How to use `Shortest` for pattern matching?

Question

For the string ((!@#)), the shortest match for the pattern "("~~__~~")" should be "(!@#)", but

StringCases["((!@#))", Shortest["(" ~~ __ ~~ ")"]]

Returns with ((!@#). What went wrong with my code? Thanks!

A concise explanation of what went wrong with your code is in the question http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/q/18193/5467.
The question suggests a solution with Except[]. The complete suggested solution is : StringCases["((!@#))", Shortest["(" ~~ Except["("] .. ~~ ")"]] — andre314, Dec 26 '15 at 13:44

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 25 '15 at 18:08

4

Last@StringCases["((!@#))", Shortest["(" ~~ __ ~~ ")"], Overlaps -> True]

answered Dec 25 '15 at 18:08

eldo

1 Answers1