regex101: Extract Fields from Messages.app Selected Chat

^start of line

Group 1(.+?)

.+?any character (except for line terminators), repeated at least once

\.the literal . (46₁₀ / 56₈ / 2E₁₆)

Last message: the literal text Last message: (case insensitive)

Group 2(.+\.?)

.+any character (except for line terminators), repeated at least once

\.?optionally matches the literal . (46₁₀ / 56₈ / 2E₁₆)

the literal (32₁₀ / 40₈ / 20₁₆)

Group 3(\w[^AMP].+?)

\wany word character

Negated Character Class[^AMP]

Athe literal A (65₁₀ / 101₈ / 41₁₆) (case insensitive)

Mthe literal M (77₁₀ / 115₈ / 4D₁₆) (case insensitive)

Pthe literal P (80₁₀ / 120₈ / 50₁₆) (case insensitive)

.+?any character (except for line terminators), repeated at least once

\.the literal . (46₁₀ / 56₈ / 2E₁₆)

$end of line

Global pattern flags

g modifier: global. Finds all matches instead of stopping after the first

m modifier: multiline. Causes ^ and $ to match the start and end of each line, not only the start and end of the string

i modifier: insensitive. Matches without distinguishing uppercase and lowercase letters

Search reference

Regular Expression

^(.+?)\. Last message: (.+\.?) (\w[^AMP].+?)\.$

Test String
New

Sandy Smith. Last message: Will do! 2/2/17.

Caroline Doe. Last message: I will definitely tell him to come! Thank you so much for checking up on the both of us 2/2/17.


thundercall@ecnetwork.com. Last message: (Alert) CodeRED Weather Warning: The NWS has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for your WALTHAM ST location from 8:00 AM April 30 until 8:30 AM April 3 4/30/16.

BFristN BLastN. Last message: Okay, I figured it out. Will post on the forum in a sec. 4:25 PM.

BFristN BLastN. Last message: Okay, I figured it out. Will post on the forum in a sec. Yesterday.

Regular Expressions 101

Regular Expression

Test String
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Substitution
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Regular Expression

Test StringNew

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Test String
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Substitution
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