How to parse a command line with regular expressions?

Question

I want to split a command line like string in single string parameters. How look the regular expression for it. The problem are that the parameters can be quoted. For exampl

Answer 1

Regex: /[\/-]?((\w+)(?:[=:]("[^"]+"|[^\s"]+))?)(?:\s+|$)/g

Sample: /P1="Long value" /P2=3 /P3=short PwithoutSwitch1=any PwithoutSwitch2

Such regex can parses the parameters list that built by rules:

• Parameters are separates by spaces (one or more).
• Parameter can contains switch symbol (/ or -).
• Parameter consists from name and value that divided by symbol = or :.
• Name can be set of alphanumerics and underscores.
• Value can absent.
• If value exists it can be the set of any symbols, but if it has the space then value should be quoted.

This regex has three groups:

• the first group contains whole parameters without switch symbol,
• the second group contains name only,
• the third group contains value (if it exists) only.

For sample above:

1. Whole match: /P1="Long value"
   • Group#1: P1="Long value",
   • Group#2: P1,
   • Group#3: "Long value".
2. Whole match: /P2=3
   • Group#1: P2=3,
   • Group#2: P2,
   • Group#3: 3.
3. Whole match: /P3=short
   • Group#1: P3=short,
   • Group#2: P3,
   • Group#3: short.
4. Whole match: PwithoutSwitch1=any
   • Group#1: PwithoutSwitch1=any,
   • Group#2: PwithoutSwitch1,
   • Group#3: any.
5. Whole match: PwithoutSwitch2
   • Group#1: PwithoutSwitch2,
   • Group#2: PwithoutSwitch2,
   • Group#3: absent.