Regular expressions, commonly known as regex, are powerful tools that enable advanced text processing and pattern matching. AutoMod, a popular moderation tool, leverages regex to provide efficient and effective message filtering in online communities. This guide will help you understand how to use regex in AutoMod, ensuring your community remains safe and free from unwanted messages.
Understanding Regex in AutoMod
AutoMod allows you to filter messages based on regex patterns in your Custom Keyword rules. Regex patterns enable you to define specific sequences of characters that you want AutoMod to detect and respond to. This method is far more efficient than listing individual keywords, especially when dealing with numerous variations of a word or phrase.
Why Use Regex?
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Efficiency: Instead of adding every possible variation of a word to your filters, a single regex pattern can cover them all.
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Versatility: Regex can match complex patterns, including misspellings, word variants, and even non-words like phone numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, and special characters.
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Precision: Regex patterns can be fine-tuned to catch exactly what you want, avoiding false positives and negatives.
Getting Started with Regex in AutoMod
To use regex in AutoMod, follow these steps:
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Access AutoMod Settings: Navigate to Server Settings > AutoMod > Custom Keyword Rules. Ensure you have the necessary permissions (Manage Server or Administrator).
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Create or Edit a Rule: Select an existing rule or create a new one where you want to apply the regex pattern.
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Enter the Regex Pattern: Input your regex pattern into the provided field.
AutoMod uses the Rust flavor of regex, so it's recommended to write and test your regex in Rust syntax. Rustexp is a useful tool for this purpose.
Regex Basics
A regex pattern consists of various elements like literals, operators, and character classes. Here are some basics:
- Literals: Match exact characters. For example, hello matches "hello".
- Character Classes: Match any character within the brackets. [a-z] matches any lowercase letter.
- Quantifiers: Specify how many times a character or group should appear. d{3} matches exactly three digits.
- Anchors: Assert the position within the text. ^ matches the start of a line, and $ matches the end.
Common Use Cases
Blocking Email Addresses
To block messages containing email addresses, use the following regex pattern:
less
Kodu kopyala
[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+.[a-zA-Z]{2,}
This pattern matches typical email formats, ensuring that messages with email addresses are flagged.
Filtering URLs
To block or flag messages containing URLs, use this pattern:
less
Kodu kopyala
https?://[^s/$.?#].[^s]*
This pattern matches both HTTP and HTTPS URLs.
Catching Profanity
For filtering out common swear words and their variations, you can create a comprehensive regex pattern. Here’s a simple example:
css
Kodu kopyala
(badword1|badword2|badword3)
Replace badword1, badword2, and badword3 with the words you want to filter.
Advanced Tips
Case Insensitivity
By default, AutoMod regex patterns are case-insensitive. However, you can explicitly enable or disable this flag:
- Enable: (?i)
- Disable: (?-i)
Example: (?i)badword matches "badword", "BadWord", etc.
Unicode Support
Unicode support is also enabled by default, allowing you to match a wide range of characters from various languages.
Testing Your Regex
Before applying your regex pattern in AutoMod, it’s crucial to test it thoroughly:
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Validate Syntax: Use Rustexp or another Rust-compatible tool to ensure your regex is syntactically correct.
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Test Cases: Send a variety of test messages from a non-moderator account to see if your pattern correctly flags or allows them.
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Review Errors: If your regex doesn't work, check for common issues like invalid syntax, exceeding compile size limits, or exceeding length limits.
FAQs
Q: What if my regex doesn't work?
Ensure your regex is valid and complies with AutoMod's technical limits. Test it in a Rust-compatible engine like Rustexp.
Q: What are common regex errors?
- Invalid syntax: Fix syntax errors in your pattern.
- Compile size exceeded: Simplify your regex if it’s too complex.
- Too long: Regex patterns are limited to 10 expressions of 75 characters each.
Q: How do I enable or disable regex flags?
Use the following modifiers:
- Enable: (?a)
- Disable: (?-a)
Replace a with the desired flag (e.g., i for case insensitivity).
Regex filtering in AutoMod is a powerful feature that can greatly enhance your community management by efficiently filtering unwanted messages. By understanding the basics of regex and how to apply them in AutoMod, you can create robust filters that save time and improve moderation effectiveness. Always remember to test your patterns thoroughly to ensure they work as intended without causing unintended blocks.
