Match string only when not preceded by another string

Question

I want to match strings containing MYSTUFF in all cases, except when MYSTUFF is preceded by ENABLED_. So that the following would match:

MYSTUFF
m_MYSTUFF
MYSTUFFIsGreat
allOf_MYSTUFF

but the following wouldn't:

ENABLED_MYSTUFF
m_ENABLED_MYSTUFF
ENABLED_MYSTUFFIsGreat
allOf_ENABLED_MYSTUFF

I tried several variations using negative lookahead (variations of \w*(?!.*ENABLED_)MYSTUFF\w*), and conditional (variations of (?(?!=ENABLED_)(MYSTUFF))), but I did not manage to get the results I'm after.

Is what I want even doable with regexes?

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 17 '17 at 18:26

2

You could accomplish this by using a negative look-behind assertion ...

\w*(?<!ENABLED_)MYSTUFF\w*

see regex demo

answered Mar 17 '17 at 18:26

m87

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I do want to match the whole word. – joce Mar 17 '17 at 18:33
1

Edited the question to make it clear I need the whole word. – joce Mar 17 '17 at 18:35

Match string only when not preceded by another string

1 Answers1