Looking for a specific pattern in a text variable - Webmaster Forums - Webmaster forum for HTML, PHP, ASP, CSS and more

webman2015 · 02-05-2010, 09:54 AM

Hi,

I am working on an e-commerce site and I am trying to figure out how to pull the weight out of a huge text string.

example would contain "text string full of mixed stuff weight 34.5 lbs more text full of mixed stuff"

How can I look for the value of the weight in the middle of the text and put it into a variable?

I know I can use the keywords "weight" and "lbs", but am not sure how to pull the value out because it may contain a decimal point.

Thanks

shadiadiph · 02-22-2010, 11:02 PM

Just an example of how you could do it don't know if it is of any help.

Code:

<?php
$model='';
$model='Hewlett Packard';
$amount='';
$amount='35.5';
$height='';
$height='2.5';

$string="make|$model|weight|$amount|lbs|height|$height";

$newstring=array();
$newstring = explode('|',$string);

$modeltype='';
$modeltype=$newstring[1];
$weightamount='';
$weightamount=$newstring[3];
$heightamount='';
$heightamount=$newstring[6];

print "model: $modeltype <br />";
print "weight: $weightamount <br />";
print "height: $heightamount";

?>

webman2015 · 02-23-2010, 06:18 PM

Actually, the text looks more like this in the body of the description:

"Your home baking never tasted so scrumptious! Weight 2.5 lbs. Stoneware. Microwave and dishwasher safe"

The text comes in a spreadsheet from the manufacturer. I need to pull out the actual weight value from the above text. Text will vary from one product to another, but the weight is usually in there somewhere.

Anyone have an idea?

shadiadiph · 02-23-2010, 09:00 PM

something like this?

it extracts 2.5

Code:

<?php
$result=array();
$text='';
$text="Your home baking never tasted so scrumptious! Weight 2.5 lbs. Stoneware. Microwave and dishwasher safe";


$weightvalue='';
$weightvalue= preg_match_all('/[0-9].[0-9]/', $text, $result);

$weightvalue=$result[0][0];

print $weightvalue;
?>

webman2015 · 02-24-2010, 12:00 AM

Yes, this will help, Thank you.

One more thing is still open though. There are other numbers and patterns in the descriptive text (I just used a small excerpt) and I need to look for the keyword "weight" then use the script you gave me to pull out the actual value right after it.

So, if the keyword "weight" is found, then pull out the numerical value after it. Then I also need to look at the letters immediately following the weight value. I just discovered that it may be measured in "oz", "lbs" or even "grams".

So, here is another example text:

Set includes: ruler, pencils, stapler, staple remover, staple wires, eraser, ball pen, tape, pad, blade, pencil sharpener, scissors, paper clips, push pins, and rotating caddy. Weight 1.2 lbs. Plastic, wood, metal, and paper. 6" x 5 1/4" x 6" high

And sometimes they use "lbs", sometimes "oz", and sometimes "grams". So I need to look for the keyword "weight", pull out the value, then look for a pattern matching either "oz", "lbs", or "grams".

I can use strpos to find the last part, easy enough. if (strpos($text, "lbs"))

How can I look for the keyword "weight", then pull out the value?

Thank you, this is helping a lot so far.