Check string validity with pattern

Question

hello,
I want to check the validity of strings given by the user. The only characters authorized are : 'a' to 'z', 'A' to 'Z', '0' to '9', '.', '-', '_', '*', '@' and ' ' (space)
i want to check this string with a pattern but it does not work.
Somebody can help me for the pattern because the API javadoc is poor and i have a limited web access in my agency.
Thanks
   String regex = "[a-zA-Z0-9.*-_@]";
   System.out.println(regex);
   boolean bol = Pattern.matches(regex, field);
   System.out.println(bol);
   ->> result always false for string field="Indy jones";

Answer 1

try this:
import java.sql.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.regex.*;
import java.util.*;
public class RegExTest2 {
public static void main (String args[]) {
Pattern pat = null;
Matcher m = null;
String patternToMatch = "^[a-zA-Z0-9\\.\\*\\-\\_@\\s]+$";
String line1 = "IndianaJones";
String line2 = "Indiana Jones";
String line3 = "Indiana - Jones";
String line4 = "Indiana&Jones";
String line5 = "Indiana & Jones";
String line6 = "  Indiana Jones  ";
String line7 = "Indiana Jones =";
pat = Pattern.compile(patternToMatch);
System.out.println("Pattern to match = " + patternToMatch);
boolean bol = Pattern.matches(patternToMatch, line1);  
System.out.println("line1 : expected true and got " + bol);
bol = Pattern.matches(patternToMatch, line2);  
System.out.println("line2 : expected true and got " + bol);
bol = Pattern.matches(patternToMatch, line3);  
System.out.println("line3 : expected true and got " + bol);
bol = Pattern.matches(patternToMatch, line4);  
System.out.println("line4 : expected false and got " + bol);
bol = Pattern.matches(patternToMatch, line5);  
System.out.println("line5 : expected false and got " + bol);
bol = Pattern.matches(patternToMatch, line6);  
System.out.println("line6 : expected true and got " + bol);
bol = Pattern.matches(patternToMatch, line7);  
System.out.println("line7 : expected false and got " + bol);
  } // end main
} //End Class RegExTest2