[Feature Suggestion] Regex match boolean function

General Discussion
1

Using $regexp(...) can be cumbersome at times, when one want to only check if a variable matches some regex pattern and use it as a boolean test. Current situation requires user to either:

  1. Use hard-to-manage scripting along the line of $if($strcmp(%var%,$regexp(%var%,'...',... (can be more annoying if additional boolean test needs to be combined)
  2. Split into several actions: First use $regexp() to generate replaced string into temporary variable, then compare it with original variable, and finally remove temporary one.

So I want to suggest a new function to simplify regex tests, with spec like one of below (up to Florian to decide which is better):

  1. $ifmatch(string, pattern, if-true, if-false) -- working like $ifgreater and $iflonger
  2. $regmatch(string, pattern) -- only produce boolean result, like $strcmp and friends

Personally I want both :grin:, first form as a simple shortcut, and 2nd form for combining multiple boolean tests.

Please pardon me if similar feature already exists -- I haven't been following mp3tag development closely. :slight_smile:

2

isn't this more or less the scripting function implemented in $if()
$if(x,y,z) if x is true, y is returned, otherwise z.
only that you can specify in what respect the expression should "match" (is it length, case, contents, part of?, arithmetic result, and so on)

3

isn't this more or less the scripting function implemented in $if()

That's true, in the same sense of $ifgreater and $iflonger that are shorthands for

  • $if($grtr(... and
  • $if($grtr($len(... respectively.
4

I'd also really like a RegEx function which didn't do replacement, but was instead an input to the existing $if function, as mentioned. My vote is on that $regmatch which you have proposed. :+1:

5

So I think right now, the quick and dirty workaround would be:

$if( $eql( $regexp(<input_field>, <matching_regex>, 'Yes'), 'Yes'), <value_if_true>, <value_if_false>)