Rex with # of characters

[source1ben]

How would I use the rex statement to obtain a given number of characters to the left & right of an indicator. For example - here is the string I am evaluating.

Plummeting *[oil]* prices have eroded the value

I want to return a string with 11 characters to the left & 11 characters to the right of data that is enclosed in the *[oil]* brackets. Therefore, my desired output is.

Plummeting *[oil]* prices hav

Here is my unsuccessful effort.

<rex "w/11[^\*\[] W/" $variable>

thx.

[John]

You can give a number of characters as a repetition operator, e.g.

<rex ".{0,11}>>\*\[=[^\]]+\]\*=.{0,11}" $variable>

The {0,11} says 0 to 11 characters, in case there aren't 11 characters before or after the anchor.

[source1ben]

Works great !! thx.