Is it possible to store regex in a field and then use it in code?

[Nisar3]

I've a custom table in which I can create a new field. The purpose of this field will be to store regex expression.

Then in the code I wish to use the following:

var toMatch = "someValue";
var myAnswer = false;
var gr = new GlideRecord('my_custom_table');
if(gr.get('xxxxxxxxx'))
{
     var pattern = new RegExp(gr.getValue('regex_column_name'));
     if(pattern.test(toMatch)){
         myAnswer = true;
     }

     gs.info('myAnswer ' + myAnswer);
}

I tried setting the field type to "String" but that doesn't seem to work. Is there a specific "column type" that I can try?

[Abhijit4]

Hi @Nisar3 

As your regex pattern would be dynamic based on field value. So, you could use below syntax to validate

`${word}`

Your updated script ( I have tested this with incident table and incident field and it works perfectly so it should work with your custom table as well):

var toMatch = "someValue";
var myAnswer = false;
var gr = new GlideRecord('my_custom_table');
if(gr.get('xxxxxxxxx'))
{
var jsonPattern=gr.getValue('regex_column_name');
     var pattern = new RegExp(`${jsonPattern}`);
     if(pattern.test(toMatch)){
         myAnswer = true;
     }

     gs.info('myAnswer ' + myAnswer);
}

If my response helped please mark it as correct.

Regards,

Abhijit 

ServiceNow MVP

ServiceNow Buddy Owner: snbuddy.com

[Nisar3]

Interesting, what's the significance of "$"?

Because in Ankur's post, it is not used

var pattern = new RegExp(regexString);

v/s

var pattern = new RegExp(`${regexString}`);

[Abhijit4]

@Nisar3 

This Syntax ( ${word} ) is specifically designed to handle dynamic regex validation.

[Nisar3]

Tried your approach via background script. Seems like it's throwing syntax error for using "`"

[Abhijit4]

@Nisar3  It is ServiceNow global parser that highlights error. You can ignore it and run script, it will work.

You may not see it if you try with fix script.