import time import re def format_message(message): pattern = r'^:.*\!~(.*)@.* (.*) (.*) :(.*)' now = int(time.time()) matches = re.match(pattern, message) if not matches: return '' nick = matches.group(1).strip() command = matches.group(2).strip() channel = matches.group(3).strip() message = matches.group(4).strip() return "%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s" % (now, nick, command, channel, message)