#!/usr/bin/env python import re line = "/var/tmp/ds.log/MacroServer_haspp09_[2016-11-08_00-14-22].log:SardanaTP.W007 ERROR \ 2016-11-03 13:44:11,757 p09/door/haspp09.01: An error occurred while running Macro \ 'shclose() -> 368fa2ea-a1c3-11e6-831e-54bef70cdbee'" patt = re.compile( r".*(\d{4})-(\d{2})-(\d{2})\s*(\d{2}):(\d{2}):(\d{2}).*:\s*(.*)'(.*)'") res = patt.match( line) if res: for elm in res.groups(): print( "elm:", elm) else: print( "no match") # output: # elm: 2016 # elm: 11 # elm: 03 # elm: 13 # elm: 44 # elm: 11 # elm: An error occurred while running Macro # elm: shclose() -> 368fa2ea-a1c3-11e6-831e-54bef70cdbee