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The following string can be converted easily into a list with ToExpression

string = "{{a},{b,c,d},{e,{f,{g}}}}";
ToExpression@string

However, if the string contains characters that can be misinterpreted as syntax errors, I run in to problems.

string = "{{a},{b,c,d},{e,{[f],{g}}}}"

ToExpression throws an error since "[f]" isn't valid Wolfram.

(Side note, is that sentence grammatically correct? I would write "...isn't valid Java or C". Is it more appropriate to write "... isn't valid Wolfram Language?")

I would like to convert a string into a nested list of strings.

For reference (2242) starts with data whose Head is List and doesn't readily appear to work with nested lists, (43930) is a similar question focusing on Graph and looks promising except that the solution uses levelspec in Cases which, to my understanding, is not available in StringCases.

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    $\begingroup$ What should [f] to be turned into? Left untouched? $\endgroup$ – Öskå Aug 19 '14 at 17:00
  • $\begingroup$ @Öskå left untouched. The actual string I am processing has a number of characters that Mathematica would misinterpret, but it looks as if braces {} are treated as they are in M. Everything other than braces should be left as strings. $\endgroup$ – bobthechemist Aug 19 '14 at 17:06
  • $\begingroup$ If adding the actual problem is too broad or otherwise inappropriate, I'm happy to roll back. $\endgroup$ – bobthechemist Aug 19 '14 at 17:19
  • $\begingroup$ For the first case you are expecting List[List[a],List[b,c,d],List[e,List["[f]",List[g]]]] as a result? $\endgroup$ – Öskå Aug 19 '14 at 17:27
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    $\begingroup$ @Öskå close, all strings though: List[List["a"],List["b","c","d"],List["e",List["[f]",List["g"]]]]. $\endgroup$ – bobthechemist Aug 19 '14 at 17:44
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Well I just saw your comment that says you want "all strings" so perhaps a different approach:

StringReplace["{{a},{b,c,d},{e,{[f],{g}}}}", 
  x : Except["{" | "," | "}"] .. :> "\"" <> x <> "\""] // ToExpression

{{"a"}, {"b", "c", "d"}, {"e", {"[f]", {"g"}}}}

If that doesn't work consider manipulating the raw box format produced by parseString:

parseString[s_String, prep : (True | False) : True] := 
  FrontEndExecute[FrontEnd`UndocumentedTestFEParserPacket[s, prep]]

fn[string_String] := 
 parseString[string][[1]] /.
  RowBox[x : {"[", __, "]"}] :> "\"" <> x <> "\"" // ToExpression

fn @ "{{a},{b,c,d},{e,{[f],{g}}}}"

{{a}, {b, c, d}, {e, {"[f]", {g}}}}
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  • $\begingroup$ you may use SyntaxQ to check if it's a valid expression $\endgroup$ – hieron Aug 19 '14 at 18:00
  • $\begingroup$ @hieron What are you proposing? $\endgroup$ – Mr.Wizard♦ Aug 19 '14 at 18:01
  • $\begingroup$ If[SyntaxQ@#, ToExpression@#, $Failed] & $\endgroup$ – hieron Aug 19 '14 at 18:03
  • $\begingroup$ @hieron I'm trying to understand how that is applicable to the problem at hand; are you suggesting using that as part of StringReplace or something else? $\endgroup$ – Mr.Wizard♦ Aug 19 '14 at 18:06
  • $\begingroup$ as an alternative for the undocumented function. $\endgroup$ – hieron Aug 19 '14 at 18:10
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@Mr.Wizard

s = StringReplace["{{a},{b,c,d},{e,{[f],{g}}}}", 
   x : Except["{" | "," | "}"] .. :> "\"" <> x <> "\""] // ToExpression
check = If[SyntaxQ@#, ToExpression@#, #] &;
ReplaceAll[s, x_String :> check@x] // InputForm

(*out*)
{{a}, {b, c, d}, {e, {"[f]", {g}}}}
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  • $\begingroup$ Finally I see what you were getting at. +1 However this isn't apparently what the OP wants (see comments). $\endgroup$ – Mr.Wizard♦ Aug 19 '14 at 18:48
  • $\begingroup$ I know, Pickett found the solution, although your answer was interesting too. $\endgroup$ – hieron Aug 19 '14 at 18:49

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