How to use preg_grep to find string in a file

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November 5th, 2012, 08:06 PM

TomL in VA

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PHP-General - How to use preg_grep to find string in a file

Can I use preg_grep to search a file to see if it contains a string?
I have an array of strings that I want to loop through and test the each string against a file to see if there is a match within the file. Could someone give me the correct syntax for the preg_grep?

Thanks,
Tom

November 5th, 2012, 08:37 PM

requinix

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preg_match.

Do you have shell access? In other words what does

PHP Code:


		
			
echo `grep -l "echo" .`;

output?

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November 6th, 2012, 05:23 AM

TomL in VA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by requinix

preg_match.

Do you have shell access? In other words what does

PHP Code:


		
			
echo `grep -l "echo" .`;

output?

The situation is I have two variables, $FilePath and $SearchTerm and the question is what is the syntax to use preg_grep to search $FilePath for the SearchTerm and if a match is found what is the value returned (true, false, the string found)

Thanks,
Tom

November 6th, 2012, 05:44 AM

Jacques1

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Hi,

the function reference at php.net should answer your questions.

November 6th, 2012, 08:25 AM

ManiacDan

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preg_grep doesn't search files. As it says in the manual, it searches arrays.

There is another function which turns a file INTO an array, but if the file is particularly large, that may overload PHP's memory:

PHP Code:


		
			
 $matches = preg_grep('/' . preg_quote($SearchTerm) . '/', file($FilePath));

There's probably a better solution to whatever problem you're trying to solve.

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PHP-General - How to use preg_grep to find string in a file

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