Hive query regexp_extract failing

Question

I'm trying to use regexp_extract to extract my required data from a column(string datatype) in my table, Im using this query:

select regexp_extract(concat(column_name,;),'.*a2=?(.*?);',1) from table;

But I get an error:

FAILED: ParseException line 1:43 cannot recognize input near '.' '*' 'a2' in select expression

I'm at my wit's end with this, could anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Can regexp_replace not be used on columns? Any help would be appreciated.

I'm using hive version 0.13.1

Answer 1

Finally figured it out, in hive you need to escape the semi-colon.

Hope this helps someone.

EDIT: Here's the answer that worked:

regexp_extract(concat(column_name,'\\;'),'.*a2=?(.*?)\\;',1)

I am concatenating a ';' because my logic requires it.

Answer 2

This should replace semicolons with '\\073' in the script below.

Apache Hive (version 1.2.1000.2.4.3.3-2)

select regexp_extract(concat("columna2=blablablatest",'\073'),'.*a2=?(.*?)\073',1);