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ErikOSnet0ErikOSnet0 

String.split for backslash

I need to split a string using the backslash as a delimeter. Here is the code:

 

 

    public String removePath(String filename) {
        if (filename == null)
            return null;
        List<String> parts = filename.split('\\');
        filename = parts[parts.size()-1];
        return filename;
    }

    static testMethod void testRemovePath() {
        System.assertEquals('PPDSF100111.csv', EmailUtilities.getInstance().removePath('e:\\processed\\PPDSF100111.csv'));
    } 
 
 
 
When you run the unit test, it errors on the line with split saying "System.StringException: Invalid regex: Unexpected internal error near index 1...". 
 
If I try to use one or three backslashes, it returns a compile error: "Save error:  Line breaks not allowed in literal strings." 
 
The force.com documentation for String.split references the Java 5 documentation for regular expression.  You are supposed to use two backslashes to effectively escape it to a literal backslash. Is this a bug?  What is the workaround if it is?
 
Erik
 
 


Best Answer chosen by Admin (Salesforce Developers) 
JimRaeJimRae
I believe you need to do 4 backslashes, each one of the 2 you are trying to represent needs to be escaped.
 
 
 public String removePath(String filename) {
        if (filename == null)
            return null;
        List<String> parts = filename.split('\\\\');
        filename = parts[parts.size()-1];
        return filename;
    }

    static testMethod void testRemovePath() {
        System.assertEquals('PPDSF100111.csv', EmailUtilities.getInstance().removePath('e:\\processed\\PPDSF100111.csv'));
    }