regex variable in FilenameFilter anon inner class

[BV Boose]

Hi all, anybody know what I'm doing wrong or how to make this work?
I have an anonymous inner class to filter a directory of files based on a regex pattern inputted from a system property.

/**
* create list of pattern matched files
* @param dir purge directory
* @param regex pattern to match against
* @return list of files to be purged
private static File[] createFileList(File dir, final String pat){
     filelist = dir.listFiles(new Filenamefilter(){
          private Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(pat);
          public boolean accept(File dir, String name){
               boolean match = pattern.matcher(name).matches();
               System.out.println(name + " match is " + match);
               return match;
          }
      });
}     

usage in main:

final String pattern = strPattern;
File[] deleteList = createFileList(deleteDir, pattern);    

strPattern is declared in the outer class:

public static String strPattern

and initiated in the constructor

public StupidNotWorkingRegex(
           strPattern = System.getProperty("somePattern");

now here's the weird part, if I use a constant declared in the outer class

 
public static String DEFAULT_PTRN = ".*\\.test"   

or hardcode the string, it works

private Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(DEFAULT_PTRN);    
private Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(".*\\.test" );

I've tried using/not using final keyword, using/not using Pattern compiler
no go- as long as I try to use a variable regex I don't get a match.

[Joanne Neal]

Are you sure the String returned from System.getproperty is what you think it is ?
I noticed you are using \\ to represent a \ in a Java string. That is correct for a hardcoded String, but you only need a single \ in the property that you read in.

[BV Boose]

you are a frickin genius!!! That's what it was- I was escaping the \ in the system property.
Thanks.

Originally posted by Joanne Neal:
Are you sure the String returned from System.getproperty is what you think it is ?
I noticed you are using \\ to represent a \ in a Java string. That is correct for a hardcoded String, but you only need a single \ in the property that you read in.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Joanne is a genius, and we have all known that for a long time, but please watch the words which accompany "genius." This is a family website and we don't go in for that sort of wording.

[Joanne Neal]

Originally posted by gebuh Boose:
you are a ... genius!!!

Not really. Just years of experience of seeing problems like these (usually in my own code . )

[David O'Meara]

Joanne,
Please check your private messages.
-DOM

[Martijn Verburg]

That's a shiny new title you have there Joanne, Congrats!

[Campbell Ritchie]

Yes, Joanne, congratulations on the new handle.

[Joanne Neal]

Thank you very much.

I got a 10% pay rise to go with it as well. Hope that wasn't meant to be a secret David

[Rob Spoor]

What, you get paid to be here?

*storms off to Paul's office* I demand payment as well!

[Campbell Ritchie]

Originally posted by Joanne Neal:
Thank you very much.

I got a 10% pay rise to go with it as well.

You well deserve the "handle." But I thought Ranchers got 33% more.

[Joanne Neal]

Originally posted by Rob Prime:
What, you get paid to be here?

*storms off to Paul's office* I demand payment as well!

I had a word with Paul for you and he says you can have a 25% pay rise.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Thank you, Joanne, that is very kind of you. I hope that applies across the board to all bartenders.

[Joanne Neal]

Originally posted by Campbell Ritchie:
Thank you, Joanne, that is very kind of you. I hope that applies across the board to all bartenders.

Apart from you, yes. Paul said something about you being a special case - not sure if that's good or bad.

And apologies to gebuh for totally hijacking the thread.

[Campbell Ritchie]

People have been calling me a special case for as long as I can remember

[Rob Spoor]

Originally posted by Joanne Neal:


I had a word with Paul for you and he says you can have a 25% pay rise.

Whoohoo!