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Regular Expression (Pattern) Criteria

Regular Expression criteria are a set of pattern matching rules that provide a concise and flexible means for matching strings of text. This criteria type can be used to verify a series of numbers as potentially valid, for example credit card numbers.

Regular Expression window

The options on the Regular Expression window are:

  • Name – Name of the Regular Expression sub-criteria as it appears in the Configuration window

  • Expression – Enter the Regular Expression in the Expression text box

  • Case Sensitive Expression – Select the checkbox for case sensitive Regular Expression pattern matching

  • Validation – Select a validation method from the Validation drop-down. The default value is No validation required.

    NOTE: See the Sensitive Data System Criteria topic for additional information on validation methods.

  • Sample Value – Text entered into the Sample Value text box is used to test pattern matches for the expression in the Expression text box

  • Test Match – Click Test Match to test the expression entered in the Expression text box against the text in the Sample Value text box

  • Match Type – Choose whether pattern matches for the Regular Expression criteria Must match or Must not match

    • Must match – The Regular Expression must be matched for there to be a match
    • Must not match – If the Regular Expression is matched and is designated Must not match, then the potential match is invalidated

  • Apply this expression to these file components – Select which file components the expression applies to:

    • Name
    • Contents
    • Metadata

  • Look for at least this many occurrences – Adjust the slider to configure how many occurrences are required for a match hit

    • The minimum value is 1
    • The maximum value is 10