(flex.info)The period isn't working the way I expected.

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The '.' isn't working the way I expected.
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Here are some tips for using '.':

   * A common mistake is to place the grouping parenthesis AFTER an
     operator, when you really meant to place the parenthesis BEFORE the
     operator, e.g., you probably want this '(foo|bar)+' and NOT this
     '(foo|bar+)'.

     The first pattern matches the words 'foo' or 'bar' any number of
     times, e.g., it matches the text 'barfoofoobarfoo'.  The second
     pattern matches a single instance of 'foo' or a single instance of
     'bar' followed by one or more 'r's, e.g., it matches the text
     'barrrr' .
   * A '.' inside '[]''s just means a literal'.' (period), and NOT "any
     character except newline".
   * Remember that '.' matches any character EXCEPT '\n' (and 'EOF').
     If you really want to match ANY character, including newlines, then
     use '(.|\n)' Beware that the regex '(.|\n)+' will match your entire
     input!
   * Finally, if you want to match a literal '.' (a period), then use
     '[.]' or '"."'