Regular expressions in Format Definition add-on

Question

Hello experts,
I have a question about regular expressions. I am a newbie in regular expressions and I could use some help on this one. I tried some 6 hours, but I can't get solve it myself.
Summary of my problem:
In SAP Business One (patch level 42) it is possible to use bank statement processing. A file (full of regular expressions) is to be selected, so it can match certain criteria to the bank statement file. The bank statement file consists of a certain pattern (look at the attached code snippet).
:61:071222D208,00N026
:86:P  12345678BELASTINGDIENST       F8R03782497                $GH
$0000009                         BETALINGSKENM. 123456789123456
0 1234567891234560                                            
:61:071225C758,70N078
:86:0116664495 REGULA B.V. HELPMESTRAAT 243 B 5371 AM HARDCITY HARD
CITY 48772-54314                                                  
:61:071225C425,05N078
:86:0329883585 J. MANSSHOT PATTRIOTISLAND 38 1996 PT HELMEN BIJBETA
LING VOOR RELOOP RMP1 SET ORDERNR* 69866 / SPOEDIG LEVEREN    
:61:071225C850,00N078
:86:0105327212 POSE TELEFOONSTRAAT 43 6448 SL S-ROTTERDAM MIJN OR
DERNR. 53846 REF. MAIL 21-02
- I am in search of the right type of regular expression that is used by the Format Definition add-on (javascript, .NET, perl, JAVA, python, etc.)
Besides that I need the regular expressions below, so the Format Definition will match the right lines from my bankfile.
- a regular expression that selects lines starting with :61: and line :86: including next lines (if available), so in fact it has to select everything from :86: till :61: again.
- a regular expression that selects the bank account number (position 5-14) from lines starting with :86:
- a regular expression that selects all other info from lines starting with :86: (and following if any), so all positions that follow after the bank account number
I am looking forward to the right solutions, I can give more info if you need any.

Answer 1

Hello Hendri,
Q1:I am in search of the right type of regular expression that is used by the Format Definition add-on (javascript, .NET, perl, JAVA, pythonetc.)
Answer: Format Definition uses .Net regular expression.
You may refer the following examples. If necessary, I can send you a guide about how to use regular expression in Format Defnition. Thanks.
Example 6
Description:
To match a field with an optional field in front. For example, u201C:61:0711211121C216,08N051NONREFu201D or u201C:61:071121C216,08N051NONREFu201D, which comprises of a record identification u201C:61:u201D, a date in the form of YYMMDD, anther optional date MMDD, one or two characters to signify the direction of money flow, a numeric amount value and some other information. The target to be matched is the numeric amount value.
Regular expression:
(?<=:61:\d(\d)?[a-zA-Z]{1,2})((\d(,\d*)?)|(,\d))
Text:
:61:0711211121C216,08N051NONREF
Matches:
1
Tips:
1.     All the fields in front of the target field are described in the look behind assertion embraced by (?<= and ). Especially, the optional field is embraced by parentheses and then a u201C?u201D  (question mark). The sub expression for amount is copied from example 1. You can compose your own regular expression for such cases in the form of (?<=REGEX_FOR_FIELDS_IN_FRONT)(REGEX_FOR_TARGET_FIELD), in which REGEX_FOR_FIELDS_IN_FRONT and REGEX_FOR_TARGET_FIELD are respectively the regular expression for the fields in front and the target field. Keep the parentheses therein.
Example 7
Description:
Find all numbers in the free text description, which are possibly document identifications, e.g. for invoices
Regular expression:
(?<=\b)(?<!\.)\d+(?=\b)(?!\.)
Text:
:86:GIRO  6890316
ENERGETICA NATURA BENELU
AFRIKAWEG 14
HULST
3187-A1176
TRANSACTIEDATUM* 03-07-2007
Matches:
6
Tips:
1.     The regular expression given finds all digits between word boundaries except those with a prior dot or following dot; u201C.u201D (dot) is escaped as \.
2.     It may find out some inaccurate matches, like the date in text. If you want to exclude u201C-u201D (hyphen) as prior or following character, resemble the case for u201C.u201D (dot), the regular expression becomes (?<=\b)(?<!\.)(?<!-)\d+(?=\b)(?!\.)(?!-). The matches will be:
:86:GIRO  6890316
ENERGETICA NATURA BENELU
AFRIKAWEG 14
HULST
3187-A1176
TRANSACTIEDATUM* 03-07-2007
You may lose some real values like u201C3187u201D before the u201C-u201D.
Example 8
Description:
Find BP account number in 9 digits with a prior u201CPu201D or u201C0u201D in the first position of free text description
Regular expression:
(?<=^(P|0))\d
Text:
0000006681 FORTIS ASR BETALINGSCENTRUM BV
Matches:
1
Tips:
1.     Use positive look behind assertion (?<=PRIOR_KEYWORD) to express the prior keyword.
2.     u201C^u201D stands for that match starts from the beginning of the text. If the text includes the record identification, you may include it also in the look behind assertion. For example,
:86:0000006681 FORTIS ASR BETALINGSCENTRUM BV
The regular expression becomes
(?<=:86:(P|0))\d
Example 9
Description:
Following example 8, to find the possible BP name after BP account number, which is composed of letter, dot or space.
Regular expression:
(?<=^(P|0)\d)[a-zA-Z. ]*
Text:
0000006681 FORTIS ASR BETALINGSCENTRUM BV
Matches:
1
Tips:
1.     In this case, put BP account number regular expression into the look behind assertion.
Example 10
Description:
Find the possible document identifications in a sub-record of :86: record. Sub-record is like u201C?00u201D, u201C?10u201D etc.  A possible document identification sub-record is made up of the following parts:
u2022     keyword u201CREu201D, u201CRGu201D, u201CRu201D, u201CINVu201D, u201CNRu201D, u201CNOu201D, u201CRECHNu201D or u201CRECHNUNGu201D, and
u2022     an optional group made up of following:
     a separator of either a dot, hyphen or slash, and
     an optional space, and
     an optional string starting with keyword u201CNRu201D or u201CNOu201D followed by a separator of either a dot, hyphen or slash, and
     an optional space
u2022     and finally document identification in digits
Regular expression:
(?<=\?\d(RE|RG|R|INV|NR|NO|RECHN|RECHNUNG)((\.|-|/)\s?((NR|NO)(\.|-|/))?\s?)?)\d+
Kind Regards
-Yatsea