> for pattern in thelist: > regex=re.compile(pattern) > if regex.match('24110'): > the_pattern = pattern > . > . > sys.exit(0) > > but in this case it will pick thelist[2] and not the list[3] as I wanted to, > how can I have it pick the pattern that describes it better from the list.
Define 'better'. Both regex describe it equally well, how is Python supposed to know which one is 'better'? You have to tell it by ordering your list according to your idea of better, usually meaning most specific test first. Alan G _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor