# Error in if.. with regular Expression
**URL:** https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-in-if-with-regular-expression/3096
**Category:** Bugs
**Created:** [April 19, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-in-if-with-regular-expression/3096 "2009-04-19T02:26:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-in-if-with-regular-expression/3096/1 "2009-04-19T02:26:28Z")
Hi
I want to use if … then with a regular expression.
I can run the test that u sent FilesetExample.fbz6.zip.
The example works fine, but there is a problem when I try such an expression inside my script.BTW if I try just .\* it works, but when I add more things it fails like this:
Expression:
If ( %TEMP\_STRING\_3% matches RegExp ._\bin\._ )
Expanded Values:
Error expanding Term 1 left hand value : Variable : CurrentSolutionConfigurationContents - does not exist!
Thanks
Daphna Levin
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### Author:  [@paulsamways](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/paulsamways)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-in-if-with-regular-expression/3096/2 "2009-04-20T02:22:20Z")
Hi Daphna,
What is the value and the type of the variable ‘%TEMP\_STRING\_3%’? From the error it look’s like it’s a macro variable and it references the unused variable ‘%CurrentSolutionConfigurationContents%’.
Regards,
Paul.
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### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-in-if-with-regular-expression/3096/3 "2009-04-20T09:46:00Z")
%TEMP\_STRING\_3% Is a String Variable that I use. (It Contains the output of the action MsBuild Project- The outPut that I Want to process)
The variable '%CurrentSolutionConfigurationContents% is not mine.
As I mentioned before, it worked when the Regular expression is .\* But when I try something more complex I get this error. So the problem is probably the interaction with the action – MsBuild Project.
Thanks Daphna
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### Author:  [@paulsamways](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/paulsamways)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2009, 12:40pm UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-in-if-with-regular-expression/3096/4 "2009-04-21T12:40:08Z")
Hi Daphna,
You’ll need to use %!TEMP\_STRING\_3% instead of %TEMP\_STRING\_3% in the If…Then action so that it’s not recursively expanded. This will prevent the action from attempting to expand all the variables within the TEMP\_STRING\_3 variable.
Regards,
Paul.
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### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2009, 11:11am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-in-if-with-regular-expression/3096/5 "2009-04-21T11:11:31Z")
Thanks, it solved the problem.
BTW - is there a Help section where this is explained??
Daphna
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### Author:  [@paulsamways](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/paulsamways)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2009, 12:00pm UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-in-if-with-regular-expression/3096/6 "2009-04-22T12:00:08Z")
Here’s the relevant help section: [https://www.finalbuilder.com/finalbuilder/Help/HTML/escaping\_variable\_contents.htm](https://www.finalbuilder.com/finalbuilder/Help/HTML/escaping_variable_contents.htm)