Automated Regex Generation for Streamlined Data Validation

August 2, 2024

At Trackingplan, we know that manually creating Regular Expressions can be a challenging task, especially for users who may not have prior experience, making it difficult for them to enforce strict validation rules on their data.

That’s why, to simplify this process and simplify data validation processes for our users, we now offer the ability to automatically generate regex patterns. This allows users to create precise and robust validations without needing to write complex patterns manually!

Automatic Regex Generation: Why It Matters

For those new to Regular Expressions (Regex), these are patterns that allow you to define specific rules for how data values should be structured. By applying a Regex pattern to a property, you ensure that all values conform to your specified format, leading to more reliable and standardized data.

Yet, while creating precise and robust validations is crucial for maintaining data integrity, manually writing complex Regex patterns can be a challenging, daunting task. With our new Automatic Regex Generation feature, you can now effortlessly generate Regex patterns without the need to craft them manually. This enhancement not only saves time but also ensures that your data validation is both accurate and consistent.

How to Automatically Generate Regex Patterns

Here’s a step-by-step guide to automatically generate regex patterns with Trackingplan's new functionality:

1. First, navigate to the property where you’d like to add a Regular Expression. Then, click on its type field and choose "Regex" from the drop-down menu.

2. After that, click on Pick a Regular Expression. If this is your first time creating a regular expression, select Create New Regex. Otherwise, you can reuse one of your existing ones, cloning it directly or editing it for this specific property.

3. Here’s where the magic happens. Just click on “Autocomplete this Regex” to automatically generate a regex pattern based on the values observed for this specific property. Our system will also suggest a name for your regex, eliminating the need to come up with one.

4. Review and fine-tune. All the values automatically generated will be placed directly within the playground, allowing you to manually add more if needed. Once you are happy with it, click on “Create New Regex”.

From this point on, Trackingplan will be checking that all the values for these properties match the specified regular expression. If a value does not conform with the pattern you have specified, the dashboard will automatically show you a warning.

Your Data Privacy Concerns Answered

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