How to parse a sprintf string in PHP -

consider typical structure created sprintf as

$pattern = "%1$s-%2$s|%3$s"; $str = sprintf($pattern, $a, $b, $c); 

now have string test-fore|here

how can parse latter string using sprintf pattern values of $a, $b, , $c.

an attempt using regular expressions:

function sscanfalt($format, $str){    // split string %s, %d, %2$s etc.   // note regex doesn't handle identifiers   // precision or padding   $parts = preg_split('/(%(?:\d\$)?[bcdeeuffggosxx])/', $format, -1, preg_split_delim_capture | preg_split_no_empty);    // odd entries = format directives; entries = normal text   foreach($parts $idx => &$value)     $value = ($idx & 1) ? preg_quote($value, '/') : '(.*)';    // rebuild regex   preg_match('/' . implode('', $parts) . '/', $str, $matches);   array_shift($matches);   return $matches; }   

use like:

$values = sscanfalt('%1$s-%2$s|%3$s', 'test-fore|here');