Regex to split a String

Question

Hi,
Here's a little regex problem Jos e-mailed me the other day, to which I didn't find a satisfactory answer (I found one, but it's rather verbose). Chances are that there is no short (or simple) solution, but when this is the case with a certain problem, I usually know why there is no simple solution because of some limitation with the regex flavor I am using. However, I can't think of one with this problem.
Also note that this problem can be easily (and far more efficiently) solved by writing a custom method, but I happen to like regex and am curious to know if there's some solution to this I missed.
So, without further a due, here is the questions:
Split a String T into parts with a maximum size N without splitting T on a certain sub string S. In other words: try to split a String in as large as possible parts (equal or less than N) without splitting it on a certain sub string.
You can use only one split(...) call!
Lets say S = abc and N = 5 then here are a couple of examples:
T            = xyabcdefgabc
T.split(...) = [xyabc, defg, abc]
T            = xyzabcbbzzzabcabcbcacbyyy
T.split(...) = [xyz, abcbb, zzz, abc, abcbc, acbyy, y]
T            = xyzzzzabcbabczabcabcabcacbyyy
T.split(...) = [xyzzz, zabcb, abcz, abc, abc, abcac, byyy]

Answer 1

uncle_alice wrote:
Okay, I give up. I can see how to do this with find(), but not with split(). I hope you haven't been waiting for me all this time... :DTo be frank, yes I have. You, sabre and maybe Darryl (in a good mood ; )). Ah well, I am now convinced I didn't overlook some easy shortcut.
This is what I've cooked up:
class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String[] tests = {"xyabcdefgabc", "xyzabcbbzzzabcabcbcacbyyy", "xyzzzzabcbabczabcabcabcacbyyy"};
        String sub = "abc";
        int max = 5;
        String regex = String.format("(?<=\\G.{%d,%d})(?=%s)|(?<=\\G.{%d})", max-sub.length()+1, max-1, sub, max);
        System.out.println("regex = "+regex+"\n");
        for(String test: tests) {
            System.out.println(test);
            System.out.println("  -> "+Arrays.toString(test.split(regex))+"\n");
}B.t.w. uncle_alice, this *\G* (previous match) functionality, is this some Java thing or does it exist in other regex flavors as well?