regex - Convert string containing wildcards to regexp -

i need convert string containing wildcards regexp.

for example, if have input string below:

ab*dd*c

this means

ab(any number of characters)d(any number of characters)c

where any character alphanumeric character or '_'.

i've tried below:

'ab([[:alnum]] | '_')*dd([[:alnum]] | '_')*c'

but, can see, for, example, ([[:alnum]] | '\_')* matches d also, and, so, couldn't needed match.

what comes mind use below:

'ab[^ d]*dd[^ c]*c'

is there better solution?

thanks in advance!

you can use regex:

/ab\w*?dd\w*?c/

\w*? match alphanumeric character or _ non-greedy.

Brant