PHP Pattern Matching (And Replacing) help..

[RyanJ]

Hi everyone!

 

I'm making a chemistry website and to save databse space (A lot when you have lots of things too add) I decided to make a pattern match replacer for some of the information, specifically the electron configurations.

 

If you don't know what the electron configuration format is then here it is.

 

nTe

 

Where n = any 1-2 digit number, T is either s,p,d or f.

 

If T = s then e can be any positive number number less than 2.

If T = p then e can be any positive number number less than 6.

If T = d then e can be any positive number number less than 10.

If T = f then e can be any positive number number less than 14

 

I have eneted the information in to the databse in that format, my problem comes here: I need the e part to be in superscript so I need to do a pattern match to find and replace e with ^e.

 

My best efforts failed and now I turn too you for help, has anyone got (Or can make) a piece of code that will do that?

 

Values for the format can be like this:

 

[Rn]5f147s27p1 should be made too: [Rn]5f¹⁴7s²7p¹

 

1s22s2 should be replaced by 1s²2s²

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

Why not just use LaTeX or MiMeTeX?

[RyanJ]

Why not just use LaTeX or MiMeTeX?

 

Its not my server and because of the space they require to install etc. the host will not install them unless they get enough demand. Pitty because this was my first thought too.

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

MiMeTeX would work perfectly. It doesn't require extra software, it's just a CGI that you drop in your cgi-bin folder.

[RyanJ]

MiMeTeX would work perfectly. It doesn't require extra software, it's just a CGI that you drop in your cgi-bin folder.

 

It requires you too run on the root admin server account, because I'm not it does not work!

 

Pitty because I have also tried this too!

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[Klaynos]

If each nTe secontion is in the db individualy (and not a full elements list) then:

 

May I suggest a series of regular expressions, replacing s,p,d,f with s<sup>,p<sup>,d<sup>,f^{. and then adding} to the end of each string

 

If not the easiest way with the least thought is one regular expression for each number and letter...

[RyanJ]

If each nTe secontion is in the db individualy (and not a full elements list) then:

 

May I suggest a series of regular expressions' date=' replacing s,p,d,f with s<sup>,p<sup>,d<sup>,f^{. and then adding} to the end of each string

 

If not the easiest way with the least thought is one regular expression for each number and letter...[/quote']

 

Good suggestion but I worked it out

 

Here is the code incase anyone else will be able to make use if it in the future:

 

function FixElectronConfig($ConfigString){
 $String = $ConfigString;
 $String = preg_replace('/((\d)+)s(([1-2])?)(\s)?/', '\\1s<sup>\\3</sup>', $String);
 $String = preg_replace('/((\d)+)p(([0-6])?)(\s)?/', '\\1p<sup>\\3</sup>', $String);
 $String = preg_replace('/((\d)+)d((\d){1,2})(\s)?/', '\\1d<sup>\\3</sup>', $String);
 $String = preg_replace('/((\d)+)f((\d){1,2})(\s)?/', '\\1f<sup>\\3</sup>', $String);
 return $String;
}

 

It accepts strings in the format: [Rn]1s2 2s2 2p6 3d10 4f14

 

The element name in brackets is optional, it can work with out it.

 

It kills the spaces and it makes the "e" part superscript, it works with all strings I have tested.

If you make a better one or find a problem with this one please post here

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones