topic Re: RegEx Help: Remove duplicate string from single string, no seperators in Alteryx Designer Desktop Discussions

RegEx Help: Remove duplicate string from single string, no seperators

Winston — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:12:38 GMT

I'm try to clean up a data field so that I can compare it to another field so the data can be joined. The issue is the original data isn't very consistent in its length or times data is repeated within it. I have attached an excel file showing the initial data and the ultimate result needed.

I can use a string formula to go from the initial data to Step 1. But I'm trying to go from Step 1 to Step 2 using RegEx but I'm failing terribly. Never been good coming up with RegEx formulas. I found an example online that I'm trying to modify to my needs but not having any luck as it was originally designed for comma separated values. What I have so far is: (\b[a-zA-Z0-9]+)(?=.* *\1(?:|$)) This isn't even close as it makes matches everywhere.

Once I get to Step 2, I can use some more string formula manipulation to get to the ultimate result in Step 3, but if everything could be done in one step, that would be ideal.

Thanks for the assistance.

-Winston

Re: RegEx Help: Remove duplicate string from single string, no seperators

jdunkerley79 — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:32:05 GMT

A formula like:

REGEX_Replace([Step 1], "^(.*)\1$", "$1")

should do what you need.

It will remove duplicated strings

Re: RegEx Help: Remove duplicate string from single string, no seperators

Qiu — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 23:14:39 GMT

@jdunkerley79

Its brilliant!

Re: RegEx Help: Remove duplicate string from single string, no seperators

MarqueeCrew — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 23:25:54 GMT

Great solve @jdunkerley79

cheers,

mark

Re: RegEx Help: Remove duplicate string from single string, no seperators

Winston — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 02:02:12 GMT

@jdunkerley79 that works perfectly and proves when it comes to RegEx I'm out of my element.

Thanks

-Winston