_study(), | 
| ing  just-in-time  optimization  to be set up if it is avail- | causing  just-in-time  optimization  to  be  set  up if it is | 
| able. If the  /I  or  /D  option  is  present  on  a  pattern | available, for both full and partial matching.  Specific  JIT | 
| (requesting  output  about the compiled pattern), information | compile options can be selected by following -s+ with a digit | 
| about the result of studying is not included when studying is | in the range 1 to 7, which selects the JIT compile  modes  as | 
| caused  only  by  -s  and neither -i nor -d is present on the | follows: | 
| command line. This behaviour means that the output from tests |  | 
| that  are run with and without -s should be identical, except |  | 
| when options that output information about the actual running |  | 
| of  a  match are set. The -M, -t, and -tm options, which give |  | 
| information about resources used, are likely to produce  dif- |  | 
| ferent  output with and without -s. Output may also differ if |  | 
| the /C option is present on an individual pattern. This  uses |  | 
| callouts  to  trace the the matching process, and this may be |  | 
| different between studied and non-studied  patterns.  If  the |  | 
| pattern contains (*MARK) items there may also be differences, |  | 
| for the same reason. The -s command line option can be  over- |  | 
| ridden  for  specific  patterns  that should never be studied |  | 
| (see the /S pattern modifier below). |  | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | 1  normal match only | 
 |  | 2  soft partial match only | 
 |  | 3  normal match and soft partial match | 
 |  | 4  hard partial match only | 
 |  | 6  soft and hard partial match | 
 |  | 7  all three modes (default) | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | If  -s++  is used instead of -s+ (with or without a following | 
 |  | digit), the text "(JIT)" is added to the  first  output  line | 
 |  | after a match or no match when JIT-compiled code was actually | 
 |  | used. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | Note that there are pattern options  that  can  override  -s, | 
 |  | either specifying no studying at all, or suppressing JIT com- | 
 |  | pilation. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | If the /I or /D option is present on  a  pattern  (requesting | 
 |  | output  about  the  compiled  pattern), information about the | 
 |  | result of studying is not included when  studying  is  caused | 
 |  | only  by  -s  and neither -i nor -d is present on the command | 
 |  | line. This behaviour means that the output  from  tests  that | 
 |  | are  run with and without -s should be identical, except when | 
 |  | options that output information about the actual running of a | 
 |  | match are set. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | The  -M,  -t,  and  -tm options, which give information about | 
 |  | resources used, are likely to produce different  output  with | 
 |  | and  without  -s.  Output may also differ if the /C option is | 
 |  | present on an individual pattern. This uses callouts to trace | 
 |  | the  the  matching process, and this may be different between | 
 |  | studied and non-studied patterns.  If  the  pattern  contains | 
 |  | (*MARK)  items  there  may  also be differences, for the same | 
 |  | reason. The -s command line option can be overridden for spe- | 
 |  | cific  patterns that should never be studied (see the /S pat- | 
 |  | tern modifier below). | 
 |  |  | 
 | -t        Run each compile, study, and match many times with  a  timer, | -t        Run each compile, study, and match many times with  a  timer, | 
| and  output resulting time per compile or match (in millisec- | and  output  the resulting times per compile, study, or match | 
| onds). Do not set -m with -t, because you will then  get  the | (in milliseconds). Do not set -m with -t,  because  you  will | 
| size  output  a  zillion  times,  and the timing will be dis- | then get the size output a zillion times, and the timing will | 
| torted. You can control the number  of  iterations  that  are | be distorted. You can control the number of  iterations  that | 
| used  for timing by following -t with a number (as a separate | are used for timing by following -t with a number (as a sepa- | 
| item on the command line). For example, "-t 1000" would iter- | rate item on the command line). For example, "-t 1000"  iter- | 
| ate 1000 times. The default is to iterate 500000 times. | ates 1000 times.  The default is to iterate 500000 times. | 
 |  |  | 
 | -tm       This is like -t except that it times only the matching phase, | -tm       This is like -t except that it times only the matching phase, | 
 | not the compile or study phases. | not the compile or study phases. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | -T -TM    These behave like -t and -tm, but in addition, at the end  of | 
 |  | a run, the total times for all compiles, studies, and matches | 
 |  | are output. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 | DESCRIPTION | DESCRIPTION | 
 |  |  | 
 | If pcretest is given two filename arguments, it reads  from  the  first | If pcretest is given two filename arguments, it reads  from  the  first | 
| Line 123  DESCRIPTION | Line 239  DESCRIPTION | 
 |  |  | 
 | The program handles any number of sets of input on a single input file. | The program handles any number of sets of input on a single input file. | 
 | Each set starts with a regular expression, and continues with any  num- | Each set starts with a regular expression, and continues with any  num- | 
| ber of data lines to be matched against the pattern. | ber of data lines to be matched against that pattern. | 
 |  |  | 
 | Each  data line is matched separately and independently. If you want to | Each  data line is matched separately and independently. If you want to | 
 | do multi-line matches, you have to use the \n escape sequence (or \r or | do multi-line matches, you have to use the \n escape sequence (or \r or | 
| Line 166  DESCRIPTION | Line 282  DESCRIPTION | 
 | PATTERN MODIFIERS | PATTERN MODIFIERS | 
 |  |  | 
 | A pattern may be followed by any number of modifiers, which are  mostly | A pattern may be followed by any number of modifiers, which are  mostly | 
| single  characters.  Following  Perl usage, these are referred to below | single  characters,  though  some  of these can be qualified by further | 
| as, for example, "the /i modifier", even though the  delimiter  of  the | characters.  Following Perl usage, these are referred to below as,  for | 
| pattern  need  not always be a slash, and no slash is used when writing | example,  "the  /i  modifier", even though the delimiter of the pattern | 
| modifiers. White space may appear between the final  pattern  delimiter | need not always be a slash, and no slash is  used  when  writing  modi- | 
| and the first modifier, and between the modifiers themselves. | fiers.  White  space may appear between the final pattern delimiter and | 
|  | the first modifier, and between the modifiers  themselves.  For  refer- | 
|  | ence,  here  is  a  complete  list of modifiers. They fall into several | 
|  | groups that are described in detail in the following sections. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | /8              set UTF mode | 
 |  | /9              set PCRE_NEVER_UTF (locks out UTF mode) | 
 |  | /?              disable UTF validity check | 
 |  | /+              show remainder of subject after match | 
 |  | /=              show all captures (not just those that are set) | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | /A              set PCRE_ANCHORED | 
 |  | /B              show compiled code | 
 |  | /C              set PCRE_AUTO_CALLOUT | 
 |  | /D              same as /B plus /I | 
 |  | /E              set PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY | 
 |  | /F              flip byte order in compiled pattern | 
 |  | /f              set PCRE_FIRSTLINE | 
 |  | /G              find all matches (shorten string) | 
 |  | /g              find all matches (use startoffset) | 
 |  | /I              show information about pattern | 
 |  | /i              set PCRE_CASELESS | 
 |  | /J              set PCRE_DUPNAMES | 
 |  | /K              show backtracking control names | 
 |  | /L              set locale | 
 |  | /M              show compiled memory size | 
 |  | /m              set PCRE_MULTILINE | 
 |  | /N              set PCRE_NO_AUTO_CAPTURE | 
 |  | /O              set PCRE_NO_AUTO_POSSESS | 
 |  | /P              use the POSIX wrapper | 
 |  | /S              study the pattern after compilation | 
 |  | /s              set PCRE_DOTALL | 
 |  | /T              select character tables | 
 |  | /U              set PCRE_UNGREEDY | 
 |  | /W              set PCRE_UCP | 
 |  | /X              set PCRE_EXTRA | 
 |  | /x              set PCRE_EXTENDED | 
 |  | /Y              set PCRE_NO_START_OPTIMIZE | 
 |  | /Z              don't show lengths in /B output | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | /<any>          set PCRE_NEWLINE_ANY | 
 |  | /<anycrlf>      set PCRE_NEWLINE_ANYCRLF | 
 |  | /<cr>           set PCRE_NEWLINE_CR | 
 |  | /<crlf>         set PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF | 
 |  | /<lf>           set PCRE_NEWLINE_LF | 
 |  | /<bsr_anycrlf>  set PCRE_BSR_ANYCRLF | 
 |  | /<bsr_unicode>  set PCRE_BSR_UNICODE | 
 |  | /<JS>           set PCRE_JAVASCRIPT_COMPAT | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | Perl-compatible modifiers | 
 |  |  | 
 | The /i, /m, /s, and /x modifiers set the PCRE_CASELESS, PCRE_MULTILINE, | The /i, /m, /s, and /x modifiers set the PCRE_CASELESS, PCRE_MULTILINE, | 
| PCRE_DOTALL, or PCRE_EXTENDED  options,  respectively,  when  pcre_com- | PCRE_DOTALL,    or    PCRE_EXTENDED    options,    respectively,   when | 
| pile()  is  called. These four modifier letters have the same effect as | pcre[16|32]_compile() is called. These four modifier letters  have  the | 
| they do in Perl. For example: | same effect as they do in Perl. For example: | 
 |  |  | 
 | /caseless/i | /caseless/i | 
 |  |  | 
| The following table shows additional modifiers for  setting  PCRE  com- | pile-time options that do not correspond to anything in Perl: | 
|  | Modifiers for other PCRE options | 
|  |  | 
|  | The  following  table  shows additional modifiers for setting PCRE com- | 
 | pile-time options that do not correspond to anything in Perl: | pile-time options that do not correspond to anything in Perl: | 
 |  |  | 
| /8              PCRE_UTF8 | /8              PCRE_UTF8           ) when using the 8-bit | 
| /?              PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK | /?              PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK  )   library | 
|  |  | 
|  | /8              PCRE_UTF16          ) when using the 16-bit | 
|  | /?              PCRE_NO_UTF16_CHECK )   library | 
|  |  | 
|  | /8              PCRE_UTF32          ) when using the 32-bit | 
|  | /?              PCRE_NO_UTF32_CHECK )   library | 
|  |  | 
|  | /9              PCRE_NEVER_UTF | 
 | /A              PCRE_ANCHORED | /A              PCRE_ANCHORED | 
 | /C              PCRE_AUTO_CALLOUT | /C              PCRE_AUTO_CALLOUT | 
 | /E              PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY | /E              PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY | 
 | /f              PCRE_FIRSTLINE | /f              PCRE_FIRSTLINE | 
 | /J              PCRE_DUPNAMES | /J              PCRE_DUPNAMES | 
 | /N              PCRE_NO_AUTO_CAPTURE | /N              PCRE_NO_AUTO_CAPTURE | 
 |  | /O              PCRE_NO_AUTO_POSSESS | 
 | /U              PCRE_UNGREEDY | /U              PCRE_UNGREEDY | 
 | /W              PCRE_UCP | /W              PCRE_UCP | 
 | /X              PCRE_EXTRA | /X              PCRE_EXTRA | 
 | /Y              PCRE_NO_START_OPTIMIZE | /Y              PCRE_NO_START_OPTIMIZE | 
| /<JS>           PCRE_JAVASCRIPT_COMPAT | /<any>          PCRE_NEWLINE_ANY | 
|  | /<anycrlf>      PCRE_NEWLINE_ANYCRLF | 
 | /<cr>           PCRE_NEWLINE_CR | /<cr>           PCRE_NEWLINE_CR | 
 | /<lf>           PCRE_NEWLINE_LF |  | 
 | /<crlf>         PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF | /<crlf>         PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF | 
| /<anycrlf>      PCRE_NEWLINE_ANYCRLF | /<lf>           PCRE_NEWLINE_LF | 
| /<any>          PCRE_NEWLINE_ANY |  | 
 | /<bsr_anycrlf>  PCRE_BSR_ANYCRLF | /<bsr_anycrlf>  PCRE_BSR_ANYCRLF | 
 | /<bsr_unicode>  PCRE_BSR_UNICODE | /<bsr_unicode>  PCRE_BSR_UNICODE | 
 |  | /<JS>           PCRE_JAVASCRIPT_COMPAT | 
 |  |  | 
| The  modifiers  that are enclosed in angle brackets are literal strings | The modifiers that are enclosed in angle brackets are  literal  strings | 
| as shown, including the angle brackets, but the letters within  can  be | as  shown,  including the angle brackets, but the letters within can be | 
| in  either case.  This example sets multiline matching with CRLF as the | in either case.  This example sets multiline matching with CRLF as  the | 
 | line ending sequence: | line ending sequence: | 
 |  |  | 
 | /^abc/m<CRLF> | /^abc/m<CRLF> | 
 |  |  | 
| As well as turning on the PCRE_UTF8 option, the /8 modifier also causes | As  well  as  turning  on  the  PCRE_UTF8/16/32 option, the /8 modifier | 
| any  non-printing  characters in output strings to be printed using the | causes all non-printing characters in  output  strings  to  be  printed | 
| \x{hh...} notation if they are valid UTF-8 sequences. Full  details  of | using the \x{hh...} notation. Otherwise, those less than 0x100 are out- | 
| the PCRE options are given in the pcreapi documentation. | put in hex without the curly brackets. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | Full details of the PCRE options are given in  the  pcreapi  documenta- | 
 |  | tion. | 
 |  |  | 
 | Finding all matches in a string | Finding all matches in a string | 
 |  |  | 
 | Searching  for  all  possible matches within each subject string can be | Searching  for  all  possible matches within each subject string can be | 
 | requested by the /g or /G modifier. After  finding  a  match,  PCRE  is | requested by the /g or /G modifier. After  finding  a  match,  PCRE  is | 
 | called again to search the remainder of the subject string. The differ- | called again to search the remainder of the subject string. The differ- | 
 | ence between /g and /G is that the former uses the startoffset argument | ence between /g and /G is that the former uses the startoffset argument | 
| to  pcre_exec()  to  start  searching  at a new point within the entire | to  pcre[16|32]_exec()  to  start  searching  at a new point within the | 
| string (which is in effect what Perl does), whereas the  latter  passes | entire string (which is in effect what Perl does), whereas  the  latter | 
| over  a  shortened  substring.  This makes a difference to the matching | passes  over  a  shortened  substring.  This  makes a difference to the | 
| process if the pattern begins with a lookbehind assertion (including \b | matching process if the pattern  begins  with  a  lookbehind  assertion | 
| or \B). | (including \b or \B). | 
 |  |  | 
| If  any  call  to  pcre_exec()  in a /g or /G sequence matches an empty | If  any  call  to  pcre[16|32]_exec() in a /g or /G sequence matches an | 
| string, the next  call  is  done  with  the  PCRE_NOTEMPTY_ATSTART  and | empty string, the next call is done with the PCRE_NOTEMPTY_ATSTART  and | 
 | PCRE_ANCHORED  flags  set  in  order  to search for another, non-empty, | PCRE_ANCHORED  flags  set  in  order  to search for another, non-empty, | 
 | match at the same point. If this second match fails, the  start  offset | match at the same point. If this second match fails, the  start  offset | 
 | is  advanced,  and  the  normal match is retried. This imitates the way | is  advanced,  and  the  normal match is retried. This imitates the way | 
| Line 248  PATTERN MODIFIERS | Line 429  PATTERN MODIFIERS | 
 | fier  appears  twice, the same action is taken for captured substrings. | fier  appears  twice, the same action is taken for captured substrings. | 
 | In each case the remainder is output on the following line with a  plus | In each case the remainder is output on the following line with a  plus | 
 | character  following  the  capture number. Note that this modifier must | character  following  the  capture number. Note that this modifier must | 
| not immediately follow the /S modifier because /S+ has another meaning. | not immediately follow the /S modifier because /S+ and /S++ have  other | 
|  | meanings. | 
 |  |  | 
| The /= modifier requests that the  values  of  all  potential  captured | The  /=  modifier  requests  that  the values of all potential captured | 
| parentheses  be  output  after a match by pcre_exec(). By default, only | parentheses be output after a match. By default, only those up  to  the | 
| those up to the highest one actually used in the match are output (cor- | highest one actually used in the match are output (corresponding to the | 
| responding  to the return code from pcre_exec()). Values in the offsets | return code from pcre[16|32]_exec()). Values in the offsets vector cor- | 
| vector corresponding to higher numbers should be set to -1,  and  these | responding  to higher numbers should be set to -1, and these are output | 
| are  output  as  "<unset>".  This modifier gives a way of checking that | as "<unset>". This modifier gives a way of checking that this  is  hap- | 
| this is happening. | pening. | 
 |  |  | 
| The /B modifier is a debugging feature. It requests that pcretest  out- | The  /B modifier is a debugging feature. It requests that pcretest out- | 
| put  a representation of the compiled byte code after compilation. Nor- | put a representation of the compiled code after  compilation.  Normally | 
| mally this information contains length and offset values;  however,  if | this  information  contains length and offset values; however, if /Z is | 
| /Z  is also present, this data is replaced by spaces. This is a special | also present, this data is replaced by spaces. This is a  special  fea- | 
| feature for use in the automatic test scripts; it ensures that the same | ture  for  use  in the automatic test scripts; it ensures that the same | 
 | output is generated for different internal link sizes. | output is generated for different internal link sizes. | 
 |  |  | 
| The  /D modifier is a PCRE debugging feature, and is equivalent to /BI, | The /D modifier is a PCRE debugging feature, and is equivalent to  /BI, | 
 | that is, both the /B and the /I modifiers. | that is, both the /B and the /I modifiers. | 
 |  |  | 
| The /F modifier causes pcretest to flip the byte order of the fields in | The  /F  modifier  causes pcretest to flip the byte order of the 2-byte | 
| the  compiled  pattern  that  contain  2-byte  and 4-byte numbers. This | and 4-byte fields in the compiled pattern. This facility is for testing | 
| facility is for testing the feature in PCRE that allows it  to  execute | the  feature  in PCRE that allows it to execute patterns that were com- | 
| patterns that were compiled on a host with a different endianness. This | piled on a host with a different endianness. This feature is not avail- | 
| feature is not available when the POSIX  interface  to  PCRE  is  being | able  when the POSIX interface to PCRE is being used, that is, when the | 
| used,  that is, when the /P pattern modifier is specified. See also the | /P pattern modifier is specified. See also the section about saving and | 
| section about saving and reloading compiled patterns below. | reloading compiled patterns below. | 
 |  |  | 
| The /I modifier requests that pcretest  output  information  about  the | The  /I  modifier  requests  that pcretest output information about the | 
| compiled  pattern (whether it is anchored, has a fixed first character, | compiled pattern (whether it is anchored, has a fixed first  character, | 
| and so on). It does this by calling pcre_fullinfo() after  compiling  a | and  so  on). It does this by calling pcre[16|32]_fullinfo() after com- | 
| pattern.  If  the pattern is studied, the results of that are also out- | piling a pattern. If the pattern is studied, the results  of  that  are | 
| put. | also output. | 
 |  |  | 
| The /K modifier requests pcretest to show names from backtracking  con- | The  /K modifier requests pcretest to show names from backtracking con- | 
| trol  verbs  that  are  returned  from  calls to pcre_exec(). It causes | trol verbs that are  returned  from  calls  to  pcre[16|32]_exec().  It | 
| pcretest to create a pcre_extra block if one has not already been  cre- | causes  pcretest  to  create  a  pcre[16|32]_extra block if one has not | 
| ated by a call to pcre_study(), and to set the PCRE_EXTRA_MARK flag and | already been created by a call to pcre[16|32]_study(), and to  set  the | 
| the mark field within it, every time that pcre_exec() is called. If the | PCRE_EXTRA_MARK  flag  and  the  mark  field within it, every time that | 
| variable  that  the  mark field points to is non-NULL for a match, non- | pcre[16|32]_exec() is called. If  the  variable  that  the  mark  field | 
| match, or partial match, pcretest prints the string to which it points. | points  to  is  non-NULL  for  a  match,  non-match,  or partial match, | 
| For a match, this is shown on a line by itself, tagged with "MK:".  For | pcretest prints the string to which it points. For  a  match,  this  is | 
| a non-match it is added to the message. | shown  on  a  line  by itself, tagged with "MK:". For a non-match it is | 
|  | added to the message. | 
 |  |  | 
 | The /L modifier must be followed directly by the name of a locale,  for | The /L modifier must be followed directly by the name of a locale,  for | 
 | example, | example, | 
| Line 298  PATTERN MODIFIERS | Line 481  PATTERN MODIFIERS | 
 | /pattern/Lfr_FR | /pattern/Lfr_FR | 
 |  |  | 
 | For this reason, it must be the last modifier. The given locale is set, | For this reason, it must be the last modifier. The given locale is set, | 
| pcre_maketables() is called to build a set of character tables for  the | pcre[16|32]_maketables() is called to build a set of  character  tables | 
| locale,  and  this  is then passed to pcre_compile() when compiling the | for  the  locale, and this is then passed to pcre[16|32]_compile() when | 
| regular expression. Without an /L (or /T) modifier, NULL is  passed  as | compiling the regular expression. Without an /L (or /T) modifier,  NULL | 
| the tables pointer; that is, /L applies only to the expression on which | is  passed  as  the  tables  pointer;  that  is, /L applies only to the | 
| it appears. | expression on which it appears. | 
 |  |  | 
| The /M modifier causes the size of memory block used to hold  the  com- | The /M modifier causes the size in bytes of the memory  block  used  to | 
| piled  pattern to be output. This does not include the size of the pcre | hold  the compiled pattern to be output. This does not include the size | 
| block; it is just the actual compiled data. If the pattern is  success- | of the pcre[16|32] block; it is just the actual compiled data.  If  the | 
| fully  studied  with the PCRE_STUDY_JIT_COMPILE option, the size of the | pattern is successfully studied with the PCRE_STUDY_JIT_COMPILE option, | 
| JIT compiled code is also output. | the size of the JIT compiled code is also output. | 
 |  |  | 
| If the /S modifier appears once, it causes pcre_study()  to  be  called | The /S modifier causes  pcre[16|32]_study()  to  be  called  after  the | 
| after  the  expression has been compiled, and the results used when the | expression  has been compiled, and the results used when the expression | 
| expression is matched. If /S appears  twice,  it  suppresses  studying, | is matched. There are a number of qualifying characters that may follow | 
| even if it was requested externally by the -s command line option. This | /S.  They may appear in any order. | 
| makes it possible to specify that certain patterns are always  studied, |  | 
|  | If /S is followed by an exclamation mark, pcre[16|32]_study() is called | 
|  | with the PCRE_STUDY_EXTRA_NEEDED option, causing it always to return  a | 
|  | pcre_extra block, even when studying discovers no useful information. | 
|  |  | 
|  | If /S is followed by a second S character, it suppresses studying, even | 
|  | if it was requested externally by the  -s  command  line  option.  This | 
|  | makes  it possible to specify that certain patterns are always studied, | 
 | and others are never studied, independently of -s. This feature is used | and others are never studied, independently of -s. This feature is used | 
 | in the test files in a few cases where the output is different when the | in the test files in a few cases where the output is different when the | 
 | pattern is studied. | pattern is studied. | 
 |  |  | 
| If  the  /S modifier is immediately followed by a + character, the call | If the  /S  modifier  is  followed  by  a  +  character,  the  call  to | 
| to  pcre_study()  is  made  with  the  PCRE_STUDY_JIT_COMPILE   option, | pcre[16|32]_study()  is made with all the JIT study options, requesting | 
| requesting  just-in-time  optimization support if it is available. Note | just-in-time optimization support if it is available, for  both  normal | 
| that there is also a /+ modifier; it  must  not  be  given  immediately | and  partial matching. If you want to restrict the JIT compiling modes, | 
| after  /S  because this will be misinterpreted. If JIT studying is suc- | you can follow /S+ with a digit in the range 1 to 7: | 
| cessful, it will automatically be used when pcre_exec() is run,  except |  | 
| when  incompatible  run-time  options  are specified. These include the |  | 
| partial matching options; a complete list is given in the pcrejit docu- |  | 
| mentation.  See  also the \J escape sequence below for a way of setting |  | 
| the size of the JIT stack. |  | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | 1  normal match only | 
 |  | 2  soft partial match only | 
 |  | 3  normal match and soft partial match | 
 |  | 4  hard partial match only | 
 |  | 6  soft and hard partial match | 
 |  | 7  all three modes (default) | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | If /S++ is used instead of /S+ (with or without a following digit), the | 
 |  | text  "(JIT)"  is  added  to  the first output line after a match or no | 
 |  | match when JIT-compiled code was actually used. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | Note that there is also an independent /+  modifier;  it  must  not  be | 
 |  | given immediately after /S or /S+ because this will be misinterpreted. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | If JIT studying is successful, the compiled JIT code will automatically | 
 |  | be used when pcre[16|32]_exec() is run, except when  incompatible  run- | 
 |  | time  options are specified. For more details, see the pcrejit documen- | 
 |  | tation. See also the \J escape sequence below for a way of setting  the | 
 |  | size of the JIT stack. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | Finally,  if  /S  is  followed by a minus character, JIT compilation is | 
 |  | suppressed, even if it was requested externally by the -s command  line | 
 |  | option.  This makes it possible to specify that JIT is never to be used | 
 |  | for certain patterns. | 
 |  |  | 
 | The /T modifier must be followed by a single digit. It  causes  a  spe- | The /T modifier must be followed by a single digit. It  causes  a  spe- | 
| cific  set of built-in character tables to be passed to pcre_compile(). | cific set of built-in character tables to be passed to pcre[16|32]_com- | 
| It is used in the standard PCRE tests to check behaviour with different | pile(). It is used in the standard PCRE tests to check  behaviour  with | 
| character tables. The digit specifies the tables as follows: | different character tables. The digit specifies the tables as follows: | 
 |  |  | 
 | 0   the default ASCII tables, as distributed in | 0   the default ASCII tables, as distributed in | 
 | pcre_chartables.c.dist | pcre_chartables.c.dist | 
| Line 345  PATTERN MODIFIERS | Line 555  PATTERN MODIFIERS | 
 | Using the POSIX wrapper API | Using the POSIX wrapper API | 
 |  |  | 
 | The /P modifier causes pcretest to call PCRE via the POSIX wrapper  API | The /P modifier causes pcretest to call PCRE via the POSIX wrapper  API | 
| rather than its native API. When /P is set, the following modifiers set | rather  than its native API. This supports only the 8-bit library. When | 
| options for the regcomp() function: | /P is set, the following modifiers set options for the regcomp()  func- | 
|  | tion: | 
 |  |  | 
 | /i    REG_ICASE | /i    REG_ICASE | 
 | /m    REG_NEWLINE | /m    REG_NEWLINE | 
| Line 356  PATTERN MODIFIERS | Line 567  PATTERN MODIFIERS | 
 | /W    REG_UCP        )   the POSIX standard | /W    REG_UCP        )   the POSIX standard | 
 | /8    REG_UTF8       ) | /8    REG_UTF8       ) | 
 |  |  | 
| The /+ modifier works as  described  above.  All  other  modifiers  are | The  /+  modifier  works  as  described  above. All other modifiers are | 
 | ignored. | ignored. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | Locking out certain modifiers | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | PCRE can be compiled with or without support for certain features  such | 
 |  | as  UTF-8/16/32  or Unicode properties. Accordingly, the standard tests | 
 |  | are split up into a number of different files  that  are  selected  for | 
 |  | running  depending  on  which features are available. When updating the | 
 |  | tests, it is all too easy to put a new test into the wrong file by mis- | 
 |  | take;  for example, to put a test that requires UTF support into a file | 
 |  | that is used when it is not available. To help detect such mistakes  as | 
 |  | early  as  possible, there is a facility for locking out specific modi- | 
 |  | fiers. If an input line for pcretest starts with the string "< forbid " | 
 |  | the  following  sequence  of characters is taken as a list of forbidden | 
 |  | modifiers. For example, in the test files that must not use UTF or Uni- | 
 |  | code property support, this line appears: | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | < forbid 8W | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | This  locks out the /8 and /W modifiers. An immediate error is given if | 
 |  | they are subsequently encountered. If the character string  contains  < | 
 |  | but  not  >,  all  the  multi-character modifiers that begin with < are | 
 |  | locked out. Otherwise, such modifiers must be  explicitly  listed,  for | 
 |  | example: | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | < forbid <JS><cr> | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | There must be a single space between < and "forbid" for this feature to | 
 |  | be recognised. If there is not, the line is  interpreted  either  as  a | 
 |  | request  to  re-load  a pre-compiled pattern (see "SAVING AND RELOADING | 
 |  | COMPILED PATTERNS" below) or, if there is a another < character,  as  a | 
 |  | pattern that uses < as its delimiter. | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 | DATA LINES | DATA LINES | 
 |  |  | 
| Before  each  data  line is passed to pcre_exec(), leading and trailing | Before  each  data  line  is  passed to pcre[16|32]_exec(), leading and | 
| white space is removed, and it is then scanned for \ escapes.  Some  of | trailing white space is removed, and it is then scanned for \  escapes. | 
| these  are  pretty esoteric features, intended for checking out some of | Some  of  these are pretty esoteric features, intended for checking out | 
| the more complicated features of PCRE. If you are just  testing  "ordi- | some of the more complicated features of PCRE. If you are just  testing | 
| nary"  regular  expressions,  you probably don't need any of these. The | "ordinary"  regular  expressions, you probably don't need any of these. | 
| following escapes are recognized: | The following escapes are recognized: | 
 |  |  | 
 | \a         alarm (BEL, \x07) | \a         alarm (BEL, \x07) | 
 | \b         backspace (\x08) | \b         backspace (\x08) | 
| Line 379  DATA LINES | Line 621  DATA LINES | 
 | \r         carriage return (\x0d) | \r         carriage return (\x0d) | 
 | \t         tab (\x09) | \t         tab (\x09) | 
 | \v         vertical tab (\x0b) | \v         vertical tab (\x0b) | 
| \nnn       octal character (up to 3 octal digits) | \nnn       octal character (up to 3 octal digits); always | 
| always a byte unless > 255 in UTF-8 mode | a byte unless > 255 in UTF-8 or 16-bit or 32-bit mode | 
|  | \o{dd...}  octal character (any number of octal digits} | 
 | \xhh       hexadecimal byte (up to 2 hex digits) | \xhh       hexadecimal byte (up to 2 hex digits) | 
| \x{hh...}  hexadecimal character, any number of digits | \x{hh...}  hexadecimal character (any number of hex digits) | 
| in UTF-8 mode | \A         pass the PCRE_ANCHORED option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| \A         pass the PCRE_ANCHORED option to pcre_exec() | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | \B         pass the PCRE_NOTBOL option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| \B         pass the PCRE_NOTBOL option to pcre_exec() | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | \Cdd       call pcre[16|32]_copy_substring() for substring dd | 
| \Cdd       call pcre_copy_substring() for substring dd |  | 
 | after a successful match (number less than 32) | after a successful match (number less than 32) | 
| \Cname     call pcre_copy_named_substring() for substring | \Cname     call pcre[16|32]_copy_named_substring() for substring | 
 | "name" after a successful match (name termin- | "name" after a successful match (name termin- | 
 | ated by next non alphanumeric character) | ated by next non alphanumeric character) | 
 | \C+        show the current captured substrings at callout | \C+        show the current captured substrings at callout | 
| Line 402  DATA LINES | Line 644  DATA LINES | 
 | reached for the nth time | reached for the nth time | 
 | \C*n       pass the number n (may be negative) as callout | \C*n       pass the number n (may be negative) as callout | 
 | data; this is used as the callout return value | data; this is used as the callout return value | 
| \D         use the pcre_dfa_exec() match function | \D         use the pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() match function | 
| \F         only shortest match for pcre_dfa_exec() | \F         only shortest match for pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| \Gdd       call pcre_get_substring() for substring dd | \Gdd       call pcre[16|32]_get_substring() for substring dd | 
 | after a successful match (number less than 32) | after a successful match (number less than 32) | 
| \Gname     call pcre_get_named_substring() for substring | \Gname     call pcre[16|32]_get_named_substring() for substring | 
 | "name" after a successful match (name termin- | "name" after a successful match (name termin- | 
 | ated by next non-alphanumeric character) | ated by next non-alphanumeric character) | 
 | \Jdd       set up a JIT stack of dd kilobytes maximum (any | \Jdd       set up a JIT stack of dd kilobytes maximum (any | 
 | number of digits) | number of digits) | 
| \L         call pcre_get_substringlist() after a | \L         call pcre[16|32]_get_substringlist() after a | 
 | successful match | successful match | 
 | \M         discover the minimum MATCH_LIMIT and | \M         discover the minimum MATCH_LIMIT and | 
 | MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION settings | MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION settings | 
| \N         pass the PCRE_NOTEMPTY option to pcre_exec() | \N         pass the PCRE_NOTEMPTY option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec(); if used twice, pass the | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec(); if used twice, pass the | 
 | PCRE_NOTEMPTY_ATSTART option | PCRE_NOTEMPTY_ATSTART option | 
 | \Odd       set the size of the output vector passed to | \Odd       set the size of the output vector passed to | 
| pcre_exec() to dd (any number of digits) | pcre[16|32]_exec() to dd (any number of digits) | 
| \P         pass the PCRE_PARTIAL_SOFT option to pcre_exec() | \P         pass the PCRE_PARTIAL_SOFT option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec(); if used twice, pass the | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec(); if used twice, pass the | 
 | PCRE_PARTIAL_HARD option | PCRE_PARTIAL_HARD option | 
 | \Qdd       set the PCRE_MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION limit to dd | \Qdd       set the PCRE_MATCH_LIMIT_RECURSION limit to dd | 
 | (any number of digits) | (any number of digits) | 
| \R         pass the PCRE_DFA_RESTART option to pcre_dfa_exec() | \R         pass the PCRE_DFA_RESTART option to pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
 | \S         output details of memory get/free calls during matching | \S         output details of memory get/free calls during matching | 
| \Y         pass the PCRE_NO_START_OPTIMIZE option to pcre_exec() | \Y            pass    the    PCRE_NO_START_OPTIMIZE     option     to | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| \Z         pass the PCRE_NOTEOL option to pcre_exec() | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | \Z         pass the PCRE_NOTEOL option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| \?         pass the PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK option to | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec() | \?         pass the PCRE_NO_UTF[8|16|32]_CHECK option to | 
|  | pcre[16|32]_exec() or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
 | \>dd       start the match at offset dd (optional "-"; then | \>dd       start the match at offset dd (optional "-"; then | 
 | any number of digits); this sets the startoffset | any number of digits); this sets the startoffset | 
| argument for pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec() | argument         for        pcre[16|32]_exec()        or | 
| \<cr>      pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_CR option to pcre_exec() | pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | \<cr>      pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_CR option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| \<lf>      pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_LF option to pcre_exec() | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | \<lf>      pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_LF option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| \<crlf>    pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF option to pcre_exec() | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | \<crlf>    pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_CRLF option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| \<anycrlf> pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_ANYCRLF option to pcre_exec() | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | \<anycrlf> pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_ANYCRLF option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
| \<any>     pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_ANY option to pcre_exec() | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
| or pcre_dfa_exec() | \<any>     pass the PCRE_NEWLINE_ANY option to pcre[16|32]_exec() | 
|  | or pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec() | 
 |  |  | 
| Note that \xhh always specifies one byte,  even  in  UTF-8  mode;  this | The use of \x{hh...} is not dependent on the use of the /8 modifier  on | 
| makes it possible to construct invalid UTF-8 sequences for testing pur- | the  pattern. It is recognized always. There may be any number of hexa- | 
| poses. On the other hand, \x{hh} is interpreted as a UTF-8 character in | decimal digits inside the braces; invalid  values  provoke  error  mes- | 
| UTF-8  mode, generating more than one byte if the value is greater than | sages. | 
| 127. When not in UTF-8 mode, it generates one byte for values less than |  | 
| 256, and causes an error for greater values. |  | 
 |  |  | 
| The  escapes  that  specify  line ending sequences are literal strings, | Note  that  \xhh  specifies one byte rather than one character in UTF-8 | 
|  | mode; this makes it possible to construct invalid UTF-8  sequences  for | 
|  | testing  purposes.  On the other hand, \x{hh} is interpreted as a UTF-8 | 
|  | character in UTF-8 mode, generating more than one byte if the value  is | 
|  | greater  than  127.   When testing the 8-bit library not in UTF-8 mode, | 
|  | \x{hh} generates one byte for values less than 256, and causes an error | 
|  | for greater values. | 
|  |  | 
|  | In UTF-16 mode, all 4-digit \x{hhhh} values are accepted. This makes it | 
|  | possible to construct invalid UTF-16 sequences for testing purposes. | 
|  |  | 
|  | In UTF-32 mode, all 4- to 8-digit \x{...}  values  are  accepted.  This | 
|  | makes  it  possible  to  construct invalid UTF-32 sequences for testing | 
|  | purposes. | 
|  |  | 
|  | The escapes that specify line ending  sequences  are  literal  strings, | 
 | exactly as shown. No more than one newline setting should be present in | exactly as shown. No more than one newline setting should be present in | 
 | any data line. | any data line. | 
 |  |  | 
| A  backslash  followed by anything else just escapes the anything else. | A backslash followed by anything else just escapes the  anything  else. | 
| If the very last character is a backslash, it is ignored. This gives  a | If  the very last character is a backslash, it is ignored. This gives a | 
| way  of  passing  an empty line as data, since a real empty line termi- | way of passing an empty line as data, since a real  empty  line  termi- | 
 | nates the data input. | nates the data input. | 
 |  |  | 
| The \J escape provides a way of setting the maximum stack size that  is | The  \J escape provides a way of setting the maximum stack size that is | 
| used  by the just-in-time optimization code. It is ignored if JIT opti- | used by the just-in-time optimization code. It is ignored if JIT  opti- | 
| mization is not being used. Providing a stack that is larger  than  the | mization  is  not being used. Providing a stack that is larger than the | 
 | default 32K is necessary only for very complicated patterns. | default 32K is necessary only for very complicated patterns. | 
 |  |  | 
| If  \M  is present, pcretest calls pcre_exec() several times, with dif- | If \M is present, pcretest calls pcre[16|32]_exec() several times, with | 
| ferent values in the match_limit and  match_limit_recursion  fields  of | different values in the match_limit and match_limit_recursion fields of | 
| the  pcre_extra  data structure, until it finds the minimum numbers for | the pcre[16|32]_extra data structure, until it finds the  minimum  num- | 
| each parameter  that  allow  pcre_exec()  to  complete  without  error. | bers for each parameter that allow pcre[16|32]_exec() to complete with- | 
| Because  this  is testing a specific feature of the normal interpretive | out error. Because this is testing a specific  feature  of  the  normal | 
| pcre_exec() execution, the use of any JIT optimization that might  have | interpretive pcre[16|32]_exec() execution, the use of any JIT optimiza- | 
| been set up by the /S+ qualifier of -s+ option is disabled. | tion that might have been set up by the /S+ qualifier of -s+ option  is | 
|  | disabled. | 
 |  |  | 
 | The  match_limit number is a measure of the amount of backtracking that | The  match_limit number is a measure of the amount of backtracking that | 
 | takes place, and checking it out can be instructive.  For  most  simple | takes place, and checking it out can be instructive.  For  most  simple | 
| Line 487  DATA LINES | Line 745  DATA LINES | 
 |  |  | 
 | When \O is used, the value specified may be higher or  lower  than  the | When \O is used, the value specified may be higher or  lower  than  the | 
 | size set by the -O command line option (or defaulted to 45); \O applies | size set by the -O command line option (or defaulted to 45); \O applies | 
| only to the call of pcre_exec() for the line in which it appears. | only to the call  of  pcre[16|32]_exec()  for  the  line  in  which  it | 
|  | appears. | 
 |  |  | 
| If the /P modifier was present on the pattern, causing the POSIX  wrap- | If  the /P modifier was present on the pattern, causing the POSIX wrap- | 
| per  API  to  be  used, the only option-setting sequences that have any | per API to be used, the only option-setting  sequences  that  have  any | 
| effect are \B,  \N,  and  \Z,  causing  REG_NOTBOL,  REG_NOTEMPTY,  and | effect  are  \B,  \N,  and  \Z,  causing  REG_NOTBOL, REG_NOTEMPTY, and | 
 | REG_NOTEOL, respectively, to be passed to regexec(). | REG_NOTEOL, respectively, to be passed to regexec(). | 
 |  |  | 
 | The  use of \x{hh...} to represent UTF-8 characters is not dependent on |  | 
 | the use of the /8 modifier on the pattern.  It  is  recognized  always. |  | 
 | There  may  be  any number of hexadecimal digits inside the braces. The |  | 
 | result is from one to six bytes,  encoded  according  to  the  original |  | 
 | UTF-8  rules  of  RFC  2279.  This  allows for values in the range 0 to |  | 
 | 0x7FFFFFFF. Note that not all of those are valid Unicode  code  points, |  | 
 | or  indeed  valid  UTF-8 characters according to the later rules in RFC |  | 
 | 3629. |  | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 | THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUNCTION | THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUNCTION | 
 |  |  | 
 | By  default,  pcretest  uses  the  standard  PCRE  matching   function, | By  default,  pcretest  uses  the  standard  PCRE  matching   function, | 
| pcre_exec() to match each data line. From release 6.0, PCRE supports an | pcre[16|32]_exec()  to  match  each  data  line.  PCRE also supports an | 
| alternative matching function, pcre_dfa_test(),  which  operates  in  a | alternative matching function, pcre[16|32]_dfa_test(),  which  operates | 
| different  way,  and has some restrictions. The differences between the | in  a different way, and has some restrictions. The differences between | 
| two functions are described in the pcrematching documentation. | the two functions are described in the pcrematching documentation. | 
 |  |  | 
 | If a data line contains the \D escape sequence, or if the command  line | If a data line contains the \D escape sequence, or if the command  line | 
| contains  the -dfa option, the alternative matching function is called. | contains  the  -dfa  option, the alternative matching function is used. | 
 | This function finds all possible matches at a given point. If, however, | This function finds all possible matches at a given point. If, however, | 
 | the  \F escape sequence is present in the data line, it stops after the | the  \F escape sequence is present in the data line, it stops after the | 
 | first match is found. This is always the shortest possible match. | first match is found. This is always the shortest possible match. | 
| Line 522  THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUNCTION | Line 772  THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUNCTION | 
 | DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST | DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST | 
 |  |  | 
 | This section describes the output when the  normal  matching  function, | This section describes the output when the  normal  matching  function, | 
| pcre_exec(), is being used. | pcre[16|32]_exec(), is being used. | 
 |  |  | 
 | When a match succeeds, pcretest outputs the list of captured substrings | When a match succeeds, pcretest outputs the list of captured substrings | 
| that pcre_exec() returns, starting with number 0 for  the  string  that | that pcre[16|32]_exec() returns, starting with number 0 for the  string | 
| matched  the  whole  pattern. Otherwise, it outputs "No match" when the | that  matched  the whole pattern. Otherwise, it outputs "No match" when | 
| return is PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH, and "Partial match:" followed by the par- | the return is PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH, and "Partial match:" followed by  the | 
| tially  matching substring when pcre_exec() returns PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL. | partially    matching   substring   when   pcre[16|32]_exec()   returns | 
| (Note that this is the entire substring that was inspected  during  the | PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL. (Note that this is the entire  substring  that  was | 
| partial  match; it may include characters before the actual match start | inspected  during  the  partial match; it may include characters before | 
| if a lookbehind assertion, \K, \b, or \B was involved.) For  any  other | the actual match start if a lookbehind assertion, \K,  \b,  or  \B  was | 
| return,  pcretest  outputs  the  PCRE negative error number and a short | involved.)  For  any  other  return, pcretest outputs the PCRE negative | 
| descriptive phrase. If the error is a failed UTF-8  string  check,  the | error number and a short descriptive phrase. If the error is  a  failed | 
| byte  offset  of the start of the failing character and the reason code | UTF  string check, the offset of the start of the failing character and | 
| are also output, provided that the size of  the  output  vector  is  at | the reason code are also output, provided that the size of  the  output | 
| least two. Here is an example of an interactive pcretest run. | vector  is  at least two. Here is an example of an interactive pcretest | 
|  | run. | 
 |  |  | 
 | $ pcretest | $ pcretest | 
 | PCRE version 8.13 2011-04-30 | PCRE version 8.13 2011-04-30 | 
| Line 549  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST | Line 800  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST | 
 | No match | No match | 
 |  |  | 
 | Unset capturing substrings that are not followed by one that is set are | Unset capturing substrings that are not followed by one that is set are | 
| not returned by pcre_exec(), and are not shown by pcretest. In the fol- | not  returned  by pcre[16|32]_exec(), and are not shown by pcretest. In | 
| lowing  example, there are two capturing substrings, but when the first | the following example, there are two capturing substrings, but when the | 
| data line is matched, the second, unset  substring  is  not  shown.  An | first  data  line is matched, the second, unset substring is not shown. | 
| "internal"  unset  substring  is  shown as "<unset>", as for the second | An "internal" unset substring is shown as "<unset>", as for the  second | 
 | data line. | data line. | 
 |  |  | 
 | re> /(a)|(b)/ | re> /(a)|(b)/ | 
| Line 564  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST | Line 815  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST | 
 | 1: <unset> | 1: <unset> | 
 | 2: b | 2: b | 
 |  |  | 
| If the strings contain any non-printing characters, they are output  as | If  the strings contain any non-printing characters, they are output as | 
| \0x  escapes,  or  as \x{...} escapes if the /8 modifier was present on | \xhh escapes if the value is less than 256 and UTF  mode  is  not  set. | 
| the pattern. See below for the definition of  non-printing  characters. | Otherwise they are output as \x{hh...} escapes. See below for the defi- | 
| If  the pattern has the /+ modifier, the output for substring 0 is fol- | nition of non-printing characters. If the pattern has the /+  modifier, | 
| lowed by the the rest of the subject string, identified  by  "0+"  like | the  output  for substring 0 is followed by the the rest of the subject | 
| this: | string, identified by "0+" like this: | 
 |  |  | 
 | re> /cat/+ | re> /cat/+ | 
 | data> cataract | data> cataract | 
 | 0: cat | 0: cat | 
 | 0+ aract | 0+ aract | 
 |  |  | 
| If  the  pattern  has  the /g or /G modifier, the results of successive | If the pattern has the /g or /G modifier,  the  results  of  successive | 
 | matching attempts are output in sequence, like this: | matching attempts are output in sequence, like this: | 
 |  |  | 
 | re> /\Bi(\w\w)/g | re> /\Bi(\w\w)/g | 
| Line 588  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST | Line 839  DEFAULT OUTPUT FROM PCRETEST | 
 | 0: ipp | 0: ipp | 
 | 1: pp | 1: pp | 
 |  |  | 
| "No match" is output only if the first match attempt fails. Here is  an | "No  match" is output only if the first match attempt fails. Here is an | 
| example  of a failure message (the offset 4 that is specified by \>4 is | example of a failure message (the offset 4 that is specified by \>4  is | 
 | past the end of the subject string): | past the end of the subject string): | 
 |  |  | 
 | re> /xyz/ | re> /xyz/ | 
 | data> xyz\>4 | data> xyz\>4 | 
 | Error -24 (bad offset value) | Error -24 (bad offset value) | 
 |  |  | 
| If any of the sequences \C, \G, or \L are present in a data  line  that | If  any  of the sequences \C, \G, or \L are present in a data line that | 
| is  successfully  matched,  the substrings extracted by the convenience | is successfully matched, the substrings extracted  by  the  convenience | 
 | functions are output with C, G, or L after the string number instead of | functions are output with C, G, or L after the string number instead of | 
 | a colon. This is in addition to the normal full list. The string length | a colon. This is in addition to the normal full list. The string length | 
| (that is, the return from the extraction function) is given  in  paren- | (that  is,  the return from the extraction function) is given in paren- | 
 | theses after each string for \C and \G. | theses after each string for \C and \G. | 
 |  |  | 
 | Note that whereas patterns can be continued over several lines (a plain | Note that whereas patterns can be continued over several lines (a plain | 
 | ">" prompt is used for continuations), data lines may not. However new- | ">" prompt is used for continuations), data lines may not. However new- | 
| lines  can  be included in data by means of the \n escape (or \r, \r\n, | lines can be included in data by means of the \n escape (or  \r,  \r\n, | 
 | etc., depending on the newline sequence setting). | etc., depending on the newline sequence setting). | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 | OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUNCTION | OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATIVE MATCHING FUNCTION | 
 |  |  | 
| When the alternative matching function, pcre_dfa_exec(),  is  used  (by | When the alternative matching function, pcre[16|32]_dfa_exec(), is used | 
| means  of  the \D escape sequence or the -dfa command line option), the | (by means of the \D escape sequence or the -dfa command  line  option), | 
| output consists of a list of all the matches that start  at  the  first | the  output  consists  of  a  list of all the matches that start at the | 
| point in the subject where there is at least one match. For example: | first point in the subject where there is at least one match. For exam- | 
|  | ple: | 
 |  |  | 
 | re> /(tang|tangerine|tan)/ | re> /(tang|tangerine|tan)/ | 
 | data> yellow tangerine\D | data> yellow tangerine\D | 
| Line 670  CALLOUTS | Line 922  CALLOUTS | 
 | tion  is  called  during  matching. This works with both matching func- | tion  is  called  during  matching. This works with both matching func- | 
 | tions. By default, the called function displays the callout number, the | tions. By default, the called function displays the callout number, the | 
 | start  and  current  positions in the text at the callout time, and the | start  and  current  positions in the text at the callout time, and the | 
| next pattern item to be tested. For example, the output | next pattern item to be tested. For example: | 
 |  |  | 
 | --->pqrabcdef | --->pqrabcdef | 
 | 0    ^  ^     \d | 0    ^  ^     \d | 
 |  |  | 
| indicates that callout number 0 occurred for a match  attempt  starting | This output indicates that  callout  number  0  occurred  for  a  match | 
| at  the fourth character of the subject string, when the pointer was at | attempt  starting  at  the fourth character of the subject string, when | 
| the seventh character of the data, and when the next pattern  item  was | the pointer was at the seventh character of the data, and when the next | 
| \d.  Just  one  circumflex is output if the start and current positions | pattern  item  was  \d.  Just one circumflex is output if the start and | 
| are the same. | current positions are the same. | 
 |  |  | 
 | Callouts numbered 255 are assumed to be automatic callouts, inserted as | Callouts numbered 255 are assumed to be automatic callouts, inserted as | 
 | a  result  of the /C pattern modifier. In this case, instead of showing | a  result  of the /C pattern modifier. In this case, instead of showing | 
| Line 763  SAVING AND RELOADING COMPILED PATTERNS | Line 1015  SAVING AND RELOADING COMPILED PATTERNS | 
 | writing the file, pcretest expects to read a new pattern. | writing the file, pcretest expects to read a new pattern. | 
 |  |  | 
 | A  saved  pattern  can  be reloaded into pcretest by specifying < and a | A  saved  pattern  can  be reloaded into pcretest by specifying < and a | 
| file name instead of a pattern. The name of the file must not contain a | file name instead of a pattern. There must be no space  between  <  and | 
| < character, as otherwise pcretest will interpret the line as a pattern | the  file  name,  which  must  not  contain a < character, as otherwise | 
| delimited by < characters.  For example: | pcretest will interpret the line as a pattern delimited  by  <  charac- | 
|  | ters. For example: | 
 |  |  | 
 | re> </some/file | re> </some/file | 
 | Compiled pattern loaded from /some/file | Compiled pattern loaded from /some/file | 
 | No study data | No study data | 
 |  |  | 
| If the pattern was previously studied with the  JIT  optimization,  the | If  the  pattern  was previously studied with the JIT optimization, the | 
| JIT  information cannot be saved and restored, and so is lost. When the | JIT information cannot be saved and restored, and so is lost. When  the | 
| pattern has been loaded, pcretest proceeds to read data  lines  in  the | pattern  has  been  loaded, pcretest proceeds to read data lines in the | 
 | usual way. | usual way. | 
 |  |  | 
| You  can copy a file written by pcretest to a different host and reload | You can copy a file written by pcretest to a different host and  reload | 
| it there, even if the new host has opposite endianness to  the  one  on | it  there,  even  if the new host has opposite endianness to the one on | 
| which  the pattern was compiled. For example, you can compile on an i86 | which the pattern was compiled. For example, you can compile on an  i86 | 
| machine and run on a SPARC machine. | machine  and  run  on  a SPARC machine. When a pattern is reloaded on a | 
|  | host with different endianness, the confirmation message is changed to: | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | Compiled pattern (byte-inverted) loaded from /some/file | 
 |  |  | 
 |  | The test suite contains some saved pre-compiled patterns with different | 
 |  | endianness.  These  are  reloaded  using "<!" instead of just "<". This | 
 |  | suppresses the "(byte-inverted)" text so that the output is the same on | 
 |  | all  hosts.  It  also forces debugging output once the pattern has been | 
 |  | reloaded. | 
 |  |  | 
 | File names for saving and reloading can be absolute  or  relative,  but | File names for saving and reloading can be absolute  or  relative,  but | 
 | note  that the shell facility of expanding a file name that starts with | note  that the shell facility of expanding a file name that starts with | 
 | a tilde (~) is not available. | a tilde (~) is not available. | 
| Line 797  SAVING AND RELOADING COMPILED PATTERNS | Line 1059  SAVING AND RELOADING COMPILED PATTERNS | 
 |  |  | 
 | SEE ALSO | SEE ALSO | 
 |  |  | 
| pcre(3), pcreapi(3), pcrecallout(3), pcrejit, pcrematching(3), pcrepar- | pcre(3),  pcre16(3),  pcre32(3),  pcreapi(3),  pcrecallout(3), pcrejit, | 
| tial(d), pcrepattern(3), pcreprecompile(3). | pcrematching(3), pcrepartial(d), pcrepattern(3), pcreprecompile(3). | 
 |  |  | 
 |  |  | 
 | AUTHOR | AUTHOR | 
| Line 810  AUTHOR | Line 1072  AUTHOR | 
 |  |  | 
 | REVISION | REVISION | 
 |  |  | 
| Last updated: 02 December 2011 | Last updated: 12 November 2013 | 
| Copyright (c) 1997-2011 University of Cambridge. | Copyright (c) 1997-2013 University of Cambridge. |