How can I break up an OBX-5 into new segments by string length?

Question

My OBX-5 has a limit of 30 characters so I need to split up each OBX-5 into new OBX segments.

Answer 1

Create a custom mapping with something like this:

// match() will return an array of matches.

// .{1,30} matches any character (except for line terminators)
// {1,30} Quantifier — Matches between 1 and 30 times,
//   as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy)
// g modifier: global. All matches (don't return after first match)

// Change the 30 to whatever string limit size you want for each OBX-5

/*jshint regexp: false */
var obxArray = source.getNode("OBX-5").match(/.{1,30} |.{1,30}/g);
/*jshint regexp: true */

// If there is only one OBX then remove it so we can replace it with the new OBX segments
message.removeFirstNode('OBX');

var k = 0;
for (var i=0 ; i < obxArray.length ; i++) {
   k = i + 1;
   message.addChild('/', 'OBX');
   message.setNode('OBX[' + k + ']-1', k);
   message.setNode('OBX[' + k + ']-5', obxArray[i]);
}
 

Comments

Would this be the same if I wanted to break off the OBX segment after 30 characters and put it into a new segment type? I.E. looking to break off the second half and put it into an NTE segment, is this process the same, just changing the appropriate OBXs to NTEs?