import re
regex = re.compile(r"""
# Keys are pretty much "any text before the '=' symbol"
(?P<key>[^=]+)
# Match the '=' symbol
=
(?P<value>
# Lazy match
.*?
# Look-ahead (don't move the "regex cursor", just "peek forward")
(?=
# Match a '_' that has no other '_' between it and the '=' character, or...
_[^_=\n]+=
|
# ... or the end of the line
$
)
)
# Actually "consume" the '_' character if it exists (or just match the end-of-line)
(?:_|$)
""", flags=re.MULTILINE | re.VERBOSE)
test_str = ("str=string_number=12345_device=phone_color=blue\n"
"color=aqua_marine_name=matt_number=123_456_879_lastname=blahblah")
subst = "\\1 = \\2\\n"
result = regex.sub(subst, test_str)
if result:
print(result)
Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for Python, please visit: https://docs.python.org/3/library/re.html