regex - PHP Parsing/explode Bible search string into variables or tokens -

i need breaking bible search string php variables or tokens. i'd explicit usage example of solution offered in post: php preg_match bible scripture format.

edit: chapter , verses (from, to) optional.

for example: i'd able split of following strings:

'john 14:16–17'; //book chapter:fromverse-toverse 'john 14:16'; //book chapter:fromverse 'john 14'; //book chapter 'john'; //book 

the following:

<?php $string = 'exodus 1:3-7'; // exodus book, 1 chapter number, 3 starting verse , 7 ending verse. [book chapter:startverse-endverse] $pattern = '/[ :-]/'; list( $book, $chapter, $from, $to ) = preg_split($pattern, $string ); echo $book; 

allows me nbook name: exodus. retrieve chapter number same way (echo $chapter), etc.

the problem i'm having solution when book name has more 1 word. example '1 samuel 3:4-5'. if echo $book example, offset 3 not defined or similar error.

it suggested in post linked above regex pattern more complete:

/\w+\s?(\d{1,2})?(:\d{1,2})?([-–]\d{1,2})?(,\s\d{1,2}[-–]\d{1,2})?+$/ 

i guess question how use pattern or similar 1 split search string described above.

a similar issue discussed here: php problems parsing bible book string, i'm having trouble modifying pattern. keep getting errors : undefined offset: 3 ...

i'd appreciate help

i wouldn't 1 regex.

after reading bible-citation - common formats section in wikipedia, see bible-parser idea:

$holy_str = 'jonny 5:1,4-5,17,21;';  // split verses book chapters $parts = preg_split('/\s*:\s*/', trim($holy_str, " ;"));  // init book $book = array('name' => "", 'chapter' => "", 'verses' => array());  // $part[0] = book + chapter, if isset $part[1] verses if(isset($parts[0])) {   // 1.) chapter   if(preg_match('/\d+\s*$/', $parts[0], $out)) {     $book['chapter'] = rtrim($out[0]);   }    // 2.) book name   $book['name'] = trim(preg_replace('/\d+\s*$/', "", $parts[0])); }  // 3.) verses if(isset($parts[1])) {   $book['verses'] = preg_split('~\s*,\s*~', $parts[1]); }  print_r($book); 

output (test @ eval.in):

array (     [name] => jonny     [chapter] => 5     [verses] => array         (             [0] => 1             [1] => 4-5             [2] => 17             [3] => 21         )  ) 

no matter here, if john 14:16 or 12 john: 3, 16-17

also see regex faq.